Terms of Reference

Harmful Algal Events in Canadian Marine Ecosystems: Current Status, Impacts and Consequences, and Knowledge Gaps

National Peer Review – National Capital Region

12-14 March 2019
Victoria, B.C.

Chairperson: Thomas Therriault

Context

One of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) core responsibilities is to ensure healthy and productive marine ecosystems by protecting them from the negative impacts of humans, invasive species, and other stressors. Harmful algae are considered important ecosystem stressors, in particular when they reach high abundances in blooms, although some species are harmful even in the absence of a bloom situation. While the impacts of harmful algal blooms to human health are very important, these impacts are not among DFO’s responsibilities (and so will not feature as a major topic for this CSAS process). The extent and impacts of harmful algal events (HAEs) have not been systematically studied in recent years in Canadian marine waters, and in particular are poorly known in the Arctic. When they are large, such events become harmful algal blooms (HABs), which are highly visible in many cases and result in inquiries regarding impacts and consequences from media and the public, particularly among Indigenous Peoples and the aquaculture industry nationally and internationally. Incidences of HAEs have been increasing internationally, and recent research in waters adjacent to Canada has identified impacts to marine food webs as well as to human health. DFO began studying HAEs in the 1940s, with increased research in the late 1980s after human mortalities due to domoic acid in mussels in PEI. Since the mid-2000s, however, there has been limited HAE research or monitoring by DFO. The work that has been conducted by DFO and other researchers in Canada in recent years has detected species and toxins in Canadian waters that are new to Canada. In addition, harmful algae species have been detected in the Arctic, and major HAEs have coincided with recent marine heatwaves in the NE Pacific. Climate change and ballast water transport have been implicated in the appearance of novel species and toxins.

HAEs are increasing in all marine waters of Canada. To improve detection capacity, inform management strategies, and to make better predictions of future event locations and impacts, there is need for an update and review of these HAEs, and an assessment nationally of their potential impacts to Canadian marine ecosystems. The Ecosystem Stressors Program under DFO’s Ecosystems and Oceans Science Sector has requested science advice on the national scope of harmful algal incidences and impacts in Canadian marine waters, including the identification of knowledge gaps, as well as the identification of areas or issues of particular concern for impacts and consequences of HAEs to Canadian marine ecosystems. The information and advice provided by this CSAS process will be used to identify gaps in knowledge regarding harmful algae in Canadian marine ecosystems that are vital to management decisions on coastal and industry developments. Such information and advice should include determining potential impacts and consequences to the Arctic and marine mammals from HAB toxins which have been detected in Northern areas. Users of this information will include DFO’s Ecosystems and Oceans Science (e.g., Ecosystem Stressors program), Fisheries and Aquaculture Management, Ecosystems Management (e.g., protection of fish and fish habitat; protection, management and recovery of species at risk; regulation and provision of advice for projects occurring in or near waters that support fish), and Oceans Management (e.g., Marine Protected Areas). End users and external clients may include the aquaculture industry, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Provincial/Territorial Governments, and Indigenous Peoples.

Objective

1. Review the national scope of harmful algal events and their impacts in Canada’s Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific marine waters, with a focus on trends over the past 30 years;
2. Determine areas or issues of particular or emerging concern with respect to impacts and consequences to Canadian marine ecosystems and how they may impact core DFO responsibilities;
3. Identify key knowledge gaps that limit DFO’s ability to evaluate or inform management decisions regarding the impacts and consequences of these harmful algal events; and
4. Recommend actions to address these knowledge gaps.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Proceedings
• Research Document

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Ecosystems Management, Oceans Management, Aquaculture Management, SARA)
• Other federal government departments (Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Environment and Climate Change Canada)
• Academia
• Invited experts
• Aquaculture industry
• Representatives of Indigenous Organizations