MPA network planning in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion Where does Marxan fit in? Introduction to Marxan Training June 23, 2011 Marty King Oceans and Coastal Management Division Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Outline Background –Canada’s commitments to networks –Past MPA network planning work –Scotian Shelf Bioregion Why Marxan? Selecting an Area of Interest Moving forward with MPA network planning Challenges

Background Canada’s commitments to MPA networks –International: Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) –Networks that protect at least 10% by 2020 –National: Oceans Act –DFO lead network planning –Major partners: »Parks Canada and Canadian Wildlife Service »Provinces Health of the Oceans (HOTO) Initiative ( ) –6 new Oceans Act MPAs by 2012 »1 on Eastern Scotian Shelf –National Framework

Background Past network planning work in the Bioregion –Initial focus on marine habitat classification ( ) –Identification of EBSAs (2006) –WWF-CLF “Marxan Report” (2006) –ESSIM Plan (2007) –Initial Marxan analysis for HOTO AOI selection (2008) –Coastal conservation planning ( ) Current focus: Developing “Bioregional Framework”

Scotian Shelf Bioregion ?

Why Marxan? Capable of analyzing many data layers Helps find spatially efficient solutions Flexible –Identifies multiple network scenarios for the same set of targets –Can use a variety of data types –Able to lock areas in & out Repeatable Internationally recognized

Selecting an Area of Interest Results of Initial Marxan analysis

Selecting an Area of Interest 14 priority areas 3 candidate AOIs

St Anns Bank Area of Interest

Contributions to the network targets: –Representation: 4 of 4 natural disturbance regions 2 of 4 scope for growth regions 3 of 29 seabed feature types 1 of 1 high topographic roughness layer –EBSAs (special features): 2 of 8 depleted species layers 4 of 32 significant species layers 9 of 12 dominant invert species layers 1 of 3 biodiversity hot spot layers 0 of 2 coldwater corals layers 0 of 3 endangered whale species layers

What we heard (about network planning) Stakeholders want to be involved earlier Marxan analysis needs to be put through formal Science Review process Socioeconomics should be built into the analysis from the outset … so, now what…?

1.Identify and involve governments, Aboriginal groups, and stakeholders 2.Set objectives for the network 3.Compile available ecological and socioeconomic data Science Review - Phase 1 4.Identify priority areas Set targets and run Marxan Science Review - Phase 2 5.Implement 6.Monitor and evaluate Moving forward with MPA network planning

Planning areas for the Scotian Shelf Bioregion

Set objectives for the network Objectives: –The species, habitats, and ecosystem features the network will attempt to protect Will be based on CBD design criteria –Representation and EBSAs Primary site selection criteria –Connectivity, Replication, and Adequacy Secondary site selection criteria Design considerations/modifying criteria

Set objectives for the network Examples of ecological objectives Representation Protect examples of each seabed feature type (banks, basins, canyons, etc.) Protect examples of each coastal habitat type EBSAs Protect preferred habitat Atlantic wolffish Protect cold-water coral reefs Protect critical habitat for endangered northern bottlenose whales Protect biodiversity hotspots

Compile available data Examples of ecological data Representation data layers Seabed feature types Natural disturbance regions Coastal ecosystem types EBSA data layers Preferred habitat for depleted fish species Preferred habitat for significant fish species Coral and sponge concentrations Eel grass Important bird habitats

Compile available data Examples of socioeconomic data

Analysis Identify priority areas Set targets (ecological data layers only) Marxan analysis –Start with ecological layers only –Then build in socioeconomic information Assign relative costs or ‘lock out’ certain areas Marxan output is simply a map of priority areas and not the final network design –Just a starting point for dialogue

Results of initial Marxan analysis

Challenges Incorporating socioeconomics in Marxan –Assign relative cost to each Planning Unit? –Lock areas of high economic value out? Involving stakeholders –Want to be involved early… but how? –Communicating Marxan results to stakeholders Data gaps –Coastal – should we use Marxan? –Cetaceans, inverts –Future human uses (e.g., marine renewables)

Resource Slides Fisheries and Oceans Canada Pêches et Océans Canada

Science Review Phase 1 Focus on objectives, data, and methods for identifying EBSAs and classifying coastal and marine ecosystems Phase 2 Focus on targets and Marxan analysis