Canada’s Approach to Marine Spatial Planning – an ecosystem-

based approach

Darren Williams & Danna CampbellOcean Policy and Planning UnitFisheries and Oceans Canada

Geographic Context• Marine area equivalent to 2/3rds of Canada’s landmass

• Longest coastline and 2nd largest continental shelf in the world

• $39B in economic activity and >326,000 jobs

• Significant social, cultural and spiritual value for First Nations and Aboriginal communities

• Sparsely populated coastline / few urban centers

• Growing intensity and complexity of marine uses in specific areas– Multi-generational community dependant fishery– Offshore oil and gas 85%– Tourism 41%– Marine transportation 23%– Massive offshore wind, wave and tidal energy potential– Proven mineral, metal and aggregate deposits

Legal and Policy Context for Marine Planning

• 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

IOM vs. MSPSimilarities:

– Ecosystem-based approach to management– Respond to increasing number and scope of human activities in marine

environment– Aimed at reducing fragmentation of policies and decision-making– Follow a logical sequence of planning steps

Differences:– MSP focused on allocation of oceans space whereas IOM is focused on

establishing an ecological foundation for all marine use sectors– MSP is focused on the development of a “plan” whereas IOM is focused on

integration of management authorities and tools from across a variety of marine use sectors to achieve ecological and socio-economic outcomes.

Conclusion:– MSP is complimentary to IOM planning but not always required

Current Priorities

Identification of Required Management Measures

Strategies / Action Plans

Indicators

Monitoring

Risk Assessment(threats analysis)

Priority Setting & Pathways of Effects Development

Work Completed to Date

Define and Assess Planning AreaIdentify & assess availableinformation & knowledge

Socio-Economic & Cultural Overview & Assessment

- Social demographic data - Industry use & potential- Cultural use and priorities- Existing licenses and rights

Ecosystem Overviews & Assessments

- Geophysical information- Ecological characteristics and

processes- What resources exist (e.g.

location, quantity, quality, etc)

Identification of Valued Economic, Social and Cultural

Components:e.g. VESCAs

Identification of Key Ecosystem Components:e.g. EBSAs,

Significant Species,Community properties, etc

Identification of Conservation Objectives

Identification of Socio-economic Objectives

Strategic IOM Plan(High Level Goals and Objectives)

IntegratedOceanManagementPlanning Process

Work Completed to Date

Define & Assess Planning Area

Identify & assess availableinformation & knowledge

Socio-Economic & Cultural Overview & Assessment

- Social demographic data - Industry use & potential- Cultural use and priorities- Existing licenses and rights

Ecosystem Overviews & Assessments

- Geophysical information- Ecological characteristics

and processes- What resources exist (e.g.

location, quantity, quality, etc)

Identification of Valued Economic, Social and Cultural Components:

e.g. VESCAs

Identification of Key Ecosystem Components:

e.g. Ecologically and Biologically Significant

Areas,Significant Species,

Community properties

Identification of Conservation ObjectivesIdentification of

Socio-economic Objectives

Strategic IOM Plan(High Level Goals and Objectives)

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)

Initial Framework: Large Ocean Management Areas

Characterized by:• Important living and

non-living marine resources

• High biological diversity and productivity

• Many stakeholders competing for ocean space and resources

• EBSAs are tools for calling attention to an area that has particularly high ecological or biological significance, to facilitate provision of a greater-than-usual degree of risk aversion in management of activities in such areas.

Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA)

Current Directions for IOM in Canada:

• A shift away from LOMAs to marine bioregions and “hot spots”

Marine Bioregions of Canada

Current Directions for IOM in Canada:• A shift away from LOMAs to marine bioregions and “hot spots”

• Increased application of risk-based analysis and management including:– Identifying & characterizing stressors associated with marine use

activities– Development of risk assessment models– Identifying science-based conservation targets and limits– Establishing operational objectives and guidance for marine use activities

Pathways of Effects for marine/coastal activities

Ecosystem Component

ProvisioningServices

CulturalServices

SupportingServices

RegulatingServices

Socio-Cultural & EconomicActivities

Dependencies

Drivers

Pressures

Aquatic EcosystemGoods andServices

AgricultureForestryFisheriesMunicipalities Industries LandTransportation

Residential & Commercial

FishProcessing Aquaculture Marine

TransportationMining Oil and GasTourism &Recreation

RenewableEnergy

AgricultureForestryFisheriesMunicipalities Industries LandTransportation

Residential & Commercial

FishProcessing Aquaculture Marine

TransportationMining Oil and GasTourism &Recreation

RenewableEnergy

Sedimentload

changes

Introduction of

contaminants

Introduction of

pathogens

Habitat connectivity

changes

Biota changes

Hydrologic changes

Nutrient regime

changes

Introduction of Invasive

Species

Riparian zonechanges

Habitat changes

Fish harvest

Agriculturalproduction

Water source

Water quality

Nature recreation

Aesthetics Cultures

SpiritualityNutrientcycling

Water purification

Photo-synthesis

Decompo-sition

Flood attenuation

Waste assimila-

tion

Carbon sequestra-

tion

Others

Potential mechanismfor impacts

Ecosystem Component Ecosystem Component Ecosystem Component Valued Ecosystem

Components (VECs)

Mechanism generatingpressures

Ecologicalendpoints

Mechanism for Socio-Cultural& Economiceffects

Total Socio-Cultural & Economic Values

Mechanism generatingecologicalimpacts

Mechanism for changes in goods & services

Risk Assessment

Current Directions for IOM in Canada:• A shift away from LOMAs to marine bioregions and “hot spots”

• Increased application of risk-based analysis and management including:

– Identifying & characterizing stressors associated with marine use activities

– Development of risk assessment models– Identifying science-based conservation targets and limits– Establishing operational objectives and guidance for marine use activities

• Increased use of geospatial analysis and reporting tools

19

States Pressures

Reports

*B

iodiversity

Marine life

Habitats

Oceanography

*S

ea floor integrity (benthic)

*Food w

ebs

*N

on-indigenous S

pecies

*Fisheries

*E

utrophication

*H

ydrographical condition

*C

ontaminants

*M

arine Litter

*E

nergy (noise)

Clim

ate change

Ocean acidification

Wind farm

s, cables

Radioactive

substances

Offshore oil and gas

Tourism and recreation

Cum

ulative pressures

Contam

inants in seafood

ESTR M M MM M M M M M M M M M

SOTO:

P, B, G, P* I X M X X X X X M X X

ESSIM X X X X X X X C X M X X C C

HELCOM X M M M M X X X X X X X

OSPAR X M M M M X X X X X X X X X X X X M

Legend:* PBGB, Beaufort, GOSLIM, PNCIMA* MSFD descriptorX= Detailed analysis of component with area specific dataM= Brief mention of componentI= IndirectC= Coming

• Generally, the focus of Canadian reports has been on describing the states/ecosystem features. International reports focus on pressures and visually display the intensity and location through mapping products.

Comparative analysis of International and National reports on marine ecosystem states and pressures

Recommendations

Current Directions for IOM in Canada:• A shift away from LOMAs to marine bioregions and “hot spots”

• Increased application of risk-based analysis and management including:– Identifying & characterizing stressors associated with marine use

activities– Development of risk assessment models– Identifying science-based conservation targets and limits– Establishing operational objectives and guidance for marine use activities

• Increased use of geospatial analysis and reporting tools

• Increased coordination and use of marine conservation tools through development and application of marine protected area network planning and marine environmental quality provisions (e.g. industrial codes of practice, regulations, etc).

(Bocaccio is a rockfish

found in the coastal

waters of the eastern Pacific ocean)

MPA networks can protect key life stages of important species

Thank you!

Darren.Williams@dfo-mpo.gc.caDanna.Campbell@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Ecosystem-Based / Integrated Oceans Management• Taking into account marine ecosystem health in the management of

human activities affecting marine and coastal areas (including land-based activities)

• Ensuring that significant components (areas, species, properties) which are key to maintaining ecosystem structure and function are not significantly impacted by activities (including cumulative effects)

• Significant components become management priorities as they are translated into conservation objectives and limits in Integrated Oceans Management plans

• Other development objectives for Integrated Oceans Management (social, economic, cultural) are set within the bounds defined by conservation objectives