Overview of Current Governance In the Bay of Fundy / Gulf of Maine: Transboundary Collaborative Arrangements and Initiatives Prepared for: Oceans and Coastal Management Division Oceans and Habitat Branch Maritimes Region Fisheries and Oceans Canada Bedford Institute of Oceanography P.O. Box 1006 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4A2 Prepared by: ACZISC Secretariat and Marine & Environmental Law Institute of Dalhousie University Oceans and Coastal Management Report 2006-05 Oceans and Coastal Management Report Series The Oceans and Coastal Management Report Series contains public discussion papers, consultant reports, and other public documents prepared for and by the Oceans and Coastal Management Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maritimes Region. Documents in the series reflect the broad interests, policies and programs of Fisheries and Oceans Canada with the primary focus on topics related to oceans and coastal planning, management, and conservation. 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Les documents reflètent les grands intérêts, politiques et programmes de Pêches et Océans Canada, et axé principalement sur des sujets concernant la planification, la gestion et la conservation des océans et des côtes. Les documents sont numérotés chronologiquement par année de publication, en commençant par le Rapport sur la gestion des côtes et des océans 1998-01. On peut se les procurer sous forme électronique et, en nombre limité, format papier en s’adressant à la Division de la gestion côtière et des océans. Les rapports d’intérêt général international, national, régional ou scientifique peuvent être catalogués à la fois dans cette série et dans d’autres séries de documents, comme celle des Rapports techniques canadiens des sciences halieutiques et aquatiques. Oceans and Coastal Management Report 2006-05 OVERVIEW OF CURRENT GOVERNANCE IN THE BAY OF FUNDY / GULF OF MAINE: TRANSBOUDARY COLLABORATIVE ARRANGEMENTS AND INITIATIVES Prepared for: Oceans and Coastal Management Division Oceans and Habitat Branch Maritimes Region Fisheries and Oceans Canada Bedford Institute of Oceanography PO Box 1006 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4A2 Prepared by: ACZISC Secretariat and Marine & Environmental Law Institute of Dalhousie University September 2006 Correct Citation for this publication: ACZISC Secretariat and Marine & Environmental Law Institute of Dalhousie University. 2006. Overview of Current Governance in the Bay Of Fundy / Gulf of Maine: Transboudary Collaborative Arrangements and Initiatives. Oceans & Coastal Mngt. Rep. 2006-05: vii + 132 pp. CONTRIBUTORS (in alphabetical order) Michael Butler, Director, ACZISC Secretariat and IOI-Canada Patrick Canning, Law Student, Dalhousie Law School, Dalhousie University Meinhard Doelle, Associate Director, Marine & Environmental Law Institute, Dalhousie University David Henley, Stewart McKelvey and Associate, Marine & Environmental Law Institute, Dalhousie University Michelle Kellam, Research Assistant, Marine & Environmental Law Institute, Dalhousie University Claudette LeBlanc, Research Project Officer, ACZISC Secretariat Thea Lowry, Research Assistant, Marine & Environmental Law Institute, Dalhousie University Emily Pudden, Research Assistant, Marine & Environmental Law Institute, Dalhousie University Susan Rolston, President, Seawinds Consulting Services Dawn Russell, Associate, Marine & Environmental Law Institute, Dalhousie University David VanderZwaag, Canada Research Chair in Ocean Law & Governance and Associate, Marine & Environmental Law Institute, Dalhousie University ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors wish to acknowledge the funding support of the Oceans and Coastal Management Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maritimes Region, and of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council through a project entitled, "Strengthening Canada's Regional Fisheries Management Arrangements in Light of Sustainability Principles." The authors also would like to gratefully acknowledge the information and assistance provided by the following in the preparation of this document: • Joe Arbour, Manager, Oceans and Coastal Management Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maritimes Region Bob Branton, Head, Atlantic Canadian Centre for Ocean Biodiversity Informatics, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maritimes Region • Alison Evans, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Dalhousie University • Peter Lawton, Head, Gulf of Maine Crustacean Fisheries Section, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maritimes Region • Lauri MacDougall, Marine & Environmental Law Institute, Dalhousie University • Greg Peacock, Executive Director, Federal/Provincial Relations Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maritimes Region • Molly Ross, Dalhousie Law School, Dalhousie University • Maxine Westhead, Project Leader, Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maritimes Region iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 1: Introduction ........................................................................................ 1 Section 2: Marine Environmental Protection and Conservation ..................... 5 Authors: Emily Pudden, David VanderZwaag, Thea Lowry and Michelle Kellam, Marine & Environmental Law Institute, Dalhousie University 2.1 Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment ................................. 5 2.1.1 Gulf of Maine Agreement ............................................................. 6 2.1.2 Gulf of Maine Council .................................................................. 7 2.1.3 Gulf of Maine Working Group ...................................................... 8 2.1.4 Gulf of Maine Committees and Task Forces ............................... 9 2.1.5 Gulf of Maine Council Action Plans ............................................. 10 2.2 North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation ................ 13 2.2.1 Gulf of Maine Pilot Project on Implementing the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities ...................................... 14 2.2.2 CEC Informational Role ............................................................... 16 2.2.3 CEC Recommendary Role .......................................................... 19 2.2.4 CEC Potential Roles .................................................................... 20 2.3 Species at Risk: Transboundary Issues and Recovery Initiatives .......... 22 2.3.1 Leatherback Turtle ....................................................................... 22 2.3.2 North Atlantic Right Whale ........................................................... 25 2.3.3 Atlantic Salmon - Inner Bay of Fundy Populations and Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment ................................. 27 2.4 North American Waterfowl and Migratory Birds Cooperation ................. 30 2.4.1 North American Waterfowl Management Plan ............................. 31 2.4.2 North American Bird Conservation Initiative ................................. 37 2.4.3 Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network ...................... 39 2.4.4 National Shorebird Conservation Plans........................................ 42 2.4.5 Waterbird Conservation for the Americas .................................... 44 2.4.6 Collaborative Scientific Research and Monitoring Initiatives ........ 46 iv Section 3: Regional Cooperation on Acid Rain, Mercury Pollution, Climate Change and Ocean Initiatives - New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers..................................... 49 Author: Meinhard Doelle, Marine & Environmental Law Institute, Dalhousie University 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 49 3.2 Acid Rain Program .................................................................................. 49 3.3 Mercury Program ................................................................................... 50 3.4 Climate Change Program ....................................................................... 51 3.5 Initiatives on Oceans .............................................................................. 53 3.6 Conclusion ............................................................................................. 54 Section 4: Fisheries and Shellfish Sanitation ................................................... 55 Authors: Dawn Russell, David VanderZwaag, Emily Pudden and Thea Lowry, Marine & Environmental Law Institute, Dalhousie University 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 55 4.2 Domestic Fisheries Management Structure ........................................... 55 4.2.1 Canada: Fisheries and Oceans Canada....................................... 55 4.2.2 United States: New England Fisheries Management Council ..................................................................