Terms of Reference

Science advice for assessing cumulative effects in support of policy development and regulatory decision-making

National Advisory Meeting – National Capital Region

March 8-12, 12-4:30pm (EST)
Virtual Meeting

Chairperson: Keith Clarke

Context

Through the Canadian Science Advice Secretariat (CSAS), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)’s Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP) has requested that DFO Science conduct a peer review on assessing cumulative effects in support of policy development and regulatory decision-making.

FFHPP has been interested in science advice related to cumulative effects at various points in time. The requirement for science advice on cumulative effects became more pressing due to: (1) revisions to the Fisheries Act which include the consideration of cumulative effects under paragraph 34.1(1)(d); and, (2) the recent program revitalization and creation of “Integrated Planning” program within the FFHPP. Thus, science advice is necessary to support: regulatory decisions under the revised Fisheries Act, Species at Risk Act, and Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations; to support ongoing policy development that will determine how cumulative effects will be considered in the FFHPP; and, to support a greater understanding of cumulative effects on the broader landscape scale for planning purposes.

While DFO Science has provided some advice on cumulative effects and related topics in the past, previous work has been largely marine-focused and advice specific to freshwater habitat has been limited. Freshwater ecosystems substantially differ from marine environments (e.g., in size, level of connectivity, and proximity to particular anthropogenic activities). Moreover, understanding the cumulative effects from multiple human activities is a complicated endeavor. One of the challenges is the many factors that play a role, for example: characteristics of the landscape (abiotic), characteristics of the species present (biotic), and characteristics of the human activities. This necessitates a focused review on key considerations for including cumulative effects in freshwater ecosystems as it relates to departmental decision-making. This science advisory process will focus on assessing and considering cumulative effects in freshwater ecosystems exclusively.

Working Papers: It is expected that this process will review two working papers prepared by researchers in DFO’s Ecosystems and Ocean Science Sector (EOSS). One of these working papers is targeted to address the broader scale context for considering cumulative effects in integrated planning and the other is targeted to address the needs within program decision making. The two working papers are intended to be closely connected and coordinated.

Objectives

The specific objectives of the working papers developed for this peer-review are listed below. These objectives are not prioritized but are listed based on representation in the two working papers.
Understanding cumulative effects in integrated planning:

1. Outline the state of knowledge on how cumulative effects are currently understood to manifest on the landscape.
2. Identify approaches currently used to understand and adaptively manage cumulative effects on the landscape.

Considering cumulative effects to support Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program decision making: 

3. Evaluate the relevant elements within the current risk approach to determine if sufficient information is gathered to inform the consideration of cumulative effects.
1. Identify recommendations for additional elements to be included in the current risk approach to inform the consideration of cumulative effects.
2. Identify the fundamental information needed about species and habitats in the region of a project when considering cumulative effects.
4. Provide advice on key characteristics required to determine how habitat sensitivity can be determined in the context of cumulative effects.

It is expected that this process will also have synergy with other current CSAS processes focused on freshwater habitat science advice, namely revisiting Pathways of Effects and estimating impacts and offsets for death of fish.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Proceedings
• Research Document(s)

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)

• Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program

• Other federal departments
• Provincial government
• Academia
• Invited experts