Terms of Reference

Assessment of Canadian Pacific Cold Seeps Against Criteria for Determining Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas

Regional Science Response Process – Pacific Region

May 15, 2017
Nanaimo, British Columbia

Chairperson: Tammy Norgard

Context

Cold seeps are marine habitats where reduced chemicals (e.g. hydrogen sulfide and hydrocarbons such as methane) emanate from the seafloor, commonly 150–2000 meters below surface waters. Microbes metabolize these chemical compounds and form the base of unique chemosynthetic communities and biological hotspots in the deep sea. Cold seeps exist along most of the world’s continental margins and are often characterized by high biological productivity and endemism (Le Bris et al. 2016).

Canada has committed to identifying Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) in its national waters through commitments to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD 2008). Through the Canada-BC Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network Strategy, the federal government has also committed to integrating EBSAs into its Marine Protected Area (MPA) networks. Since 2004, eight criteria for assessing candidate EBSAs have been identified:  Uniqueness or rarity; Special importance for life history stages of species; Species aggregation; Vulnerability, fragility, sensitivity, or slow recovery; Naturalness; Importance for threatened, endangered or declining species and/or habitats; Biological productivity; and Biological diversity (DFO 2004, 2011; Ban et al. 2016). Similarly, at the international level, calls have been issued to protect marine biodiversity by protecting vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs), which have similar criteria as EBSAs but also include Structural Complexity (UN GAOR 2011; Ardron et al. 2014).

Although EBSAs have been identified in all four Pacific bioregions (Northern Shelf Ecoregion, Southern Shelf Ecoregion, and Strait of Georgia, DFO 2013; Offshore Pacific, Ban et al. 2016), these efforts did not consider cold seeps, which are considered likely to host unique and productive communities. In the Pacific Region, at least three cold seeps have been explored via submersibles and many more gas plumes have been identified in the water column. However, these sites have not been inventoried systematically or evaluated against the criteria defining EBSAs. As such, they remain unprotected and vulnerable to impacts. Formal identification of EBSAs, such as that provided by Clarke and Jamieson (2006), will be used to inform decisions from a broad range of DFO clients involved in integrated marine spatial planning, including: Oceans, Fisheries Management, Aquaculture, and the Fisheries Protection Program.

DFO Ecosystems Management branch has requested that Science Branch provide an assessment of cold seeps against the criteria for determining EBSAs. This science response and the advice arising from it will be used to inform ongoing marine conservation target objectives as well as future conservation efforts in Pacific Region.

Objectives

The following science response will be reviewed and provide the basis for discussion and advice on the specific objectives outlined below:

1. Compile information on the spatial distribution of known and inferred cold seeps in the Offshore Pacific, Northern Shelf, and Southern Shelf bioregions.
2. Characterize the biophysical, chemical, and ecological attributes of the identified cold seeps the Offshore Pacific, Northern Shelf, and Southern Shelf bioregions.
3. Evaluate the identified cold seeps according to published national and international criteria for EBSA identification (DFO 2004, 2011; CBD 2008; Ban et al. 2016), and according to international criteria for VMEs (FAO 2016).
4. Indicate the level of confidence associated with the evaluation of the EBSA and identify and examine any sources of uncertainty in the data or methods used to inform this evaluation.

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): Science
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): Oceans
• Academia
• Natural Resources Canada: Geological Survey of Canada

References

Ardron, J.A., Clark, M.R., Penney, A.J., Hourigan, T.F., Rowden, A.A., Dunstan, P.K., et al. 2014. A systematic approach towards the identification and protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems. Mar. Policy, 49, 146–154.

Ban, S., J.M.R. Curtis, C. St. Germain, R.I. Perry, T. Therriault. 2016. Identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas in Canada’s Offshore Pacific Bioregion. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2016/034. x + 152 p.

Barrie, J.V., S. Cook, K.W. Conway. 2010. Cold seeps and benthic habitat on the Pacific margin of Canada. Cont Shelf Res 31(2): S85-S92.

CBD. 2008. Decisions adopted by the conference of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at its ninth meeting. Decision IX/20, Sections 14 and 19.

Clarke, C.L., G.S. Jamieson. 2006. Identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area: Phase II – Final report. Can Tech Rep Fish Aquat Sci 2686: v + 25 p.

DFO. 2004. Identification of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Ecosystem Status Rep. 2004/006.

DFO. 2011. Ecologically and biologically significant areas – Lessons learned. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2011/049.

DFO. 2013. Evaluation of proposed ecologically and biologically significant areas in marine waters of British Columbia. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2012/075.

FAO. 2016. Vulnerable marine ecosystems: processes and practices in the high seas. FAO Fish. Aquacult. Tech. Paper No. 595, 185 p.

Le Bris, N., S. Arnaud-Haond, S. Beaulieu, E. Cordes et al. 2016. Chapter 45. Hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. In: First global integrated marine assessment. United Nations. 18 p.

United Nations GAOR. 2011. Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, and related instruments. GA Res. 66/68, UN GAOR, 66th Sess., UN Doc. A/RES/66/68.