Terms of Reference

Review of the monitoring indicators for the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area, validation of the choice of measures and state of knowledge

Regional Advisory Meeting – Quebec Region

April 27-29, 2021
Virtual meeting

Chairperson: Guy Cantin

Context

In March 2019, the Banc-des-Americains Marine Protected Area (MPA) was designated as a marine protected area under the Canada Oceans Act (SOR/2019-50). It also benefits from a dual protection status under the Canada-Quebec Agreement on the Joint Marine Protected Area Project on American Banks. This MPA has three conservation objectives (COs): 1) conserve and protect benthic habitats; 2) conserve and protect pelagic habitats and forage species; and 3) promote the recovery of at-risk whales and wolffish (Gauthier et al. 2013). A draft ecological monitoring plan in support of these COs was peer-reviewed (and listed ecosystem components and indicators that should be monitored and identified existing or to-be-developed surveys required for this monitoring) in 2018 (Faille et al. 2019; DFO 2019).

A Banc-des-Américains MPA Monitoring Science Committee was established in January 2019 to finalize the ecological monitoring plan, oversee the implementation of monitoring, fill gaps (development of new surveys), and produce monitoring reports. To complete the ecological monitoring plan, it was necessary to identify priority issues and revise the indicators by defining the relevant measures to be used for each. The choice of measures was guided, among other things, by the information obtained from the available databases. The spatial and temporal scales for the calculation of the measures had also to be specified. In addition, to guide the production of future monitoring reports, a proposed methodology for assessing the status of each indicator was developed to ensure that the results presented would adequately inform management. This review will provide an opportunity to present the historical data and ecological picture of the MPA at the time of its establishment.

Objectives

The objectives of this review are to:

1. Review the priority issues identified to guide the evaluation of indicators
2. Validate the addition of new indicators: grey seal, scientific activities. Fishing violations, new pressure, ghost gear.
3. Propose methods to assess the status of each indicator.
4. Justify and validate the choice of monitoring measures for each indicator. Detail the surveys and databases to be used, and present the results (state of knowledge).
5. Selection of key/priority indicators for use in interim reports (between full monitoring reports).

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Proceedings
• Research Document

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Sciences, Marine Planning and Conservation and Fisheries management sectors)
• Parks Canada
• Aboriginal communities/organizations
• Environmental non-governmental organizations

References

• DFO. 2019. Review of ecosystem features, indicators and surveys for ecological monitoring of the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2019/033.
• Faille, G., Laurian, C., McQuinn, I., Roy, V., Galbraith, P., Savenkoff, C., Côté, G. and Benoît, H.P. 2019. Review of the indicators and recommendations for an Ecological Monitoring Plan for the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2019/065. v + 53 p.
• Gauthier, P., Gauthier, J., et Bernier, J. 2013. Rapport de l’atelier de consultation intersectorielle sur le site d’intérêt du banc des Américains en vue de l’établissement d’une zone de protection marine. Rapp. Manuscr. Can. des Sci. halieutiques Aquat. 3021: iv + 85 p.