Terms of Reference
Presence and distribution of European Green Crab and invasive tunicate species in British Columbia
Science Response Process – Pacific Region
May 2018
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Chairperson: Lesley MacDougall
Context
Shellfish transfers, as part of aquaculture operations, are known to pose a risk of also inadvertently moving tunicate species that are known Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). Current information with respect to potential areas where AIS tunicates are present is limited; however there are some areas that have been assessed and AIS tunicates have been confirmed. DFO Aquaculture Management has requested that Science Branch provide a summary of areas of known AIS tunicate presence, as well as a summary of locations that have been surveyed for AIS.
The specific objective of this review are to provide a comprehensive map detailing the spatial presence of marine invasive species in the Pacific Region based on a comprehensive literature search, ongoing Science data collection and any observational field data from DFO field staff or public reports. The assessment, and advice arising from this Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Regional Science Response (SR) process, will be used to inform Pacific Aquaculture Regulation licencing and introductions and transfers licence decisions. Data may inform ecosystem management, aquaculture siting guidelines and/or industry best management practices. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) data analysis may help delineate the spatial scale at which we manage shellfish aquaculture (i.e. BC shellfish transfer zones versus discrete BC ecosystems (ecoregion or bay scale).Objective
The specific objectives of this Science Response are to:
- Document current state of knowledge by providing maps of areas that have confirmed European Green Crab, and AIS tunicate presence (by species), along with locations of the DFO assessments.
- Document the current AIS tunicate and European Green Crab survey methods and protocols.
- Examine and identify uncertainties in the data and methods.
Expected Publications
- Science Response
Expected Participation
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Aquaculture Management Branch, Science)
Notice
Participation to CSAS peer review meetings is by invitation only.
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