Incorporating Representativity into Marine Protected Area Network Design in the Newfoundland- Labrador Shelves Bioregion Ecosystems Management Publication Series Newfoundland and Labrador Region No. 0010 2014 Incorporating Representativity into Marine Protected Area Network Design in the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Bioregion by Laura E. Park1 and Francine Mercier2 Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region P. O. Box 5667 St. John’s, NL A1C 5X1 1 Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, P.O. Box 5667, St. John’s, NL A1C 5X1 2 Parks Canada, 25 Eddy St., 4th floor, Gatineau, QC, K1A 0M5 ©Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2014 Cat. No. Fs22-10/10-2014E-PDF ISBN 978-1-100-14003-2 978-1-100-25363-3 DFO No. 2014-1939 Correct citation for this publication: Park, L. E. and Mercier F. 2014. Incorporating Representativity into Marine Protected Area Network Design in the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Bioregion. Ecosystems Management Publication Series, Newfoundland and Labrador Region. 0010: vi + 31 p. ii Acknowledgements The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Environment Canada and the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture in reviewing the various drafts of this document as it evolved. Particular thanks go to Karel Allard and Bobbi Rees for their valuable input. iii iv TABLE of CONTENTS ABSTRACT/RÉSUMÉ ................................................................................................................ vii 1.0 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background .............................................................................................................................1 1.2 Canada’s Oceanic Bioregions .................................................................................................2 1.3 Bioregional MPA Network Development ..............................................................................3 1.4 Incorporating Representativity................................................................................................4 2.0 DELINEATION OF ECO-UNITS FOR THE NL SHELVES ..................................................5 2.1 Review of Existing Classification Systems ............................................................................5 2.2 Eco-units for the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Bioregion ............................................10 2.3 Next Steps .............................................................................................................................13 3.0 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................15 ANNEX A: OVERVIEW OF KEY MARINE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS……………….. 19 A-1. Marine Ecoregions of North America ................................................................................19 A-2. Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas System Plan.............................................23 A-3. Marine Ecozones of Canada ...............................................................................................26 A-4. Canadian Marine Ecoregions ..............................................................................................28 A-5 Preliminary Analysis for the Delineation of Marine Ecoregions on the NL Shelves .........31 v LIST of TABLES and FIGURES Table 1: Summary of key classification Systems in relation to eleven major ecological features of the NL Shelves Bioregion ..............................................................................................6 Figure 1: Canada’s Marine Bioregions and Large Oceans Management Areas (LOMAs) ............ 3 Figure 2: Eco-units for the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Bioregion ......................................12 ANNEX A Figure A-1: Baffin/Labradoran Arctic Ecoregion (taken from Marine Ecoregions of North America 2009) ...............................................................................................................................19 Figure A-2: Acadian Atlantic Ecoregion (taken from Marine Ecoregions of North America 2009) ........................................................................................................................................................21 Figure A-3: Northern Gulf Stream Transition Ecoregion (taken from Marine Ecoregions of North America, 2009) ..............................................................................................................................22 Figure A-4: Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas Atlantic Marine Regions (updated 2012) ..............................................................................................................................................24 Figure A-5: The Marine Ecozones of the Canadian Atlantic (taken from Harding, 1997) ...........26 Figure A-6: Overview of the Hierarchical Classification of the Canadian Atlantic (Harding 1997) ...............................................................................................................................27 Figure A-7: Canada’s Northern Atlantic and Atlantic Ecoregions (taken from Prowles et al., 2004) ..............................................................................................................................................29 vi ABSTRACT Fisheries and Oceans is working in partnership with Environment Canada, Parks Canada and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador to develop a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) within the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Bioregion. Based on national and international guidance, bioregional MPA network development will incorporate a series of design features and properties. This document outlines our preliminary approach to the incorporation of representativity within the network. Given the size and diversity of the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Bioregion, there is general agreement that subdivision of the bioregion into smaller “eco-units” will be a useful first step. This document provides a review of five biogeographic classification systems and studies for the area, and based on this review and comments by the Regional MPA Network Planning Team, six eco-units have been selected to guide the incorporation of representativity. RÉSUMÉ Pêches et Océans travaille en collaboration avec Environnement Canada, Parcs Canada et la province de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador à l'élaboration d'un réseau d'aires marines protégées (AMP) dans la biorégion des Plates-formes de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador. Selon les directives nationales et internationales, la planification du réseau biorégional d'aires marines protégées incorporera un ensemble de propriétés et de caractéristiques de conception. Le présent document décrit notre approche préliminaire liée à l'incorporation de la représentativité dans le réseau. Étant donné la taille et la diversité de la biorégion des Plates-formes de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador, on convient généralement que la sous-division de la biorégion en « éco-unités » plus petites constituerait une première étape utile. Le présent document fournit un examen de cinq systèmes de classification biogéographiques et études de la région. Selon cet examen et des commentaires formulés par l'Équipe de planification du réseau régional d'aires marines protégées, six éco-unités ont été choisies pour orienter l'incorporation de la représentativité. vii viii 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND Within the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves (NL Shelves) Bioregion, Integrated Oceans Management (IOM) was initiated under the Oceans Act (1996) at a relatively small scale, starting with individual Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas (Eastport and Gilbert Bay) and Coastal Management planning initiatives in priority areas (Placentia Bay, Coast of Bays). Management planning then gradually broadened to the Large Oceans Management Area (LOMA) scale within the Placentia Bay /Grand Banks (PB/GB) LOMA. Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) and valued ecosystem components were identified for the LOMA and a detailed risk assessment was conducted to identify conservation priorities. An IOM plan was developed for the LOMA through a broad-based multi-stakeholder committee. Oceans Management has now expanded to the bioregional scale which will facilitate IOM planning within all of Canada’s ocean space. At this large scale it is recognized that there is a need to be more targeted in terms of stakeholder engagement, issues and objectives. Marine protected area (MPA) network development will be a key tool for IOM within the NL Shelves and will build upon the significant work completed for the MPA and IOM initiatives already nested within the bioregion. The primary goal of the MPA network is to provide long-term protection of marine biodiversity, ecosystem function and special natural features. The conservation priorities identified through the PB/GB LOMA planning process will provide the starting point for the development of conservation priorities for the NL Shelves Bioregion MPA network. A Regional MPA Network Planning Team, comprised of regulatory authorities with the mandate to create MPAs, has been formed with representatives from Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Parks Canada (PC), Environment Canada (EC) and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Data layers have been compiled and mapped for the area of the bioregion outside of the PB/GB LOMA, including human use, oceanographic characteristics, seabed