Tana Worcester Centre for Science Advice Maritimes Region, Canada Ecosystem-Based Management on the Eastern Scotian Shelf. ESSIM

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

ESSIM Objectives Governance Human Use Ecosystem Maintain: Biodiversity Productivity Habitat

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  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

Cod Blue Whale Clams / Scallops Corals Ecologically Significant Species and Areas

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, Waste Seismic Noise Shipping Impact Analysis

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

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  Provision of chemical, physical and biological data.  Oceanographic modelling.  Research on impacts: aquaculture, fisheries (by-catch, benthic impacts), oil and gas.  Data management.