Terms of Reference

Review of biophysical and ecological components towards a research and monitoring program of the Labrador Sea in the Newfoundland and Labrador Shelves Bioregion

Regional Science Response Process – Newfoundland and Labrador Region

January 9-10, 2018
St. John’s, NL

Chairpersons: Sara Lewis and Robyn Jamieson

Context

The Government of Canada has agreed to a suite of international biodiversity conservation goals and targets (the Convention on Biological Diversity 2011-20 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity’s Aichi Targets) and adopted complementary domestic 2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets for Canada. Both international and domestic targets (Aichi Target 11 and Canada’s Target 1) call for the conservation of 10% of coastal and marine areas by 2020.

The designation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in large, offshore, pristine areas has been identified as part of the national strategy to meet these targets. One candidate area is the off-shelf areas of the Labrador Sea (Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Divisions 2G and 2H) within the Canadian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This frontier area is under limited resource development, particularly beyond the continental slope, where some commercial fishing is conducted. The scientific knowledge of this area’s ecosystem is extremely limited, as the depths (>3,500 m) extend well beyond the range typically monitored by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and NAFO. Consequently, a focused characterization program is needed for this study area.

The overview and advice arising from this Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Regional Science Response Process will be used to inform this characterization program and ultimately contribute to the Ecosystems Management Branch and sectors implicated in the design and establishment of MPAs in the NL Region. This information will eventually be essential for formulating and or refining conservation objectives, delineating boundaries and completing risk assessment to inform the MPA designation process.

Objective

This Science Response will be reviewed and provide the basis for discussion and advice on the specific objectives outlined below:

1. Identify and map, where possible, the available physical and ecological information for the Labrador Sea Study Area.
2. Identify key uncertainties and knowledge gaps as it pertains to the current understanding of the existing environment and species of interest within the study area.
3. Define the appropriate techniques to characterize and evaluate the key biophysical and ecological features of the study area, including: 
   • predominant and/or unique physical and biological oceanographic characteristics;
   • predominant, unique, and/or sensitive habitat features; and
   • key species of interest, such as commercial and non-commercial species, marine mammals and endangered or threatened marine species; including life history relevance of the area to the species, species distribution and abundance (and status and trends where available), and the abiotic and biotic factors influencing these.
4. Where possible, identify known sensitivities/vulnerabilities of habitats and species of interest within the study area. 
5. Provide an outline of a draft research plan to inform the MPA designation process.

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science and Ecosystems Management Branches)
• Invited experts as needed