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Lessons learned on the path towards meaningful ecosystem- based management Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support Tools Development in Canada

Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support Tools Development in Canada

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Page 1: Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support Tools Development in Canada

Lessons learned on the path towards meaningful ecosystem-

based management

Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support Tools Development in

Canada

Page 2: Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support Tools Development in Canada

www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca2

Canada’s Approach to Oceans Management• Oceans Act (1996) and Canada’s Oceans Strategy (2005) commitments

to:– Integrated Ocean Management (IOM) plans– National network of Marine Protected Areas– Marine Environmental Quality guidelines and standards

• Key premise: human activities are dependant on the health and viability of marine ecosystems

• Integrated Oceans Management: – Seeks to maintain the integrity of marine ecosystems & minimize

user conflicts by proactively identifying key ecological & human use values, collaboratively establishing objectives & developing and implementing plans to ensure the optimal use of ocean spaces.

– An ecosystem-based approach to management

Page 3: Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support Tools Development in Canada

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Integrated Oceans Management Planning Process

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Bio-physical Overviews

Human Use Analyses and Activity Maps

Key Marine Ecosystem Features Identified

Planning Areas Identified

Oceans Governance Bodies

Strategic Management Plans completed

Initial Achievements / Products

Marine Protected Areas established

Marine Protected Area Network Planning

Page 5: Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support Tools Development in Canada

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EvaluationХ Most products were too general to be

usefulХ Lengthy and resource intensiveХ Planning process with broad

expectationsХ Lack of focus on key issues and

responsible authoritiesХ Difficult to demonstrate results

Information products & governance processes promoted stakeholder engagement

Increased scientific support & guidance Identification of significant ecosystem

components & functions (e.g. EBSAs) Advanced learning on how to proceed

(i.e. Focus on what is ecologically & socio-economically important)

Page 6: Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support Tools Development in Canada

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Focus on Problem Formulation• What are the planning priorities?

• What economic activities are occurring where?

• What is at risk?

– What are the ecological impacts?

– What are the socio-economic impacts?

– What are the trade-offs?

• Who is responsible for taking action?

• What management measures exist / what are the gaps?

• What specific governance is required?

Page 7: Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support Tools Development in Canada

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Adoption of an integrated Risk-based Approach:

• Identifying & characterizing marine use activities– Assessments to identify ecological stressors & potential

conflicts between uses

• Assessing individual & cumulative impacts of activities

– Development of ‘Pathways-of-Effects’ models for marine/coastal ecosystems

• Identifying science-based conservation limits– To ensure structural viability & functioning of marine

ecosystems

• Establishing operational objectives for planning areas

– Development of desirable state targets for ecosystems within context of Integrated Oceans Management plans

Page 8: Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support Tools Development in Canada

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New IOM/EBM Tools• We need another “information layer” on potential impacts to

establish the links between ecosystem and human activities to address effects and to select management priorities

• News tools under development:– Pathways of Effects (PoEs)

• What are the impacts of human activities on ecosystem components? (Activities Ecosystem)

• What are the impacts of affected ecosystems goods and services on other human uses? (Ecosystem Activities)

– Integrated Risk Analysis Framework• What is the likelihood that ecological effects may occur or are occurring as a result of

one or more identified pressures? • Way to prioritize issues based on actual risk versus perceived risk• A science-based framework from which to engage marine users and regulators

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Step 1: Identify Ecological Values

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Step 2: Geospatial Analysis of Key Pressures

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Step 3: Pathways of Effects to Identify Interactions and Potential Cumulative Effects

Pinnipeds and Cetaceans

Noise

Collisions

Entanglement

Fisheries(Lobster Pots)

Oil & gas

Fisheries(Gillnets)

Fisheries (Crab Pots)

Marine Transport

e.g. Human activities and pressures on pinnipeds and cetaceans

Page 12: Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support Tools Development in Canada

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E.g.: Marine Shipping Pathways of EffectsMarine

TransportatonShipping

Operations (Under way)

In PortLoading /Unloading

NoiseIncreased

Nutrients In Water

Oils / Contaminants

In Water

Turbulent Vertical Mixing

Introduced Alien Species

Change in Fish Survival, Growth,

Reproduction

Change in Water Quality

(Contaminants)

Change inWater Quality

(Nutrients)

Reduced Feeding Success

Aquaculture Tourism & Recreation

Fisheries & Fish

Processing

Reduced Air Quality

Reduced BreedingSuccess

Structure

Decommission

Change in Benthic Habitat

Ballast Water Exchange

Discharge Waste Streams

Discharge Oils / Contaminants

Oils / Contaminants

In Water

Discharge Oils / Contaminants

Accidents

Discharge Waste Streams

Increased Nutrients In

Water

Larval Entrainment

IncreasedStress

Fish Populations / Fish Community

Marine Mammal Populations

Change in Phytoplankton

Change in Zooplankton

Discharge Atmospheric

Pollutants

Change in Benthic

Invertebrates

Change in Macrophytes

Benthic Community Human Health

Change in Water Quality

(Contaminants)

Fish Harvest

Biodiversity

Waves

Change In Riparian

Vegetation

1

Change in Benthic Habitat

2

Man

ouve

ring

near

sho

reSec

tor A

ctiv

ities

and

Sub

-act

iviti

esPr

essu

res

Impa

cts

Eco

syst

em

Com

pone

nts

Inte

grat

ive

End

-poi

nts

Soc

io-C

ultu

ral

Val

ues

Water Quality

Collisions

Injury / Mortality

Shallow

Climate

PMVOCSoxNOx

CO2

Page 13: Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support Tools Development in Canada

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Step 4: Risk Assessment

Conduct risk assessment with existing data/information

Determine which pressures and associated “paths” affect the EBSA feature: e.g. pinnipeds and cetaceans

Based on the results of the (fictive) assessment, collisions, followed bynoise from vessel traffic and seismic surveys, are the pressures that can the greatest affect on pinnipeds and cetaceans in and near West Coast of Newfoundland EBSA.

Page 14: Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support Tools Development in Canada

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Step 5: Establish targets, thresholds and indicators for component(s) at risk

Collision

Northwest AtlanticBlue Whale population

Avoidance

Mortality

Injury

Pressure Indicators Direct Indirect

Thresholds

Number of boats in the area

Population number

State Indicators

Targets

Size and speed of boats

To reach a level of 1,000 mature individuals or 70% of maximum historic population size

Pathways of EffectsPressures on Northwest Atlantic

Blue Whale population

Pressure

Effects

Ecosystemcomponent

To reduce collisions to less than one a year

Page 15: Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support Tools Development in Canada

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Step 6: Evaluate Existing Policy / Management Measures

• Identify accountable regulatory and/or non-regulatory management authorities

• Complete gap analysis to determine where management measures may not be present, enforced or effective in mitigating affects

• Evaluate effectiveness of existing management measures

• Identify need for new or adjustment to existing management measures– Select and implement new management

measures (e.g. codes of practice, regulations, standards, incentives, protection measures, etc) as required.

Page 16: Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support Tools Development in Canada

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Next Steps: New Integrative Tools

• Ongoing Pathways of Effects / Risk Assessment• Additional Geospatial development

– Targeted improvements in marine use information• Valuation of marine ecosystem goods and services

– To support cost/benefit analysis of management actions • Evaluation of existing/Development of new management

tools (e.g. codes of practices, standards, guidelines, etc)• Develop monitoring and reporting frameworks linked to

ecosystem priorities

Page 17: Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support Tools Development in Canada

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Thank you!

Darren WilliamsManager, Ocean Policy and Planning Unit

Fisheries and Oceans [email protected]