Research Document - 2014/097

Information to support the re-assessment of ecologically and biologically significant areas (EBSAs) in the Beaufort Sea Large Ocean Management Area

By Donald G. Cobb, V. Roy, H. Link, and P. Archambault

Abstract

The identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas (EBSAs) is an important tool for highlighting areas that have particularly high ecological or biological importance for the overall ecosystem. This in turn facilitates a greater-than-usual degree of risk aversion in the management of activities within such areas. A series of scientific and community workshops were conducted between 2006 and 2007 to identify EBSAs in the Beaufort Sea Large Ocean Management Area (LOMA). They resulted in 20 EBSAs being identified in the LOMA. At the request of the Beaufort Sea Partnership Ecosystem Working Group, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) agreed to conduct a regional Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) science peer review meeting to re-evaluate the EBSAs in the Beaufort Sea LOMA using the National Evaluation Framework for EBSAs. The re-evaluation was based on a compiled list of publications and information, the guidance available from past experiences, and the nationally identified lessons learned. A total of 24 candidate EBSAs were assessed. For each candidate EBSA, the Valued Ecosystem Components (VECs) were identified based on their importance to ecosystem function and structure; not economic importance. Using the National Evaluation Framework for EBSAs, the three main dimensions of uniqueness, aggregation and fitness consequences were ranked to give an overall level of confidence in the data supporting each EBSA. The meeting concluded 18 areas within the LOMA met the criteria to be considered EBSAs. In the future, these EBSAs should be re-assessed as more information becomes available.

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