Terms of Reference

Biophysical and Ecological Overview of the Southampton Island Area of Interest (AOI)

Regional Peer Review – Central and Arctic Region

December 5–6, 2018
Winnipeg, MB

Chairpersons: Jason Stow and Joclyn Paulic

Context

The Government of Canada has agreed to a suite of international biodiversity conservation goals and targets (the Convention on Biological Diversity 2011-2020 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 new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Canadian waters has been identified as one part of the national strategy to meet these targets. Under the Oceans Act, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is authorized to provide protection to areas of the oceans and coasts through the establishment of MPAs, where the identification of an Area of Interest (AOI) is the first step in this process. A regional site selection process is underway and the Southampton Island Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA) has been proposed as an Area of Interest (AOI) for potential MPA development and recommendation for designation. The Southampton Island EBSA was first identified as an EBSA in 2011 (DFO 2011). The main features of this EBSA include:

• Summer and winter use by the Hudson Bay-Davis Strait population of Atlantic Walrus;
• Important spring and fall migration routes for Beluga, Narwhal and Eastern Canada-West Greenland Bowhead;
• Southampton, Coats and Mansel islands are considered important Polar Bear denning areas and  summer refuge habitats for the Foxe Basin Polar Bear subpopulation;
• Important nesting areas for seabirds which feed on aggregations of marine fish in the area (e.g., Capelin, Arctic Cod); and
• Largest single colony of Common Eider in Nunavut occurs in East Bay.

Further to this, DFO’s Oceans Program has been engaging communities and Inuit organizations regarding support for the proposed AOI.

Once an area is selected as an AOI, detailed information on the key biophysical and ecological features of the area is required, especially as it pertains to potential conservation priorities (i.e., features of the EBSA) and their linkages to other key ecosystem components and processes. A review of key biophysical and ecological information within the Southampton Island EBSA may further inform ecological significance of the area and highlight conservation priorities based on the results of the review. Furthermore, the biophysical and ecological overview will assist in formulating conservation objectives, delineating a future MPA boundary (and zones if required), and completing an ecological risk analysis to inform the development of the regulatory approach for the proposed MPA. The information contained within will also inform subsequent advice on monitoring protocols and strategies, identification of information gaps requiring further research, and the development of a management plan for the area.

DFO’s Oceans Program has requested that DFO Science prepare and conduct a review of the Ecosystem Overview Report for Southampton Island EBSA, identify science based conservation priorities and provide advice on the formulation of conservation objectives for this area.

Objective

The intent of the meeting is to complete the following objectives:

1. Conduct a peer-review of the Southampton Island EBSA Ecosystem Overview Report based on current information and scientific research in the area;
2. Identify, describe and map, where possible, key biophysical and ecological features within the Southampton Island EBSA (i.e., conservation priorities) and, where applicable, recommend wording for potential conservation objectives for each, that considers the desired and measureable state of the conservation priority;
3. Identify known and potential activities and stressors with the potential to affect the key biophysical and ecological features within the study area; and,
4. Identify any key uncertainties and knowledge gaps as they pertain to the current understanding of conservation priorities within the study area, and where possible, recommend measures to address these gaps.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Proceedings
• Research Document

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science and Ecosystems and Fisheries Management sectors)
• Government of Nunavut
• Nunavut Wildlife Management Board
• Kivalliq Wildlife Board
• Kivalliq Inuit Association
• Local experts from the communities of Coral Harbour, Chesterfield Inlet and Naujaat
• Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Academia
• Other invited experts

References

DFO. 2011. Identification of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSA) in the Canadian Arctic. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2011/055.