Terms of Reference

Ecological risk Assessment and Selection of Risk-Based indicators for the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area

Regional Science Response Process – Pacific Region

February 2018
Nanaimo, British Columbia

Chairperson: Jeffrey Lemieux

Context

The Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs were designated as Canada’s newest Marine Protected Area (MPA) in February 2017 (SOR/2017-15). This new MPA represents 2,410 km² of protected aquatic habitat along Canada’s Pacific North Coast. Previously thought to be extinct worldwide, these reefs are estimated to be up to 9,000 years old. The glass sponge reef structures form complex and fragile biogenic habitats that are at risk from both direct contact and indirect effects of human activities. The reefs also serve a number of key ecosystem functions, including refuge and rearing habitat for numerous aquatic species at various life stages. In order to adequately protect and manage the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs MPA (HS/QCS MPA), a comprehensive inventory and risk assessment of the ecosystem’s components and functions is required.

To achieve this, an Ecological Risk Assessment Framework (ERAF) for Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) developed by Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Pacific Region (O et al. 2015) was applied to this area. The ERAF evaluates single and cumulative threats from human activity-related stressors to ecological components considered to be significant to the ecosystem of interest (Significant Ecosystem Components; SECs). To date, the framework has been evaluated through a pilot application to the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area, and full application to two Marine Protected Areas in the Pacific Region: SGaan Kinghlas-Bowie Seamount Marine Protected Area (SK-B MPA; Rubidge et al.^{Footnote 1}) and Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents MPA (EHV MPA; Thornborough et al.^{Footnote 2}). Advice arising from these processes will be used to inform the current ecological risk assessment of the HS/QCS MPA.

The risk-based selection of ecological indicators is another key step in the development of an adaptive management framework for MPAs. Using the output from the HS/QCS MPA ecological risk assessment as a starting point, ecological indicators are selected and prioritized to represent key SEC-stressor interactions. The indicator results will then be available to inform monitoring strategies and plans, and to guide the refinement of operational conservation objectives. A similar risk-based indicator selection process has previously been applied to the SK-B MPA (Thornborough et al. 2016a) and EHV MPA (Thornborough et al. 2016b), and advice arising from these processes will also be used to inform the current assessment.

DFO Oceans Program has requested that Science Branch apply the established ERAF and risk-based ecological indicator selection processes to provide an assessment of the HS/QCS MPA, using past peer-reviewed processes and advice as guidance. This will be the first time that these two frameworks have been applied to a glass sponge reef ecosystem, and as such, may require specific refinements to derive results that are informative for this environment. The assessment and advice arising from this Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Science Response will inform the continued development of the HS/QCS MPA adaptive management framework and contribute to ongoing efforts to implement an integrated and adaptive ecosystem approach to oceans management in Canadian Pacific marine waters.

Objective

The following research documents will provide the basis for discussion and advice on the specific objectives outlined below (in fulfillment of RSIA#2013OCN02):
Hannah, L., K. Thornborough and M.E. Thiess. 2017. Ecological Risk Assessment of the Effects of Human Activities at the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area.
Thornborough, K. and J. Dunham. 2017.  Development of Risk-Based Indicators for the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area.
The specific objectives of this science response are to:

1. Review this application of the accepted ERAF method and provide advice on the suitability of the results with respect to their communication of risk resulting from human-based activities at the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area (HS-QCS MPA).
2. Review and provide advice on the suitability of the risk-based indicator selection and prioritization process as it applies to the HS-QCS MPA, including the prioritized ranking of HS-QCS MPA indicators.
3. Identify knowledge and data gaps revealed through this work and outline potential approaches to address these gaps, where possible.

Expected Publications

• Research Documents (2)
• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): Oceans, Science, Fisheries Management
• Academia
• Other invited experts

References

O, M., Martone R., Hannah, L., Grieg, L., Boutillier, J., and Patton, S. 2015. An Ecological Risk Assessment Framework (ERAF) for Ecosystem-based Oceans Management in the Pacific Region. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2014/072. vii + 59 p.

Oceans Act, P.C. 2017-110, 13 February, 2017 SOR/2017-15, Canada Gazette, Part II, vol.151, no. 4, p. 349-397. February 22, 2017.

Thornborough, K., Dunham, J., and O, M. 2016a. Development of risk-based indicators for the SGaan Kinghlas-Bowie Seamount Marine Protected Area. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2016/027. vii + 120 p.

Thornborough, K., Dunham, J., and O, M. 2016b. Development of risk-based indicators for the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents Marine Protected Area. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2016/028. vii + 124 p.