B10 - Science at Fisheries and Oceans Canada

DFO Purpose

• Provide an overview of science at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).
• Outline DFO’s scientific footprint.
• Highlight DFO Science’s process to develop advice in support of evidence-based decision-making.

The Role of Science at DFO

• DFO science provides information, analysis, and advice on key areas.
• Sustainable fisheries
• Species protection and recovery
• Impacts of aquaculture on ecosystems
• Environmental and risk assessments
• Oceans management
• Safe navigation in Canada’s waterways
• Support emergency response

Core Science Functions

• Research: Produces the evidence base to inform management decision
• Program Monitoring: Ongoing long-term data help us understand and react to changes in our waters
• Scientific Data: Generate and share data that are accessible, usable, and of known quality
• Data Products and Services: Hydrographic products and surveys (e.g., digital charts)
• Science Advice: Supports evidence-based decision-making

DFO Scientists – Who We Are

• A highly skilled workforce, with science expertise spanning all areas of fisheries and ocean science
• Represent over 25 per cent of DFO's FTEs
• DFO Science works at research institutes, laboratories, experimental centres, and offices across the country
• Science at-sea field component
• Science collaborations and partnerships

Collaboration and Innovation

Taking a Collaborative Approach:

• Collaborations with range of partners – e.g., Science Industry Collaboration Hub
• Science Enterprise Centres
• International leadership and testing new technology

Communicating our science:

• State of the ocean reporting
• Publications and plain language outreach
• Supporting open data and open science initiatives

Science Advice

Our science advice supports evidence-based decision-making

Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Process:

1. Call for requests for science advice
2. Developing requests for science advice
3. Developing the Science Advisory Schedule
4. Developing the ToR & peer-review logistics
5. Analysis / Working paper
6. Peer-review assessment & drafting the science advice
7. Submitting the science advice & supporting documents
8. Publishing the science advice & supporting documents

Peer Review at DFO

• DFO’s Science Integrity Policy (SIP) recognizes the importance of high-quality science and DFO’s Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) process to generate advice to inform decision-making.
• Participation in CSAS process meetings is by invitation and participants are selected based on their expertise of the subject matter.
  • A Conflict of Interest Policy clarifies that experts participate independently and objectively to contribute their knowledge (i.e., do not represent an organization or interest).
  • An External Expert Identification Committee has been created to help identify external experts and/or co-chairs for peer review processes.
• All meeting documents and deliberations remain confidential until final results are released by DFO.
• The CSAS website provides access to all meeting outputs and relevant documents that support the process:
  • The full science advisory schedule includes Terms of Reference;
  • All CSAS publications are available online dating back to 1977; and,
  • CSAS Policies and Guidelines are also available to the public.

CSAS Transformation

• Strengthening our practice of delivering science advice by building on lessons learned and from best practices around the world
• Broadening range of external experts and/or co-chairs for peer review processes
  • Registry for External Science Experts
  • External Expert Identification Committee
• Ensuring transparent and inclusive peer-reviewed advice
  • Linking to publicly available data
  • Inclusion of alternative perspectives
  • Implementation of Observer Policy starting internally
• Engaging Canadians through outreach and communication
  • Updated web presence, targeted training, and new outreach products