Baynes Sound and Lambert Channel; An ecosystem in need
Presentation Abstract
Canada adopted the Canada’s Oceans Act in 1996 of which was to provide the framework for an integrated ecosystems approach to the management of Canadian oceans inclusive of coastal zones and including areas considered ecologically or biologically significant (EBSA). EBSAs were developed as a management tool and are intended to identify areas in need of enhanced management that supersedes the management needs of individual species. Core criteria for an EBSA include, unique and rare, distinct features; aggregation, including areas where most individuals of a species are aggregated for some part the year; fitness consequences defined as areas that are used by species for life history activity(ies) and that make a significant contribution to the fitness of individuals of those species. An EBSA would meet one or more of these three core criteria. Baynes Sound/Lambert Channel meet all three criteria. These combined features make Baynes Sound/Lambert Channel one of the most unique and biologically sensitive regions along coastal BC. Baynes Sound is also a region experiencing a number of competing economic stressors, notably an as yet regulated shellfish industry and seaweed harvest. In BC, there is increased recognition of the impacts of the shellfish industry and seaweed harvest on ecosystem structure and function. The recent mandate letter to Mr. Tootoo, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard mandated that the Minster “work with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to increase the proportion of Canada’s marine and coastal areas that are protected – to five percent by 2017, and ten percent by 2020”. Baynes Sound/Lambert Channel is an area that needs to be protected. In this presentation the rationale for recognizing the importance of this region as an ESBA and the need for economic benefits from this region to be developed within an ESBA framework are presented.
Session Title
General Habitat Topics
Conference Track
Habitat
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Environmental protection--British Columbia--Baynes Sound
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Baynes Sound (B.C.)--Environmental conditions
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Baynes Sound and Lambert Channel; An ecosystem in need
2016SSEC
Canada adopted the Canada’s Oceans Act in 1996 of which was to provide the framework for an integrated ecosystems approach to the management of Canadian oceans inclusive of coastal zones and including areas considered ecologically or biologically significant (EBSA). EBSAs were developed as a management tool and are intended to identify areas in need of enhanced management that supersedes the management needs of individual species. Core criteria for an EBSA include, unique and rare, distinct features; aggregation, including areas where most individuals of a species are aggregated for some part the year; fitness consequences defined as areas that are used by species for life history activity(ies) and that make a significant contribution to the fitness of individuals of those species. An EBSA would meet one or more of these three core criteria. Baynes Sound/Lambert Channel meet all three criteria. These combined features make Baynes Sound/Lambert Channel one of the most unique and biologically sensitive regions along coastal BC. Baynes Sound is also a region experiencing a number of competing economic stressors, notably an as yet regulated shellfish industry and seaweed harvest. In BC, there is increased recognition of the impacts of the shellfish industry and seaweed harvest on ecosystem structure and function. The recent mandate letter to Mr. Tootoo, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard mandated that the Minster “work with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to increase the proportion of Canada’s marine and coastal areas that are protected – to five percent by 2017, and ten percent by 2020”. Baynes Sound/Lambert Channel is an area that needs to be protected. In this presentation the rationale for recognizing the importance of this region as an ESBA and the need for economic benefits from this region to be developed within an ESBA framework are presented.
