Tana Worcester Tana Worcester

Centre for Science Advice Centre for Science Advice

Maritimes Region, Canada Maritimes Region, Canada

Ecosystem-Based Management Ecosystem-Based Management on the Eastern Scotian Shelf. on the Eastern Scotian Shelf.

ESSIMESSIM

The ESSIM AreaThe ESSIM Area

…a shared commitment to work together for our ocean and our future…

ESSIM Objectives ESSIM Objectives Governance

Human Use

Ecosystem

Maintain:

• Biodiversity

• Productivity

• Habitat

Ecosystem Objectives Ecosystem Objectives

Conserve community diversity and habitat integrity.

Protect and recover species-at-risk.

Prevent introduction & spread of invasive species.

Maintain a healthy trophic structure.

Lessons Learned Lessons Learned

Broad objectives can be useful.

Should be relevant across a range of scales and activities.

Dialogue between science, managers and stakeholders is essential.

Objectives will evolve over time.

Don’t get bogged down in semantics!

Surficial GeologyBenthic Disturbance

Scope for Growth

Habitat Characterization Habitat Characterization

CodBlue Whale

Clams / Scallops

^

Corals

Ecologically Significant Ecologically Significant Species and Areas Species and Areas

Scotian Slope/Shelf Break

Emerald Bank & Western Bank

The Gully

Gully Trough

The Noodles

Laurentian Channel & slope

Deep holes north of Banquereau Bank

Emerald Basin and The Patch

Eastern Shoal

Shortland Canyon

Middle Bank

Sable Island Area

Haldimand Canyon

Canso Bank

The Bull Pen, the Cow Pen and the Owl

Deep holes of Canso area

Banquereau Bank - fish sub-populations

Logan Canyon

Sambro Bank

Lessons Learned Lessons Learned

Ecosystem characterization is useful in developing scientific understanding.

It is also time and resource intensive.

How will it be used for management?

e.g., development of an ecosystem model to be used in scenario testing?

e.g., development of a decision-support tool for conflict resolution?

e.g., used in MPA network design?

Drilling, Cables, WasteSeismic NoiseShipping

Impact Analysis Impact Analysis

Lessons Learned Lessons Learned

Lots of information available on the impacts of specific activities – still work to be done.

Cumulative effects are harder to monitor, map and evaluate.

GIS can be a helpful tool for impact analysis and decision-making, but need better georeferencing of human activities.

Need indicators that apply across a variety of activity types.

Indicators and Reference Points Indicators and Reference Points

Lessons Learned Lessons Learned

Long-time series data are a valuable resource – use what you have.

Determine what types of information managers actually use to make decisions.

Trends or rates of change can be useful when limits and thresholds aren’t known.

Weight of evidence approach can provide a strong basis for decisions.

However, theory/modelling is also required.

DFO Maritimes Science Role DFO Maritimes Science Role

Provision of chemical, physical and biological data.

Oceanographic modelling.

Research on impacts: aquaculture, fisheries (by-catch, benthic impacts), oil and gas.

Data management.