Terms of Reference

The St. Lawrence Estuary Ecosystem Research Initiative: habitats frequently occupied by Beluga whales and the food web responsible for the presence of Rorqual whales in the St. Lawrence Estuary

Quebec Regional Science Advisory Process

March 28-31, 2011
Mont-Joli, QC

Chairperson: Jacques A. Gagné

Context

DFO is committed to develop ecosystem-based approaches to manage human interactions with marine systems. This commitment is a result of Canada’s Oceans Act and recommendations from international bodies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. To develop such approaches, Ecosystem Research Initiatives (ERIs) were established by DFO Science in each Region as pilot projects to enhance the capacity to provide scientific advice in support of ecosystem-based management.

In the Quebec Region, The ERI aims to characterize (1) habitats frequently occupied by Beluga whales and (2) the food web responsible for the presence of Rorqual whales in the St. Lawrence Estuary. Management issues that led to the definition of these themes were identified during workshops involving scientists and managers. For each theme, terms of reference were established to facilitate the integration of knowledge already available with new information required to achieve the objectives. For both themes the terms of reference target the study of (a) the main factors / ecosystem processes that influence their quality, (b) the seasonal distribution and use by the targeted species and (c) the impacts of human activity on ecosystem components and / or processes that govern their structure and functions. The St. Lawrence Estuary ERI was launched in the summer of 2007 and will conclude its directly-funded phase on 31 March 2011. During this period, the Initiative has supported around thirty projects in search of new information necessary for the integrated scientific advice on the management issues that guide the initiative.

Objectives

For each subject, all available information, old and new, will be integrated in two working documents. The objective of this regional advisory process is to review the information contained in these documents so they can provide the basis for the formulation of integrated scientific advice. The discussions and advice to be issued will be based on the following working documents:

• An ecosystem approach to the definition and characterization of the summer habitat of the St. Lawrence Beluga.
• Ecosystem processes responsible for the presence of forage species and Rorqual whales in the St. Lawrence Estuary.

Expected publications

CSAS Science Advisory Report (2)
CSAS Research Document (2)
CSAS Proceedings

Participants

DFO Science Branch
DFO Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Branch
DFO Oceans, Habitat and Species at risk Branch
Parks Canada
Academia
Non-Government Organizations