Terms of Reference

Evaluation of Hierarchical Marine Ecological Classification Systems for Pacific and Maritimes Regions

Zonal Peer Review Process – Pacific & Maritimes Regions

September 29 – October 2, 2015
Nanaimo, British Columbia

Chairperson: John Holmes
Co-chairs: John Holmes and Nadja

Context

The need to develop a hierarchical marine ecological classification system for classifying the structure and distribution of Canada’s marine biota and habitats at multiple spatial scales has been recognized regionally, nationally and internationally for a variety of reasons, including:

• to ensure that all types of habitat, communities and ecosystems are effectively represented in marine spatial planning according to their ecological attributes; and
• to ensure that a structured approach is used to consider biodiversity at local, regional and basin - wide scales.

A Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) National Canadian Science Advice Secretariat (CSAS) peer review process identified 12 major biogeographic units (bioregions) for Canada's three oceans (DFO 2009).  This process advised that each of the major biogeographic units represent a "maximum scale" that can be disaggregated/subdivided further into smaller units that are ecologically meaningful, as well as that there is no single prescription for determining the level of disaggregation for finer scale units.  A DFO Pacific Region CSAS peer review process identified a conceptual framework (Pacific Marine Ecological Classification System [PMECS]) for development of a regional hierarchical ecological classification system (DFO 2013). 

Application of the conceptual framework could provide three main outputs for use in ocean resource management and conservation in the DFO Pacific Region:

• a systematic spatially-explicit classification of ecosystems at multiple scales within the study area, which can be used to ensure representation and replication of different habitat, communities and ecosystems  in Marine Protected Area (MPA) network design;
• a database of spatially-referenced information for identifying and locating key ecological properties in support of MPA network design; and
• a set of spatially-referenced information that could be integrated in the future with other data layers (e.g. social, economic) to inform integrated management planning related to sustainable siting and assessment and monitoring of human activities in the marine environment. This would also help reduce uncertainty around management decisions across sectors.

The conceptual framework has been applied independently to classify areas according to their ecological attributes at multiple spatial scales in the DFO Pacific Region Northern Shelf Bioregion and the DFO Maritimes Region Scotian Shelf Bioregion.  The application of the conceptual framework differs based on the available data in each Region and some Region specific variations in number, type and boundaries of the areas being classified.

DFO Oceans in both the Pacific and Maritimes Regions have requested that DFO Science provide classifications of the Northern Shelf and Scotian Shelf Bioregions in support of marine spatial planning initiatives.  This work has been completed for a subset of spatial scales in both the DFO Pacific and DFO Maritimes bioregions.  Since these serve as first applications of the conceptual framework, it is the intent of this Zonal Peer Review (ZPR) process to assess the approaches taken for each application, as well as the resulting classifications.

The assessment and advice arising from this CSAS ZPR, and subsequent application of the framework, will be used to inform management decisions, such as the identification of candidate areas for MPAs and the design of MPA networks, but could also inform other DFO ecosystem-based management decisions.

Objectives

The following working papers will be reviewed and provide the basis for discussion and advice on the specific objectives outlined below.

• Rubidge, E M.., K. Gale, J.M.R. Curtis, E. McClelland, L. Feyrer, Karin Bodtker, Carrie Robb. 2015.  Methods for applying the Pacific Marine Ecological Classification System (PMECS) to Northern Shelf Bioregion. CSAP Working Paper 2014OCN02a
• Greenlaw, M.E., Smith, K., Martin, R. 2015. A subtidal ecological classification system to represent species diversity and distribution patterns in the Maritimes Region. CSAP Working Paper 2014OCN02b

The specific objectives of this review are to:

1. Review the methods and results of the application of the conceptual classification framework in each Region given data availability and their intended purposes;
2. Discuss uncertainties and consequences associated with data availability and classification decisions (e.g., number, boundary, type, etc.) made in the DFO Pacific and DFO Maritimes application of the conceptual framework, and provide guidance for future application; and,
3. Provide guidance on appropriate types of analyses to classify areas at spatial scales not completed as part of these applications.

Participants are asked to review DFO (2013) and Robinson et al. (2015) in preparation for this ZPR. These two documents provide the necessary background to participate in this peer review.

Technical written reviews of the data and results (Objective 1) by species and habitat experts from each Region will be conducted in advance of the ZPR meeting to ensure that appropriate regional datasets were used and that resulting classifications are consistent with expert knowledge of each Region.  This is not intended to limit the contribution of participants with specific expert knowledge of species or habitats in either Region, but add to the overall peer review process.

Guidance provided in Objectives 2 and 3 will be developed by meeting participants based on the review of material provided to meet Objective 1, input on each working paper and through discussions based on the expertise of participants. Objectives 2 and 3 are intended to synthesize lessons learned from both the DFO Pacific and DFO Maritimes experiences with applying the conceptual framework.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report (1)
• Proceedings (1)
• Research Documents (2)

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science Branch, Aquaculture, Fisheries, Oceans, Species at Risk and Fisheries Protection Programs)
• British Columbia Provincial Government
• Other federal departments (Environment Canada, Parks Canada Natural Resources Canada, and Transport Canada)
• Academia
• First Nations
• Environmental Non-governmental Organizations

References

DFO. 2009. Development of a Framework and Principles for the Biogeographic Classification of Canadian Marine Areas. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2009/056.

DFO. 2013. Key elements in the development of a hierarchical marine ecological classification system to support ecosystem approaches to management in Pacific Canada DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/065.

Greenlaw, M.E., Gromack, A.G., Basquill, S., MacKinnon, D., Lynds, A., Taylor, B., Utting, D., Hackett, J., Grant, J., Forbes, D., Savoie, F., Bérubé, D., Connor, K.J., Johnson, S.C., Coombs, K.A., and Henry, R. 2013. A physiographic coastline classification of the Scotian Shelf Bioregion and Environs: The Nova Scotia coastline and the New Brunswick Fundy shore. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2012/051.  iv + 39 p.

Robinson, C., Boutillier, J., Biffard, D., Gregr, E.J., Finney, J. Therriault, T., Greenlaw, M., Barrie, V., Foreman, M.,Pena, A., Masson, D., Bodker, K., Head, K., Spencer, J., Bernhardt, J., Smith, J., and Short, C. 2015. Key elements in the development of a hierarchical marine ecological classification system to support ecosystem approaches to management in Pacific Canada. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2015/028. viii + 58p.