Research Document - 2016/027
Development of risk-based indicators for the SGaan Kinghlas-Bowie Seamount Marine Protected Area
By Kate Thornborough, Jason Dunham, and Miriam O
Abstract
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science was asked to recommend scientifically defensible indicators to monitor the achievement of the SGaan Kinghlas-Bowie Seamount Marine Protected Area (SK-B MPA) conservation objective. In response, a framework was developed to select and prioritize ecological risk-based indicators based on the outputs of an ecological risk assessment conducted on the SK-B MPA. Risk-based indicators are a novel approach to selecting indicators to monitor the risk of harm to Significant Ecosystem Components (SECs) from anthropogenic activities and associated stressors. Measures of abundance were commonly proposed across all indicator suites, highlighting the need to establish baselines of information as a priority. Both current snapshot and potential stressor indicator suites should be considered when developing monitoring strategies and plans, using a combination of SEC, stressor, and SEC-stressor interaction indicators. Due to the remote access and associated cost of monitoring indicators at the SK-B MPA, many of the suggested indicators may be measured using visual surveys and, due to the overlapping distribution of several SECs, multiple indicators may be measured or sampled during the same operations period. As data are collected through the monitoring of indicators, this information may be fed back into the adaptive management framework for future iterations of risk assessments, evaluation of selected indicators, selection of new indicators, and the refinement of monitoring plans.
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