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C S A S S C C S Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Secrétariat canadien de consultation scientifique Proceedings Series 2010/057 Compte rendu 2010/057 Proceedings of the Central and Arctic Compte rendu du processus de Regional Science Advisory Process on consultation scientifique régional sur the Identification of Conservation l’établissement d’objectifs de Objectives and Boundary Delineation conservation et de limites for the Darnley Bay Area of Interest géographiques pour la zone d’intérêt de la baie Darnley December 8, 2010 Le 8 decembre 2010 Freshwater Institute Institut des eaux douces 501 University Crescent 501, University Crescent Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6 Winnipeg MB R3T 2N6 Margaret Treble Margaret Treble Meeting Chairperson Présidente de la réunion Joclyn Paulic Joclyn Paulic Editor Éditrice Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Pêches et Océans Canada Freshwater Institute / Institut des eaux douces 501 University Crescent / 501, University Crescent Winnipeg MB R3T 2N6 Canada March 2011 Mars 2011 Foreword The purpose of these Proceedings is to document the activities and key discussions of the meeting. The Proceedings include research recommendations, uncertainties, and the rationale for decisions made by the meeting. Proceedings also document when data, analyses or interpretations were reviewed and rejected on scientific grounds, including the reason(s) for rejection. As such, interpretations and opinions presented in this report individually may be factually incorrect or misleading, but are included to record as faithfully as possible what was considered at the meeting. No statements are to be taken as reflecting the conclusions of the meeting unless they are clearly identified as such. Moreover, further review may result in a change of conclusions where additional information was identified as relevant to the topics being considered, but not available in the timeframe of the meeting. In the rare case when there are formal dissenting views, these are also archived as Annexes to the Proceedings. Avant-propos Le présent compte rendu a pour but de documenter les principales activités et discussions qui ont eu lieu au cours de la réunion. Il contient des recommandations sur les recherches à effectuer, traite des incertitudes et expose les motifs ayant mené à la prise de décisions pendant la réunion. En outre, il fait état de données, d’analyses ou d’interprétations passées en revue et rejetées pour des raisons scientifiques, en donnant la raison du rejet. Bien que les interprétations et les opinions contenus dans le présent rapport puissent être inexacts ou propres à induire en erreur, ils sont quand même reproduits aussi fidèlement que possible afin de refléter les échanges tenus au cours de la réunion. Ainsi, aucune partie de ce rapport ne doit être considéré en tant que reflet des conclusions de la réunion, à moins d’indication précise en ce sens. De plus, un examen ultérieur de la question pourrait entraîner des changements aux conclusions, notamment si l’information supplémentaire pertinente, non disponible au moment de la réunion, est fournie par la suite. Finalement, dans les rares cas où des opinions divergentes sont exprimées officiellement, celles-ci sont également consignées dans les annexes du compte rendu. Proceedings of the Central and Arctic Compte rendu du processus de Regional Science Advisory Process on consultation scientifique régional sur the Identification of Conservation l’établissement d’objectifs de Objectives and Boundary Delineation conservation et de limites for the Darnley Bay Area of Interest géographiques pour la zone d’intérêt de la baie Darnley December 8, 2010 Le 8 decembre 2010 Freshwater Institute Institut des eaux douces 501 University Crescent 501, University Crescent Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6 Winnipeg MB R3T 2N6 Margaret Treble Margaret Treble Meeting Chairperson Présidente de la réunion Joclyn Paulic Joclyn Paulic Editor Éditrice Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Pêches et Océans Canada Freshwater Institute / Institut des eaux douces 501 University Crescent / 501, University Crescent Winnipeg MB R3T 2N6 Canada March 2011 Mars 2011 © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2011 © Sa Majesté la Reine du Chef du Canada, 2011 ISSN 1701-1272 (Printed / Imprimé) ISSN 1701-1280 (Online / En ligne) Published and available free from: Une publication gratuite de : Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Pêches et Océans Canada Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat / Secrétariat canadien de consultation scientifique 200, rue Kent Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E6 http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas/ [email protected] Correct citation for this publication: DFO. 2011. Proceedings of the Central and Arctic Regional Science Advisory Process on the Identification of Conservation Objectives and Boundary Delineation for the Darnley Bay Area of Interest; December 8, 2010. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Proceed. Ser. 2010/057. TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY................................................................................................................................... iv SOMMAIRE .................................................................................................................................. v INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1 PRESENTATIONS........................................................................................................................1 Overview of area of interest site selection ................................................................................1 Summary of main findings from the ecosystem overview report...............................................2 Oceanography.......................................................................................................................3 Benthic Habitat......................................................................................................................4 Bathymetric Data...................................................................................................................4 Marine Mammals...................................................................................................................4 Polar Bears ...........................................................................................................................5 Anadromous and Marine Fish...............................................................................................5 Marine Birds..........................................................................................................................6 Guidance on developing conservation objectives.....................................................................6 DISCUSSION................................................................................................................................6 IDENTIFICATION OF IMPORTANT ECOSYSTEM COMPONENTS ...........................................7 POTENTIAL PRIORITY AREAS FOR MARINE PROTECTION: BOUNDARY DELINEATION AND CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES .......................................................................................11 CONCLUDING REMARKS .........................................................................................................12 SOURCES OF INFORMATION ..................................................................................................13 APPENDIX 1: TERMS OF REFERENCE ...................................................................................14 APPENDIX 2: MEETING PARTICIPANTS .................................................................................16 APPENDIX 3: AGENDA..............................................................................................................17 SUMMARY Under the Health of the Oceans Initiative, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science sector has been asked to provide advice in support of the identification and development of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) following the selection of an Area of Interest (AOI). An AOI was nominated in Darnley Bay, which is located in the western Canadian Arctic within the Beaufort Sea Large Ocean Management Area (LOMA). Subsequently, an ecological overview and assessment report (EOAR) was developed for the nominated AOI. DFO Science was asked by DFO Oceans to undertake a review of the EOAR, identify and prioritize areas within the AOI which meet the criteria for marine protection under the Oceans Act, provide advice on boundaries for those areas and identify one or more conservation objectives for each. A science advisory meeting was held on 8 December 2010 to review the EOAR and develop science advice on potential areas for protection. Meeting participants were from DFO Science sector and Oceans program, and specialists from the Canadian Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Canada and the Fisheries Joint Management Committee. The draft EOAR was distributed prior to the meeting. During the meeting, participants discussed the best available information, and knowledge gaps related to physical and ecologial processes and species known within Darnley Bay and the surrounding marine region. On the basis of those discussions, four areas within or near Darnley Bay were identified for possible marine protection and their boundaries delineated. One or more conservation objectives were formulated for each area. The draft EOAR was revised to reflect the discussions and conclusions reached during the meeting. It was published as a Research Document. This Proceedings report summarizes the relevant