Pacific north coast integrated management area plan

Table of Contents

• Complete Text
• Preface
• Executive Summary
• List of Acronyms and Initialisms
• Acknowledgements
• 1.0 Plan Context
  • 1.1 Global Context
  • 1.2 PNCIMA Context
  • 1.3 Plan Scope
  • 1.4 Governments Working Together: a Foundation for the Plan
• 2.0 The Planning Area
  • 2.1 Marine Environment
  • 2.2 Human Use
  • 2.3 Future of the Planning Area
• 3.0 The Planning Process
  • 3.1 Governance Arrangements
  • 3.2 Engagement of Interested Parties
  • 3.3 Development of the Plan
  • 3.4 Related Marine Planning Processes
• 4.0 Ecosystem-Based Management Framework
  • 4.1 EBM Assumptions and Principles for PNCIMA
  • 4.2 Goals, Objectives and Strategies for PNCIMA
• 5.0 Implementation
  • 5.1 Priority Setting for Action
  • 5.2 Plan Performance Monitoring and Evaluation
• References
• Glossary of Terms

Appendices

• Appendix 1 Federal and Provincial Legislative and Regulatory Summary Tables
• Appendix 2 PNCIMA Supporting Documents
• Appendix 3 Marine Activity Profiles and Future Outlook
• Appendix 4 Maps
• Appendix 5 Committees and Participants
• Appendix 6 Record of Meetings
• Appendix 7 Valued Ecosystem and Socio-economic Components

List of figures

• Figure 2-1 Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA)
• Figure 3-1 PNCIMA Process Structure
• Figure 3-2 Options for Participating in the PNCIMA Process
• Figure 3-3 PNCIMA Timeline
• Figure 4-1 Components of the PNCIMA Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) Framework
• Figure A7-1 Process for Identifying Valued Ecosystem Components
• Figure A7-2 Realms of the Socio-economic System

List of tables

• Table 2-1 Communities in the Coastal Watersheds in PNCIMA
• Table 4-1 Goals, Objectives and Strategies for PNCIMA
• Table A1-1 Federal Agencies with Direct Roles in Ocean Management in PNCIMA
• Table A1-2 British Columbia Agencies with Direct Roles in Ocean Management in PNCIMA
• Table A3-1 Summary of Marine Activity Profiles and Future Outlook

4.0 Ecosystem-Based Management Framework

Ecosystem-based management is an adaptive approach to managing human activities that seeks to ensure the coexistence of healthy, fully functioning ecosystems and human communities. The intent is to maintain those spatial and temporal characteristics of ecosystems such that component species and ecological processes can be sustained and human well-being supported and improved. ^{Footnote 5}

Understanding of EBM in B.C. has evolved in recent years. The concept was used in relation to land use planning as part of the implementation of the 2001 Central Coast Land and Coastal Resource Management Planning Phase I Framework Agreement. Through this process, the Province of British Columbia, First Nations from the Central and North Coasts and Haida Gwaii, local governments and non-government interests reached consensus on establishing a definition, principles and goals for EBM. Parties to the agreement made a commitment to implement EBM in coastal B.C. as a means of achieving “healthy, fully functioning ecosystems and human communities”.

Canada’s 2002 Policy and Operational Framework for Integrated Management of Estuarine, Coastal and Marine Environments places equal importance on EBM. It identifies EBM as a fundamental principle by which integrated management should be guided, and states that the identification of EBM objectives and reference levels will guide the development and implementation of management in order to achieve sustainable development.

EBM, although not a term used historically by First Nations, has been their way of practicing stewardship for thousands of years, using a number of similar principles such as “interconnectedness,” “sharing,” “balance,” “learning” and honouring the Creator/creation, as taught by their ancestors.

Through the PNCIMA initiative, many of the same parties involved in the land use planning process, and others with interests in the marine environment, came together again to define EBM for marine ecosystems. The result of this collaboration was an EBM framework that is the central feature of the PNCIMA plan. Figure 4-1 depicts the various components of the EBM framework for PNCIMA. The uppermost components (definition, assumptions and principles) provide broad guidance to the plan. Components that are in the middle of the framework (goals, objectives, strategies) are more specific statements that are based on an understanding of key issues and are identified through various analyses. The lower components of the diagram illustrate an adaptive management cycle in which strategies are adapted based on monitoring and evaluating the results of implementation.

4.1 EBM Assumptions and Principles for PNCIMA

Assumptions

1. Ecosystem goods and services underlie and support human societies and economies; such goods and services can be direct or indirect.
2. Humans and their communities are part of ecosystems, and they derive social, cultural and economic value from marine ecosystem goods and services.
3. Human activities have many direct and indirect effects on marine ecosystems.
4. EBM informs the management of human activities.
5. Marine ecosystems exist on multiple spatial and temporal scales, and are interconnected.
6. Marine ecosystems are dynamic and subject to ongoing and sometimes unpredictable change.
7. Marine ecosystem states have limits to their capacity to absorb and recover from impacts.
8. Human understanding of marine ecosystems is limited.
9. Humans prefer some ecosystem states more than others.
10. Humans can manage some drivers of change better than others, and can adjust or respond to some changes better at the scale of PNCIMA planning.

Principles

1. The EBM approach seeks to ensure ecological integrity. It seeks to sustain biological richness and services provided by natural ecosystems, at all scales through time. Within an EBM approach, human activities respect biological thresholds, historical levels of native biodiversity are met, and ecosystems are more resilient to stresses and change over the long term.
2. The EBM approach includes human well-being. It accounts for social and economic values and drivers, assesses risks and opportunities for communities, and enables and facilitates local involvement in sustainable community economic development. An EBM approach aims to stimulate the social and economic health of the communities that depend on and are part of marine ecosystems, and it aims to sustain cultures, communities and economies over the long term within the context of healthy ecosystems.
3. The EBM approach is precautionary. It errs on the side of caution in its approach to management of human activity and places the burden of proof on the activity to confirm that management is meeting designated objectives and targets. Uncertainty is recognized and accounted for in the EBM approach.
4. The EBM approach is adaptive and responsive in its approach to the management of human activities. It includes mechanisms for assessing the effectiveness of management measures and changing such measures as necessary to fit local conditions.
5. The EBM approach includes the assessment of cumulative effects of human activities on an entire ecosystem, not just components of the ecosystem or single sector activity.
6. The EBM approach is equitable, collaborative, inclusive and participatory. It seeks to be fair, flexible and transparent, and strives for meaningful inclusion of all groups in an integrated and participatory process. EBM is respectful of federal, provincial, First Nations and local government governance and authorities, and recognizes the value of shared responsibility and shared accountability. It acknowledges cultural and economic connections of local communities to marine ecosystems.
7. The EBM approach respects Aboriginal rights, Aboriginal titles and treaty rights, and supports working with First Nations to achieve mutually acceptable resource planning, stewardship and management.
8. The EBM approach is area-based. Management measures are amenable to the area in which they are applied; they are implemented at the temporal or spatial scales required to address the issue and according to ecological rather than political boundaries.
9. The EBM approach is integrated. Management decisions are informed by consideration of interrelationships, information, trends, plans, policies and programs, as well as local, regional, national or global objectives and drivers. The EBM approach recognizes that human activities occur within the context of nested and interconnected social and ecological systems. As such, EBM concurrently manages human activities based on their interactions with socialecological systems. The approach helps to direct implementation of measures across sectors to integrate with existing and, where agreed, new management and regulatory processes.
10. The EBM approach is based on science and on wise counsel. It aims to integrate the best available scientific knowledge and information with traditional, intergenerational and local knowledge of ecological and social systems and adapt it as required.

4.2 Goals, Objectives and Strategies for PNCIMA

Table 4-1 Goals, objectives and strategies for PNCIMA

Goal 1. Integrity Of The Marine Ecosystems In PNCIMA, Primarily With Respect To Their Structure, Function And Resilience

Objective Footnote 6	Strategy	Timeline
1.1 Conserve the diversity of species, viable populations and ecological communities and their ability to adapt to changing environments.	1.1.1 Update and enhance understanding and knowledge of ecological communities.	Ongoing
	1.1.2 Update and enhance work to identify and characterize risks to species diversity, population viability and ecological communities.	Ongoing
	1.1.3 Update and enhance existing spatial and analytical information on species diversity, population viability and ecological communities.	Long term
	1.1.4 Assess existing management measures for their ability to conserve species diversity, population viability and ecological communities.	Short term
	1.1.5 Identify, assess and adapt possible management measures to address conservation of species diversity, population viability and ecological communities.	Short term
	1.1.6 Support the creation of an MPA network for PNCIMA that conserves species diversity, population viability and ecological communities.	Ongoing
1.2 Conserve the productivity and trophic structure of ecosystems so their components can play their natural role in the food web.	1.2.1 Update and enhance work to identify and characterize risks to productivity and trophic structure of ecosystem components.	Ongoing
	1.2.2 Update and enhance the existing knowledge base for productivity and trophic structure of ecosystems.	Ongoing
	1.2.3 Assess existing management measures for ecosystem components.	Short term
	1.2.4 Identify, assess and adapt possible management measures to address risks to productivity and trophic structure of ecosystems.	Short term
	1.2.5 Support the creation of an MPA network for PNCIMA that conserves productivity and the trophic structure of ecosystem components.	Ongoing
1.3 Conserve habitat and water quality of the ecosystem.	1.3.1 Update and enhance work to identify ecosystem components, including habitats.	Ongoing
	1.3.2 Update and enhance work to identify and characterize risks to habitats and water quality.	Ongoing
	1.3.3 Assess and address knowledge gaps for habitat and water quality.	Long term
	1.3.4 Assess existing management measures for habitat and water quality.	Short term
	1.3.5 Identify and assess possible management measures to address identified risks to habitat and water quality, and implement as appropriate.	Short term
	1.3.6 Support the creation of an MPA network for PNCIMA that conserves habitat and water quality of the ecosystem.	Ongoing
	1.3.7 Protect important habitat from degradation, and pay particular attention to components of species’ life cycles.	Ongoing
1.4 Mitigate negative cumulative effects that affect ecosystem components.	1.4.1 Update and enhance work to evaluate cumulative effects of current and future activities in PNCIMA on ecosystem components.	Ongoing
	1.4.2 Identify and assess possible management measures to address cumulative effects of current and future activities in PNCIMA, and implement as appropriate.	Short term
	1.4.3 Use cumulative effects modelling to inform management decisions.	Ongoing

Goal 2. Human Well-Being Supported Through Societal, Economic, Spiritual And Cultural Connections To Marine Ecosystems In Pncima

Objective	Strategy	Timeline
2.1 Protect culturally and spiritually important marine customs, practices, traditions, areas, sites and cultural resources.	2.1.1 Support intercultural awareness through sharing information and fostering improved understanding of cultural and spiritual values.	Ongoing
	2.1.2 Integrate and document traditional knowledge and other cultural information, and incorporate into management and decision-making, as appropriate.	Ongoing
	2.1.3 Support priority use, subject to conservation needs, of marine resources for First Nations traditional use, including food, social and ceremonial requirements.	Ongoing
	2.1.4 Support the creation of an MPA network for PNCIMA that protects culturally and spiritually important marine customs, practices, traditions, areas, sites and cultural resources.	Ongoing
2.2. Support certainty for regulatory and operational processes governing human uses of the marine environment.	2.2.1 Promote and integrate relevant tools, analyses, information and the EBM framework into decision-making processes and policy-making.	Ongoing
	2.2.2 Assess compatibility of uses and facilitate spatial and temporal certainty at multiple scales.	Long term
	2.2.3 Engage with First Nations, federal, provincial and local governments around issues related to licensing and approvals for current, new and emerging ocean activities, as appropriate.	Ongoing
	2.2.4 Identify and assess management measures to enhance environmental services infrastructure, and implement as appropriate.	Long term
2.3. Support sustainable economic opportunities, livelihoods and economic diversification among oceanrelated businesses, industries and coastal communities. Footnote 7	2.3.1 Identify and assess ocean-related economic opportunities and implement management measures as appropriate to achieve sustainable economic opportunities in the region.	Short term
	2.3.2 Assess social, cultural and economic effects of resource management decisions on users.	Short term
	2.3.3 Support the participation of First Nations in all sectors of the marine economy.	Long term
	2.3.4 Identify and support development of local and global markets and efficient and affordable distribution channels.	Ongoing
2.4 Minimize conflicts among marine user groups.	2.4.1 Assess and consider competing uses of ocean space in developing spatial and non-spatial management measures, as appropriate.	Ongoing
	2.4.2 Establish mechanisms and/or build on existing mechanisms to effectively support stakeholder collaboration and information sharing in ocean management advisory processes in PNCIMA.	Short term
	2.4.3 Promote and integrate relevant tools, analyses, information and the EBM framework into decision-making processes, including regulatory processes and policy-making.	Ongoing
2.5 Support the maintenance of natural resource systems that deliver marine goods and services at multiple scales.	2.5.1 Identify and characterize risks to natural resource systems that deliver marine goods and services.	Short term
	2.5.2 Update and enhance existing knowledge base about natural resource systems that deliver marine goods and services.	Ongoing
	2.5.3 Identify and assess possible management measures to address key risks to natural resource systems that deliver marine goods and services, and implement as appropriate.	Short term
	2.5.4 Identify and assess possible management measures to support healthy natural resource systems.	Short term
	2.5.5 Protect fish habitat from degradation, and pay particular attention to spawning and rearing habitat.	Ongoing
	2.5.6 Support the creation of an MPA network for PNCIMA that supports the maintenance of natural resource systems that deliver marine goods and services.	Ongoing
2.6 Support marine safety, marine security and accessible waters.	2.6.1 Clarify jurisdictional roles and responsibilities with respect to marine safety, security and accessible waters.	Short term
	2.6.2 Assess and consider marine safety and security issues at a community scale when developing management measures.	Ongoing
	2.6.3 Maintain and enhance navigational aids and communications systems and infrastructure.	Ongoing
	2.6.4 Minimize potential adverse impacts of marine transportation and related activities on marine ecosystems and coastal communities while protecting accessible waters.	Ongoing
	2.6.5 Assess and enhance marine emergency response training, preparation and equipment for effective response to spills or accidents at multiple scales.	Long term
	2.6.6 Assess and enhance management measures to prevent accidents or spills.	Ongoing
	2.6.7 Assess and enhance existing marine emergency response monitoring, information and data to develop geographic marine response plans.	Short term
2.7 Support First Nations and local communities in benefitting from the ecosystems in which they live.	2.7.1 Identify and assess management measures that support First Nations and local communities in deriving economic benefits from the ecosystems in which they live.	Short term
	2.7.2 Support monitoring and enforcement partnerships that increase capacity in First Nations and local communities.	Ongoing
	2.7.3 Support sustainable community economic development, including enhancement of local capacity.	Ongoing

Goal 3. Collaborative, Effective, Transparent And Integrated Governance, Management And Public Engagement

Objective	Strategy	Timeline
3.1. Support coordination and integration of ocean governance, management, planning and advisory processes.	3.1.1 Foster ongoing integrated management and coordination within and among First Nations, federal, provincial and local governments	Ongoing
	3.1.2 Establish mechanisms and/or build on existing mechanisms, advisory committees and opportunities to effectively coordinate stakeholder advisory processes for ocean management issues in PNCIMA.	Ongoing
3.2. Provide opportunities for the participation of First Nations, federal and provincial government agencies, coastal communities, marine user groups and other interested parties in ocean management, planning and advisory processes.	3.2.1 Establish mechanisms and/or build on existing mechanisms, advisory committees and opportunities to support stakeholder engagement in ocean management advisory processes in PNCIMA.	Short term
3.3 Manage ocean resources in a manner that respects Aboriginal rights, Aboriginal titles and/or treaty rights.	3.3.1 Develop and build on mechanisms that ensure the respect for and accommodation, where appropriate, of Aboriginal rights, Aboriginal titles and/or treaty rights in marine governance and management processes.	Ongoing
3.4 Continue to build respectful relationships (including governance mechanisms) among First Nations, federal, provincial and local governments and authorities.	3.4.1 Develop and build on existing governance and technical bodies that include First Nations in marine stewardship decision-making processes.	Short term
	3.4.2 Support monitoring and enforcement partnerships that improve relationships and increase capacity in First Nations and local communities.	Ongoing
	3.4.3 Facilitate capacity development of First Nations, federal, provincial and local (where appropriate) governments to participate in governance and management activities.	Ongoing
3.5. Ensure all relevant interests are considered in a respectful, transparent and inclusive manner.	3.5.1 Develop mechanisms and tools, including common engagement principles, to support respectful, transparent and inclusive stakeholder engagement in ocean management advisory processes.	Short term

Goal 4. Improved Understanding Of Complex Marine Ecosystems And Changing Marine Environments

Objective	Strategy	Timeline
4.1. Promote and facilitate information sharing among First Nations, federal and provincial agencies, coastal communities and marine user groups.	4.1.1 Promote and integrate relevant tools, analyses, information and the EBM framework into decision-making processes, including regulatory processes and policy making.	Ongoing
	4.1.2 Facilitate the accessibility to and exchange of environmental and socio-economic data among First Nations, federal and provincial agencies, coastal communities and marine user groups.	Ongoing
4.2. Include scientific, traditional and local knowledge and experience to inform the development of management and monitoring plans.	4.2.1 Explore agreements and develop opportunities for collecting, sharing and incorporating different types of knowledge into management and decision-making in PNCIMA.	Ongoing
	4.2.2 Foster ongoing integrated management, monitoring and coordination within and among First Nations, federal, provincial and local governments.	Ongoing
	4.2.3 Develop a monitoring and evaluation framework for PNCIMA that incorporates different types of knowledge, including scientific, social, cultural and economic.	Short term
	4.2.4 Support monitoring and enforcement partnerships that increase capacity in local and First Nations communities.	Ongoing
4.3. Align research in PNCIMA with knowledge gaps and ocean management objectives.	4.3.1 Update and enhance methodologies and tools to improve knowledge and understanding of human use data and human well-being.	Short term
	4.3.2 Update and enhance existing spatial information on key marine resources, habitats, trends and uses, with an emphasis on high-risk areas.	Ongoing
	4.3.3 Support ongoing partnerships in order to align academic research with current management needs.	Ongoing
4.4. Adapt ocean management to respond to new information and knowledge.	4.4.1 Develop and apply a monitoring and evaluation framework for integrated management.	Short term
	4.4.2 Develop tools, including adaptive management plans, to improve the use of monitoring data for the timely adaptation of management policies and programs.	Long term
4.5. Promote awareness, outreach and education to improve public understanding and stewardship of marine environments.	4.5.1 Develop a communication plan that makes planning information available, understandable, timely and accessible to the public.	Short term