Proceedings 2014/013
Proceedings of the regional peer review of the evaluation of a Fisheries Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) for the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline; November 27-29, 2013
Chairperson: Kevin Hedges
Editor: Don Cobb
Summary
A Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) peer review meeting was held from November 27-29, 2013 in Winnipeg, Manitoba to evaluate elements of the Fisheries Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT). The tool is designed to evaluate potential risks to commercial, recreational or aboriginal fisheries and their supporting habitats from sediment resulting from construction and operation of stream crossings, utilizing the Mackenzie Gas Project as the tool development platform. Additional meeting objectives were to: examine the current version of the FRAT and recommend changes to risk and fish consequences criteria and specific input variables and algorithms; recommend additional elements that could be built into the FRAT in order to strengthen or even expand its capability as an assessment tool; and examine the applicability of the FRAT approach within a broader context.
Two research documents were prepared for the meeting, one describing the FRAT design and the other discussing approaches to determining the fate of sediment once it enters a stream, and these documents guided the discussions. The relevance of the FRAT in light of changes to the Fisheries Act and Fisheries Protection Program was discussed. Participants included Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science, Fisheries Protection Program, academia and engineering and biological consultants with expertise in linear development and risk assessment.
This Proceedings report summarizes the relevant discussions and presents the key conclusions reached at the meeting. The Science Advisory Report and two supporting Research Documents resulting from this advisory meeting are published on the DFO CSAS Website.
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