Proceedings 2011/056

Proceedings of the CSAS Peer-review of the Risk Assessment for Ship-Mediated Introductions of Aquatic Nonindigenous Species to the Great Lakes and the Canadian Arctic; March 1-2, 2011

Chairpersons: N.E. Mandrak and M.A Koops
Editors: E. Briski and H. Niblock

Summary

Draft research documents were developed to evaluate the biological risk associated with ship-mediated introductions of aquatic nonindigenous species to the Great Lakes and the Canadian Arctic. A meeting was held to peer review these draft documents according to the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) peer review process. The meeting was held March 1-2, 2011, in Burlington, Ontario. There were a total of 25 participants including the Centre of Expertise for Aquatic Risk Assessment (CEARA) Directorate, the ship-mediated risk assessment team leader and team members, and other individuals (from within and outside DFO Science) with relevant expertise in ship-mediated aquatic nonindigenous species, marine invasive species or the shipping industry in these regions. This document summarizes the discussions that took place during the workshop.

The peer review process resulted in changes to the methodology by introducing an environmental ‘survival’ factor for hull-mediated introductions and removing spread from the calculation of probability of introduction. Terminology associated with the risk assessment was changed to meet standardized definitions by CEARA and uncertainties associated with the steps of the assessment were also adjusted. The resulting changes to overall risk rankings were finalized and presented at the meeting. Further change (correction factor for hull size) will be completed in the future and incorporated into the national level risk assessment meeting which is scheduled to take place in early fall 2012.

Complete document (PDF, 216 KB)

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