A collaborative framework for joint DFO/NOAA ocean acidification research and monitoring

Table of Contents

• Complete Text
• 1.0 Introduction
  • 1.1 Background and context
  • 1.2 DFO mission as related to ocean acidification
  • 1.3 NOAA mission as related to ocean acidification
  • 1.4 Coordination framework
  • 1.5 Value proposition
• 2.0 Monitoring
  • 2.1 Integrated monitoring
  • 2.2 Priority regions
  • 2.3 Biological indicators
• 3.0 Research, modelling and experimentation
  • 3.1 Modelling initiative
  • 3.2 Establish research priorities
• 4.0 Data and information
  • 4.1 Data sharing
  • 4.2 Inventories of science capacity
  • 4.3 Communication
• 5.0 Supports for collaboration
  • 5.1 Best practices
  • 5.2 Sharing capacity, expertise, and methodologies
  • 5.3 Other partners
  • 5.4 Technology
  • 5.5 Platforms, ships, moorings, and laboratories
• 6.0 Conclusion
  • 6.1 Summary of actionable items
  • 6.2 Future meetings
• Annex: Governance

Annex: Governance

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)

At DFO, ocean acidification work is carried out nationally through the Aquatic Climate Change Adaptation Services Program (ACCASP) within the Ecosystems and Oceans Science Sector of DFO and coordinated by the Ocean Sciences Branch in national headquarters. The mission of ACCASP is to conduct the science, research and monitoring necessary to identify climate change impacts and vulnerabilities, develop adaptation tools, and improve ocean forecasting in vulnerable coastal regions to inform Departmental decisions related to adapting fisheries and oceans management and coastal infrastructure. At the national level, the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM), Ecosystems and Oceans Science (EOS), has the overall accountability for ACCASP development and delivery. At the regional level, the Regional Directors of Science (RDSs) are responsible for the Program delivery and have a line reporting relationship to Regional Director Generals. The RDSs also take part on the Science Executive Committee (SEC) which is chaired by the ADM EOS and is responsible for resource allocation as well as setting the direction and monitoring the performance of all Science programs.

The Ocean Sciences Branch (OSB) of the Ecosystem Science Directorate located in National Headquarters is responsible for the overall coordination and national delivery of the program, providing national policy direction, strategic advice, and liaison with other DFO sectors, federal departments, provincial governments, national industry, non-governmental organizations and international bodies (e.g. IOC). Also part of OSB is the Marine Environmental Data Section (MEDS), which is responsible for managing, long-term archiving and disseminating in situ ocean data collected by DFO and real-time data acquired through national and international programs.

The majority of Ocean Acidification activities take place in the regions. Ocean Acidification research scientists & technical staff are mainly located in seven regional science institutes: the North West Atlantic Fisheries Centre in St. John’s Newfoundland; The Freshwater Institute in Winnipeg, Manitoba; the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; the St. Andrews Biological Station in St. Andrew’s New Brunswick; the Maurice Lamontagne Institute in Mont-Joli Quebec; the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo; and the Institute of Ocean Sciences in Sidney, British Columbia. The regional science institutes are responsible for data collection, quality control and submission to data centres.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) is part of NOAA’s Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) line office. The mission of OAP is to better prepare society to respond to changing ocean conditions and resources by expanding understanding of ocean acidification, through interdisciplinary partnerships, nationally and internationally. OAP activities are guided by the OAP Director, who reports to the Assistant Administrator for OAR.

OAP leads ocean acidification activities across NOAA including in collaboration with NOAA Fisheries and funds investigators at NOAA-affiliated labs across the U.S. and at academic institutions through Federal Funding Opportunities (FFOs). OAP also collaborates with other federal agencies such as the US National Science Foundation, NASA, and the US Geological Survey, on OA research through the Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification (IWG-OA), which is chaired by the OAP director, and partners with a range of stakeholders including academic institutions, cooperative institutes, fishers, and hatchery owners.

OAP, in collaboration with the NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) supports regional associations including Coastal Acidification Networks (CANs), and the Pacific Coast Collaborative in their OA observing inventory activities. Internationally, OAP is a major contributor to the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON).

ECCC-NOAA Memorandum of Understanding

Ocean acidification is one of the thematic areas for collaboration included under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NOAA and the Department of the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) for Collaboration on Weather, Climate and Other Earth Systems for the Enhancement of Health, Safety and Economic Prosperity. The DFO-NOAA OA Coordination Committee will be governed according to the MOU and will report to the ECCC-NOAA Cooperation Steering Committee (CSC), which is responsible for the oversight and coordination of the activities under the MOU.

The following diagram illustrates a proposed new governance structure for the DFO-NOAA Collaboration Framework which will be implemented in 2017. This work will include finalizing the governance model and the formation of the required governance committees with Terms of Reference identifying mandate, accountabilities, decision making processes, criteria for priorities, communication, reporting, etc.