Terms of Reference

Assessment of nearshore features against criteria for determining Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) in the Northern Shelf Bioregion

Science Response – Pacific Region

June 14, 2017
Nanaimo, British Columbia

Chairperson: Nadja Steiner

Context

Canada’s Oceans Act (1997) provides the legislative framework for an integrated ecosystem approach to management in Canada’s oceans, particularly in areas considered ecologically and biologically significant.  DFO has developed guidance for the identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas (EBSAs; DFO 2004, DFO 2011), and has endorsed the scientific criteria used by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) for identifying  EBSAs as defined in Annex I of Decision IX/20 of its 9th Conference of Parties (UNEP/CBD, 2008). DFO's science advice recommends identifying EBSAs as a first step to planning networks of marine protected areas (DFO 2010). This approach was re-emphasized in Canada's National Framework for Canada's Network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs; 2011).  In addition, the Canada-BC MPA Network Strategy (2014), and the Marine Protected Area Network Technical Team (MPATT^{Footnote 1}) have been developed to provide guidance to MPA network planning, including the identification of EBSAs.

EBSAs in the Canadian Pacific Northern Shelf Bioregion (NSB) were identified in 2006 (Clarke and Jamieson 2006a, 2006b) and reviewed in a Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Regional Peer Review Process (RPR) in February 2012 (DFO 2013). The previous process, however, did not include marine macrophytes or a comprehensive analysis of the nearshore areas (generally defined as: “shallow waters at a small distance from shore^{Footnote 2}”). As a result, DFO Oceans Sector of the Ecosystems Management Branch requested that DFO Science provide advice regarding which nearshore areas in the NSB meet the EBSA criteria.

When assessing potential EBSAs in Canada’s Offshore Pacific Bioregion, Ban et al (2016) developed an approach that employed both DFO’s and CBD’s EBSA identification criteria. The Ban et al (2016) approach was reviewed and approved through a CSAS RPR in February 2015 (DFO 2016) and will be used as the methodological template for nearshore features in the Northern Shelf Bioregion (NSB) for this Science Response (SR).

This Science Response assesses five nearshore features (canopy forming kelp forests, eelgrass meadows, estuaries, surfgrass meadows, and high current/local upwelling) against the established DFO (DFO, 2004; 2011) and CBD EBSA criteria (8 criteria total) using the template developed by Ban et al (2016). Ecologically significant species (ESSs) and Conservation Priorities selected for the MPA network in NSB (see Gale et al in press^{Footnote 3}), are incorporated into the assessment via linkages with known habitat associations with the five nearshore features included in the assessment.

The advice arising from this SR will be used to identify which nearshore features in the NSB meet criteria for EBSA identification.  EBSAs may be used to inform implementation of the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area Plan, used as an input into MPA network planning in the NSB, or to inform management of these nearshore features.

Objectives

1. Describe the spatial distribution and associated species of each assessed nearshore feature. Include maps where possible.
2. Provide rationale and supporting evidence to determine if the nearshore features assessed, meet the EBSA criteria defined by DFO (DFO 2004) and the CBD (UNEP/CBD 2008).

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Ecosystems Management, Fisheries Management, Science)
• Parks Canada Agency
• First Nations
• Academia

References

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 + 152p.

Canada-British Columbia Marine Protected Area Network Strategy. 2014. 36 pp

Clarke, C.L. and Jamieson, G.S. 2006a. Identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area: Phase I – Identification of important areas. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2678: 89 p.

Clarke, C.L. and Jamieson, G.S. 2006b. 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. 2010. Science Guidance on the Development of Networks of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2009/061.

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.

DFO. 2016. Identification of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) in the Offshore Pacific Bioregion. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2016/011.

Government of Canada. 2011. National Framework for Canada’s Network of Marine Protected Areas. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa. 31 pp

UNEP/CBD. 2008. Decision adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at its Ninth Meeting IX/20. Marine and coastal biodiversity COP/DEC/IX/20. 12p. (Accessed May 16, 2017)