Science Advisory Report 2024/053

*This advice was developed in a peer review meeting in 2022 and should be interpreted within the context of the situation at that time.

Identification of Reference Sites and a Scientific Monitoring Approach for the Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area

Summary

• The Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area (MPA) is a large-scale ecosystem that differs from most adjacent areas. The area has had historically low levels of exposure to many ecosystem stressors, including fishing, representing a relatively undisturbed ecosystem where the MPA regulations are not anticipated to result in major changes to human activities in the area.
• A set of indicators was proposed for each conservation objective (CO) to assess the status and trends of these taxa and their contribution to the overall goal of preserving biodiversity. However, for most of the COs, this will be difficult to do effectively based on current survey methods carried out by DFO NL Region (i.e., multispecies trawl surveys). The final set of indicators will evolve over time based on how practical, feasible, and informative they are and can be adjusted based on the results of field trials and power analyses.
• Environmental variables can be indicators of change. They may discern whether observed changes are an effect of the MPA regulations or broader ecosystem processes; for example, drivers induced by climate change.
• A power analysis was conducted to determine the utility of the Research Vessel (RV) trawl survey data to detect change in the status of three CO fish species (Northern Wolffish, Smooth Skate, and Black Dogfish). In addition, a power analysis of sea pen abundance using seafloor imagery was also performed.
• The power analysis showed that, without drastically increasing the number of RV trawl sets within the MPA, detecting change for these CO fish species is improbable because of their low density, distribution, variable catch rate, and/or transient nature. However, based on seafloor imagery data, sea pens appear to have the greatest potential for measurable change within the MPA.
• The overall scientific monitoring approach is based on Core (conducted specifically for the Marine Conservation Targets [MCT] program) and Complementary (conducted external to the MCT program) Monitoring, as well as Targeted Research. These approaches will be used collectively to monitor the Laurentian Channel MPA as a whole, using the data gathered to make inferences for unsampled areas where necessary.
• Core Monitoring will focus on non-invasive, efficient, co-located measurements of key indicators to generate long-term datasets. Complementary Monitoring can provide contextual information to aid with the interpretation of status and trends. Targeted Research can be used to inform Core Monitoring, answer questions specific to observed changes in the CO priority species, and test survey methods.
• Several survey methods and strategies were proposed to inform indicators for the Core Monitoring and Targeted Research of the six CO priority species as well as biodiversity, including seafloor imagery, environmental DNA (eDNA), and autonomous sensors on moorings. In addition, other survey methods will be utilized as Complementary Monitoring, such as trawl surveys, satellite imagery, and the Atlantic Zonal Monitoring Program (AZMP).
• A fixed station approach is proposed for Core Monitoring within the Laurentian Channel MPA whereby data will be collected regularly using at-sea sampling and autonomous sensors on moorings. Four survey lines equally spaced across the MPA with stations along each line were proposed, however additional work is required to refine and test the proposed study design, including the frequency of sampling (e.g., annually for the first several years).
• The identification of buffered exclusion zones around the fixed stations was proposed to avoid any influence from bottom-contact surveys.
• In general, a reference site comparison (inside vs. outside) is not appropriate for this MPA, given its large size and historically low fishing effort compared to adjacent areas. The approach taken was to instead identify potential monitoring sites to track status and trends of the CO priority species within the MPA. Areas outside the MPA with similar community assemblages or habitat characteristics were identified that could provide contextual information to help interpret observed changes in the indicators for the CO priority species.
• Paired reference sites were proposed only as part of the Targeted Research program to assess recovery of sessile CO priority species in areas with historical fishing activity compared to areas outside the MPA where fishing still occurs.
• The establishment of a relevant and effective monitoring program would benefit from ongoing dialogue with management on the information that would be required to inform potential adaptive management actions, including adjustment of monitoring priorities, or modification of regulatory intent to effectively conserve and report.
• Expectations for timelines and specifics of reporting on monitoring results are not yet fully resolved but it is crucial that these be established to ensure effective scientific monitoring and refinement of the program.
• Sharing best practices and leveraging funds from other sources/collaborators will be a key component to the success of this program. Maximizing data collection, analytical approaches, and diverse expertise will allow for the development of other research initiatives that may enhance the monitoring program.

This Science Advisory Report is from the June 22–24, 2022, regional peer review on the Identification of Reference Sites and a Scientific Monitoring Approach for the Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area. Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.

Science Advisory Report 2024/053 (PDF, 2,617 KB)

Data sets:

• Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas
• Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas
• Sea pens significant concentration areas in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
• Fishing effort within Significant Benthic Areas in Canada's Atlantic and Eastern Arctic Marine Waters

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