Proceedings 2017/026
Proceedings of the National Peer Review of a Risk-Based Framework for assessing Cumulative Impacts of Marine Development Projects (MDPs) on Marine Mammals and Turtles; March 3-5, 2015
Chairperson: G.B. Stenson
Editors: V. Lesage and J.W. Lawson
Summary
The Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Fisheries Protection Program requested the development of a national approach and minimum standards for assessing the impacts of Marine Development Projects (MDP) on marine mammals and sea turtles. In particular, clear guidance was needed to identify the information required from proponents to assess the impacts, the criteria to determine probability and magnitude of impacts, the approaches to the management of uncertainty, and the ways to add impacts at the population and regional levels.
There is a need for industry, and a desire by Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments for an efficient regulatory review process for MDP. However, the lack of clear guidance and a national approach to impact assessment may lead to a perception of inter-regional and/or inter-project inconsistency, and unfairness in the reviews. This may result in extended dialogues and prolonged periods of review.
A scientific peer review was held in Ottawa in March 2015 to further develop a national risk-based framework. DFO and international experts in the field of acoustics, population dynamics, risk-assessment, cumulative impact assessment, and behavioural ecology attended. The scientific advice developed at this meeting could form the basis for a national standard for DFO when assessing impacts of MDP on marine mammals, and be used to develop guidelines to the industry for addressing marine mammal issues in their Environmental Impact Statements. This standard might also provide the basis for similar efforts for other marine biota.
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