Consultation Booklet

SECTION 2: SELECTING THE NEXT AREA OF INTEREST FOR THE EASTERN SCOTIAN SHELF

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is leading a process to select an Area of Interest (AOI) for Marine Protected Area (MPA) establishment under the Oceans Act on the Eastern Scotian Shelf. This process is linked to a longer term effort to plan and establish a marine protected area network for the broader Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy region. This section describes the process for selecting and advancing the next AOI on the Eastern Scotian Shelf. The steps in this process are:

1. Map ecological priority areas
2. Identify candidate AOIs
3. Consult stakeholders
4. Recommend an AOI to the Minister
5. Announce the AOI
6. Begin the MPA designation process
7. Continue protected area network planning (see diagram on pages 6-7)

STEP 1: MAP ECOLOGICAL PRIORITY AREAS

In June 2008, a working group of DFO scientists and conservation planners began a process to develop a network of protected areas for the offshore waters of the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy region. The first phase of this longer term planning process has focused on identifying ecological priority areas that will serve as the foundation for a marine protected area network in the region. This work builds on efforts over the past decade by DFO and other organizations to describe the marine resources and natural environment of the region. For example, ecologically and biologically significant areas were identified through an expert workshop hosted by DFO in 2006.

The protected area network planning effort has used a systematic approach that includes setting clear ecological goals and objectives, collecting and mapping the best available species and habitat data, and identifying a suite of ecological priority areas in the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy region that would achieve the goals and objectives.

International guidance suggests that effective protected area networks must conserve both distinct, unique or significant areas as well as representative examples of all ecosystem or habitat types in a region. Following this direction, the ecological goals for the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy region are to: (1) protect examples of all habitat types in the region, and (2) protect ecologically distinctive or significant areas in the region. A suite of more specific objectives were set under these broad goals (see Box 3).

The data were evaluated using Marxan, a globally recognized computer program that assists planners, scientists, and stakeholders in planning networks that meet a wide range of conservation goals and objectives. The output of this initial analysis identified a suite of sites - or ecological priority areas - that collectively satisfy the ecological goals and objectives of the network (Figure 1). Many of the priority areas are located on the Eastern Scotian Shelf, the current area of focus. These findings were first presented at the 4th Eastern Scotian Shelf Integrated Management (ESSIM) Forum Workshop in November 2008.

Figure 1. Preliminary ecological priority areas in the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy region. Lighter areas (green to yellow) show where conservation goals can be met most efficiently in terms of area required. Lighter areas on the Eastern Scotian Shelf represent priority areas considered in the current AOI selection process.

STEP 2: IDENTIFY CANDIDATE AOIs

A series of evaluations were completed to select three candidate AOIs from the ecological priority areas identified on the Eastern Scotian Shelf. First, the individual priority areas were examined by DFO to determine how well they fit with the Oceans Act MPA criteria. Areas that were not strongly aligned with the Act were not given further consideration. Next, a range of management factors were examined for the remaining sites. These included overlap with current or planned economic activities and/or existing or planned conservation measures. For example, the slope area between Shortland Canyon and the Laurentian Channel has a number of important ecological features; but it also encompasses a coral conservation area and proposed critical habitat for northern bottlenose whales. The existing and planned conservation measures will help to achieve the conservation objectives for this area so it was not selected as a candidate AOI. This evaluation stage also involved discussions with the ESSIM Stakeholder Advisory Council, federal and provincial agencies, and other stakeholder groups. The three sites identified as candidate AOIs are: Middle Bank, Misaine Bank & Eastern Shoal, and St Anns Bank (Figure 2). Only one of the areas will be recommended as an AOI. The priority areas not selected as an AOI will continue to be evaluated to determine if any additional management measures are required to conserve important features (see Step 7).

Figure 2: The candidate AOIs on the Eastern Scotian Shelf include Middle Bank (1), Misaine Bank & Eastern Shoal (2), and St Anns Bank (3). One of the sites will be recommended as an AOI.

STEP 3: CONSULT STAKEHOLDERS

The public, stakeholders, and relevant government bodies have an opportunity to provide feedback on the candidate AOIs through a 60-day consultation period. The degree of support for the different candidates will be an important consideration in recommending an AOI for MPA designation under the Oceans Act. Feedback will be gathered primarily through this consultation booklet and meetings with Aboriginal organizations, other stakeholders, and the ESSIM Stakeholder Advisory Council.

STEP 4: RECOMMEND AN AOI TO THE MINISTER

Following the consultation period, all feedback will be synthesized by DFO and one AOI will be recommended for approval by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. The remaining candidate AOIs and other priority areas will continue to be evaluated under the ESSIM Initiative or other processes to determine if further conservation measures are required (see Step 7).

STEP 5: ANNOUNCE THE AOI

DFO will formally announce the selection of one AOI and the intention of the Government of Canada to designate the area as an Oceans Act MPA. Information on the MPA establishment process and expectations concerning interim protection for the AOI will also be provided at that time.

STEP 6: BEGIN THE MPA DESIGNATION PROCESS

The AOI announcement will mark the start of the MPA designation process, which will include additional consultations to develop specific conservation objectives, regulations, and boundaries for the area selected (see Section 1). The regulations will state what activities will be permitted in different parts of the MPA. In developing these regulations, due consideration will be given to the costs and benefits of various management options. Final designation will occur once the regulations are published in the Canada Gazette II. It is expected that the MPA will be designated by 2012.

STEP 7: CONTINUE PROTECTED AREA NETWORK PLANNING

The protected area network planning process for the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy region will continue following the AOI announcement. The planning process will help guide the selection of future protected areas and serve as a core component of any conservation planning activities taking place through the broader integrated ocean management initiatives. As part of this longer term effort, the candidate AOIs that were not selected, along with the other priority areas identified through the planning process, will continue to be evaluated to identify required management measures. A range of management tools is available under the Fisheries Act, Species at Risk Act, and other legislation and policies. Any new measures will be developed and implemented in collaboration with regulators and stakeholders. Where appropriate, site evaluations and stakeholder discussions will take place through ESSIM or other integrated management initiatives. Some of the sites may also be of future interest to other protected area agencies, such as Parks Canada or the Canadian Wildlife Service. Finally, certain areas may not require specific conservation measures.

The protected area network planning process for the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy region will evolve over time as new information is built into the analysis. An evaluation of the network goals and objectives, and the ecological priority areas is planned for 2009-2010, which will ensure the foundation of the network is based on the current understanding of the marine ecosystem and the best overall approaches to conserving biodiversity. Work is also underway to determine how coastal areas could be incorporated into a protected area network in the region. In addition, national level discussions on the creation of networks of marine protected areas are underway, with additional guidance expected in the near future.
Over the long-term, implementation of a protected area network will require involvement by stakeholders and other regulators. A comprehensive, coordinated approach to the selection and management of marine protected areas and other conservation measures in the region will result in an effective network that helps restore and maintain healthy ecosystems that support sustainable resource use.

For the purpose of this booklet, the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy region includes the Scotian Shelf, the Bay of Fundy, and the Canadian portion of the Gulf of Maine. It does not include all coastal areas.

The proceedings of the workshop to identify ecologically and biologically significant areas on the Scotian Shelf are available at: DFO/FSRS Workshop on Inshore Ecosystems and Significant Areas of the Scotian Shelf; January 16 - 19, 2006.

More information on Marxan is available at: http://www.uq.edu.au/marxan/.