Decisions based on science

In February 2009, a group of Canadian experts got together to evaluate the status of lobster stocks in Quebec's coastal waters. The group was tasked with developing a science advisory report to guide fishery management for this species. In fact, experts meet more than 100 times a year—coordinated by the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS)—with a mandate to prepare science advisory reports to inform Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) decisions. This is the department's scientific consultation process.

The CSAS and the Centres for Science Advice in each of DFO's six regions are the main participants when the department needs scientific data to make a decision that could affect Canada's marine resources. Above all, the role of the scientific consultation process is to ensure the reliability of the scientific information provided. The CSAS ensures this reliability through a rigorous process based on peer review, comparable to the process for articles before they are published in a scientific journal.

The scientific consultation process begins as soon as the CSAS receives a request for advice from DFO about, for example, the potential for a species to re-establish itself or perhaps the vulnerability of an ecosystem. Based on the request, the CSAS identifies relevant scientific research already conducted within the department. The researchers involved are notified about the department's interest in holding a consultation process to prepare a science advisory report on the topic. Experts from external organizations, including other departments, academia, non-governmental organizations and industry, are also invited to contribute their knowledge and scientific expertise. It usually takes three to four months to gather the information, prepare working papers and appoint an adequate number of experts.

This kind of peer review is at the heart of the scientific consultation process the CSAS coordinates. Researchers must work within a context of objectivity and impartiality, and not be swayed by partisan opinions or personal interests. Their goal is to arrive at a consensus based on data and analysis, and to prepare a science advisory report that reflects the conclusions drawn from their work.

A meeting can last between several hours and several days, depending on the number of studies to examine and the number of stakeholders participating in the meeting, which can range from a dozen to around 50 experts. The process is generally conducted at the regional level. The region-specific dimension for questions relating to population surveys or habitat evaluations demand a regional peer review. The consultation process can be coordinated by the CSAS main office in Ottawa when there is a question about a national issue. Finally, for certain cases when a request requires urgent action and there is a clear framework to provide advice, the department can use an accelerated process known as “Science Responses.”

The questions and the proceedings, which include the participating experts, the research documents related to the scientific consultation process and the resulting science advisory report, are published on the CSAS website and available to the public. The complete transparency of the process demonstrates the department's desire to make decisions and choose policy directions based on science.