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Proceedings 2014/020

Proceedings of the regional peer review meeting for developing a marine protected area (MPA) network in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence  – Validating the methodology for including ecological considerations into the future MPA network; 24–25 September 2013

Chairperson: Denis Gilbert
Editors: Pierre Gauthier and Charley Cyr

Summary

A workshop on the planning of the future marine protected area (MPA) network in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence was held on 24–25 September 2013 at the Maurice Lamontagne Institute in Mont-Joli. The meeting’s objectives were to determine whether the ecological information layers selected would be able to meet the future MPA network’s conservation objectives and whether the methods used were sufficient for identifying conservation targets to be used for exploring different network options and conducting the spatial analysis of data. Some 30 participants from the Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment Canada, Parks Canada, and the Pacific Marine Analysis & Research Association (PacMARA) heard presentations on the status of the MPA network project, discussed the methodology and available data, and prepared comments and recommendations following the discussions. This report highlights all the essential points formulated by the specialists attending this peer review, including the use of the Marxan tool, the best ecological information layers relating to the conservation objectives, and the methods used to set conservation targets and perform spatial analyses.

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