Proceedings 2014/032
Proceedings of the Regional Peer Review on Monitoring Indicators, Protocols and Strategies for the Proposed Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area (MPA) ; June 24-26, 2014
Chairperson: Robin Anderson
Editors: Sara Lewis, Viviana Ramírez-Luna and Nadine Templeman
Summary
A Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Regional Science Peer Review Process was held June 24‑26, 2014 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) to provide a scientific peer review of a proposed Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area (LC MPA) monitoring framework.
This meeting was held in response to a request from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Oceans sector which asked DFO Science sector to provide support and advice on the proposed LC MPA. Participation at the meeting included DFO Science, DFO Ecosystems Management (NL and Maritimes (MAR) Regions), and Memorial University of Newfoundland/Marine Institute.
Three categories of indicators are proposed for monitoring the LC MPA:
- direct indicators, which provide information on status and trends of species of interest related to the Conservation Objectives (COs);
- indirect indicators, which will provide information on biotic and abiotic components of the environment that can help account for changes in the COs; and
- anthropogenic pressure indicators, which can assess human activities that may affect the COs inside and outside of (i.e., adjacent to) the LC MPA.
Overall, 14 direct indicators, 24 indirect indicators and 13 anthropogenic indicators have been identified to monitor the LC MPA (Appendix I). Analysis of the status and trends of these indicators will provide MPA managers with the necessary information to assess effects resulting from establishment of the LC MPA. They will also allow assessment of the direct effects of management measures enacted through establishing this MPA, in context of the overall variation or changes within the ecosystem. Assessment of effects of the MPA on the Conservation Objectives (COs) requires appropriate selection and use of control/reference areas; to be determined in conjunction with a Scientific Steering Committee. These areas, outside of the MPA, should be selected to represent habitat, species, assemblages and conditions similar to the treatment area (i.e. inside the MPA), and to evaluate the abilities of monitoring protocols and strategies to detect changes between these areas as compared to natural variability within the MPA. Hypothesis-driven assessments of MPAs provide scientific defensibility for any monitoring program.
Recommendations related to additional considerations for adding or removing indicators, protocols or strategies and/or providing advice on this topic in the future were also put forward.
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