Notice

On June 29, 2012, the Fisheries Act was amended. Policy and regulations are now being developed to support the new fisheries protection provisions of the Act (which are not yet in force). The existing guidance and policies continue to apply. For more information, see Changes to the Fisheries Act.

Step 10: Long-Term Monitoring

Long-term monitoring (LTM) is used to confirm that risk management activities will continue to meet the risk management goals for the foreseeable future. The overall goals of LTM for aquatic contaminated sites include the evaluation of the effectiveness of the risk management and the documentation of ecosystem recovery (e.g., the reduction of human health and environmental risks to acceptable levels, the effectiveness of mitigation measures to protect fish habitat). LTM can be terminated where there is a clear “no” answer to the question “Will the contaminated aquatic site pose an unacceptable human or ecological risk in the foreseeable future, such that further management action is required?”. The closure of a site is closely tied to the design of the monitoring program. The components of a monitoring program (i.e., monitoring objectives, monitoring tools and exit criteria established at the start of the program) are used to determine when the remedial goals have been achieved. Site closure occurs when all management objectives have been attained.

How to Prepare

• Review of:
  • previously developed site-specific monitoring plans;
  • confirmatory and effectiveness sampling to determine if long-term monitoring is required;
  • risk management objectives;
  • Adaptive Management Plans (AMP).

What to Do

• Collect data and analyze.
• Evaluate the results.
• Address deviations from the objectives
• Establish decisions based on results:
  • (1) monitoring results indicate success; site activity and monitoring can be concluded;
  • (2) monitoring results do not indicate success but are trending towards it; site activity and monitoring is continued;
  • (3) monitoring results do not indicate success and are not trending towards it; review and revise the site activity (e.g., risk management actions) and/or monitoring plan and implement.
• Monitor the effectiveness of the:
  • conditions under a Fisheries Act authorization, including associated fish habitat compensation projects;
  • Species At Risk Act (SARA)-related monitoring (aquatic species and habitat);
  • Environmental Assessment (EA) monitoring requirements related to fish and fish habitat. 
• Confirm the accuracy of model assumptions made in the Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) and the Risk Management Strategy.
• Proceed to site closure if the remedial goals have been achieved and these conditions are expected to continue into the foreseeable future (i.e., the contaminated site no longer poses unacceptable human health and ecological risks).

How Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Expert Support Helps

• Provide:
  • advice during the design and development of a long-term monitoring program (e.g., selecting monitoring targets/endpoints and monitoring plans);
  • support with public engagement activities (i.e., help with the interpretation and communication of results);
  • assistance with interpreting LTM results and reports;
  • advice on adaptive management and possible modifications to the monitoring plan.

Supporting Documents

• Fisheries Act
• Habitat Compliance Decision Framework
• Proponent's Guide to Information Requirements for Review Under the Fish Habitat Protection Provisions of the Fisheries Act
• Working Near Water: What You Need To Do