The Expert Panel Report
Overview
Trends in Biodiversity & Its Stressors
Effects of Stressors on Biodiversity
Canada’s Biodiversity Obligations
Conclusions and Recommendations
Purposes of the Report The Report generally excludes men9on of topics outside of its Mandate and Terms of Reference: • Other biodiversity stressors, such as shipping, pollu9on, oil & gas explora9on, invasive species • Canada’s emission targets & climate-­‐change policies • Socio-­‐economic costs/benefits of biodiversity • Fisheries management tools (e.g., ITQs, effort controls) Arctic
Ocean
Ø Longest coastline in world (~230,000 km) Ø One of the largest seas (7.1 million km2) Ø Seas comprise 70% of Canada’s landmass Canada: an ocean na9on Pacific
•A mari usque ad mare Ocean •Possibly world’s largest ocean ‘real estate’ •8/10 provinces and 3 territories, comprising 86% of the popula9on, border salt water Atlantic
Ocean
Canada’s
Marine Species Richness
Canada’s Species
Richness
Trend data
available
Marine taxonomic
group
Estimated no.
species:
Canada: Estimated no.
~16,000 species:species CANADA
GLOBAL
Microbes (Arctic)
9,500-54,000
Not estimated
Phytoplankton
1,657
~5,000
Macroalgae
860-979
~9,300
Cold-water corals
104
~700
Sponges
265
5,000-10,000
Zooplankton
900
Not estimated
Benthic infauna
2,127
Not estimated
Fish: sharks,
skates, rays
61
~1,100
Fish: other (bony)
831-971
~14,200
Seabirds
38-64
383-475
Mammals
52
125
Hydrothermal vents 66
592
Ogac Lake, Frobisher Bay (620 )
West Coast of Ellesmere Island (810 )
The Arc9c Many marine mammals are increasing…
Independent body responsible for advising the federal government on the legal lis9ng of Species at Risk in Canada COSEWIC Species at Risk
(April 1978-Feb 2012)
(Extinct
Extirpated
Endangered
Threatened
Special Concern
14)
24
281
158
177
Approx. 18% (116 species) of species at risk are marine 640
Canadian Marine Wildlife Species
assessed by COSEWIC as being at risk
Group
Fishes
Mammals
Birds
Molluscs
Reptiles
Total
Wildlife Species at Risk
(Extirpated, Endangered,
Threatened, Special Concern)
68
34
8
3
3
116
NE Pacific Offshore
Threatened
(2008)
Northern Resident
Threatened
(2008)
2008
West Coast Transient
Threatened
(2008)
Southern Resident
Endangered
(2008)
Killer Whale
Diets
Residents: salmon
Transients: seals
Northern Right Whale
Endangered
Northern Bottlenose Whale
Endangered
Canadian Marine Wildlife Species
assessed by COSEWIC as being at risk
Group
Fishes
Mammals
Birds
Molluscs
Reptiles
Total
Wildlife Species at Risk
(Extirpated, Endangered,
Threatened, Special Concern)
68
34
8
3
3
116
Seabirds in decline off BC (1984-­‐2004) Cassin’s Auklet (46%)
Tufted Puffin (34%)
Ivory Gull
Endangered
Strong, year-round
association with pack ice
(degradation of foraging &
wintering habitat)
Northern Gannets: Gulf of St. Lawrence and eastern Newfoundland
Gaston et al. (2009) Environ. Rev.
Canadian Marine Wildlife Species
assessed by COSEWIC as being at risk
Group
Fishes
Mammals
Birds
Molluscs
Reptiles
Total
Wildlife Species at Risk
(Extirpated, Endangered,
Threatened, Special Concern)
68
34
8
3
3
116
Canadian Marine Fishes
B/BMSY
55% decline
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010 1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Canary Rockfish (Pacific)
American Plaice
(Atlantic)
80-96% decline since 1980
Fishes
Porbeagle (Atlantic)
89% decline since 1961
Newfoundland and
Labrador: 95%
decline since 1960
Acadian Redfish (Atlantic)
Gulf of St. Lawrence: 99.5% decline
Northeast Newfoundland:
99.8% decline since 1978
© Canadian Shark Research Lab British Columbia’s Rockfishes
Canary Rockfish
Longspine Thornyhead
Special Concern
(2007)
Threatened (2007): 80-96%
Bocaccio
Threatened (2002): 85-90%
Rougheye Rockfish
Special Concern
(2007)
Basking Shark
Endangered: 2007
(Pacific coast)
Atlantic Cod:
Endangered
(COSEWIC: 2010)
Ogac Lake
Spawning stock biomass (millions of kg)
2500
Canadian
Atlantic
cod
Canadian
Atlantic
cod
2250
2000
Decline of ~2 billion breeding individuals 1750
1500
1250
1000
750
500
250
0
1962 1967 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012
Year
Decline of Atlantic Cod:
Greatest Numerical Loss of a
Vertebrate in Canadian History
5.7 million
Polar Bears
Atlantic Cod:
Loss of >2 billion
By weight, this loss of
is approximately equal to:
27 million
Humans
Trends in Biodiversity Trends in Biodiversity Stressors Global climate change
(IPCC, 2007)
• Since 1960, the oceans’ net heat uptake has
been 30 times greater than that of the atmosphere
Axel Heiberg Island (780N, 890W) 15 August 2005 Global climate change
(IPCC, 2007)
Heat Uptake= 1961-­‐2003 1993-­‐2003 Since 1961, 90% of the global heat uptake has been borne by the oceans; 30-­‐50% of CO2 is absorbed by the oceans Temperature
Warmer
Salinity
Fresher
1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
Temperature
Warmer
Fresher
Salinity
Pacific Ocean 1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
Atlan9c Ocean Water
temperature
Gulf of St. Lawrence is warming
• sea surface temperature increased approx. 2oC (1985-2008)
• data suggest that two of the warmest years in the last century
occurred in the past decade
(surface air temperatures strongly correlated with sea surface water temperatures)
Atlan9c Ocean Station 27
Gulf of St. Lawrence is experiencing reduced
oxygen levels in deep (295m) waters
• deep waters briefly hypoxic in early 1960s (<30% O2 saturation)
• hypoxic conditions have existed since 1984
British Columbia: all time series of at least 25 years in duration
show declining trends in O2 at depths between 100 and 400m
(greatest reductions at 200-300m)
Sea Ice: Arctic and Atlantic
Arc9c Sea Ice Extent 2.7% decade
12%
decade
7 March 2010
RED=90-100%
Ice coverage:
30-year median
for 5 March
Lower St. Lawrence Estuary
37% increase in acidity 200-320m
Dufour et al. (2010)
Trends in Fisheries and Aquaculture Fishing mortality (F) relative to FMSY
Pacific and Atlantic
Pacific
Atlantic
Landed value of
catches in 2009
($1.7billion, in 2011 $)
lowest since 1985
Aquaculture Production (1000 tonnes)
Value of Aquaculture (2009):
Canada
•Fish: ~$700 million
•‘Shellfish’: ~$60 million
Canadian Aquaculture Production of Fishes
The Expert Panel Report
Overview
Trends in Biodiversity & Its Stressors
Effects of Stressors on Biodiversity
Canada’s Biodiversity Obligations
Conclusions and Recommendations
Aragonite Concentration
Forecasted Reduc9ons in Aragonite (Calcium Carbonate) Off Bri9sh Columbia: Ocean Acidity Expected to Increase Forecasted Changes in Global Sea Surface Temperature Consequences of Climate Change
to Marine Biodiversity
Stressors: acidity; temperature; oxygen in deep waters; loss of quan9ty/quality of sea ice • temporal/spa9al changes in produc9vity • altera9on or loss of habitat • spa9al shijs in species distribu9ons • structural changes to species assemblages and food webs Polar Bear
(Ursus maritimus)
Sea Ice
-16 to -20%
-11 to -15%
-6 to -10%
-0.1 to -5%
> 20%
Not Significant
Not Considered
Reductions in the
aerial extent
of multi-year sea ice
(% per decade)
in Canadian
Arctic Archipelago
Ringed Seal
(Pusa hispida)
Humboldt Squid Species Turnover Thick-billed
murre
Arctic cod
Arc9c Ocean Capelin
Temperature
Warmer
Fresher
Salinity
Pacific Ocean 1920
1940
1960
1980
Dominant species of zooplankton (Neocalanus
plumchrus) in Strait of Georgia is:
• decreasing in abundance
• blooming earlier (by 50 days, compared to 1970s)
2000
Temperature
Warmer
Salinity
Fresher
Earlier hatch dates for some seabirds
1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
Direct effects of fishing on bokom habitat and bokom-­‐dwelling species: Sponges & Corals Bottom Trawl
Fisheries-induced
alterations to
marine food webs
and marine
ecosystems:
Northwest Atlantic
Southern Gulf Cod
Fisheries-­‐induced altera9on to food webs Projected ex9rpa9on of cod (<1000t) in 40 years at F ~ 0
Swain & Chouinard (2008) Can J Fish Aquat Sci Grey Seals are estimated
To have increased from
10,000 to 440,000 (1960 to
2010)
DFO (2010) CSAS Sci. Advis. Rep.
2010/071
White Hake in the Southern Gulf:
Extirpation in Next Decade?
Annual natural mortality of 5- to 7-yr-olds:
• ~18% in 1970s and 1980s
• ~86-91% in past decade
Aquaculture
Stewiacke R.
458 Shellfish Tenures in Southern BC Non-native species include:
Japanese scallop, Manila clam,
Pacific oyster, Japanese oyster
Origin of
farmed salmon
(Saint John R.)
Tusket R.
Salmon Farms
The Expert Panel Report
Overview
Trends in Biodiversity & Its Stressors
Effects of Stressors on Biodiversity
Canada’s Biodiversity Obligations
Conclusions and Recommendations
Canada’s Marine Biodiversity Obliga9ons Examples of National and International Biodiversity Obligations
Protect biodiversity
Adopt precautionary approach; adopt ecosystem approach
Protect and recover species at risk
Protect marine environment form land-based activities
Integrated management plans for coastal & marine waters
Maintain sustainable fisheries & sustainable aquaculture
Establish a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
Protect vulnerable, rare & fragile ecosystems
Has Canada fulfilled its na9onal & interna9onal obliga9ons to sustain marine biodiversity? However, most of Canada’s Strengths na9onal and interna9onal • Significant contribu9on to fisheries management obliga9ons remain reform in interna9onal waters, e.g., NAFO unfulfilled • Oceans Act (1996): a landmark from ecosystem-­‐based management perspec9ve • Excellence, rigor, and transparency (usually) of scien9fic advice Implementation of the
Precautionary Approach?
“The PA recognizes that the absence of full scien9fic certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing decisions where there is a risk of serious or irreversible harm.” Privy Council Office (2003) United Nations Fish
Stocks Agreement
(1996)
Ø Signatories shall apply the
Precautionary Approach (PA)
Ø In implementing the PA, states shall
determine stock-specific Reference Points,
harvest-control rules, and the actions to be
taken if the Reference Points are exceeded
1.6
1.5
B
BMSY
1.4
International
Current fish biomass compared to
biomass at maximum sustainable yield
1.3
1.2
New Zealand South Africa
1.1
International
1.0
US
0.9
0.8
EU
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
Canada
International
Argentina
Australia
Establishment of Protected Areas in
Canada
N=3500
Terrestrial: 9.5% Aqua9c: 0.8% Marine: <0.5% Protected Area (in millions of square kilometres)
1.0
0.75
Trends in the Establishment of
Aichi Protected
Biodiversity Target Areas
in(2011): Canada
“To conserve, by 2020, at least 10% of coastal and marine areas through Land
the establishment of well-­‐connected systems of protected areas.” 2020
0.50
0.25
Ocean
0
1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2010 2030
Protected Areas
in Canada
There are 161 MPAs
off British Columbia
Fishing is permitted in 160
of these 161 MPAs
The Expert Panel Report
Overview
Trends in Biodiversity Its Stressors
Effects of Stressors on Biodiversity
Canada’s Biodiversity Obligations
Conclusions and Recommendations
Recommenda9on 1 That the Government of Canada iden9fy interna9onal leadership in oceans stewardship and biodiversity conserva9on as a top government priority. Recommenda9on 2 That the Government of Canada resolve regulatory conflicts of interest affec9ng Canada’s progress in fulfilling obliga9ons to sustain marine biodiversity. Recommenda9on 3 That the Government of Canada reduce the discre9onary power in fisheries management decisions exercised by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. Recommenda9on 4 That Fisheries & Oceans Canada (DFO) rapidly increase its rate of statutory and policy implementa9on. Recommenda9on 5 That Canada implement statutory renewal to fulfill na9onal and interna9onal commitments to sustain marine biodiversity. Recommenda9on 6 That the Government of Canada establish na9onal opera9onal objec9ves, indicators, and targets for marine biodiversity. Recommenda9on 7 That Canada establish strategic research ini9a9ves to strengthen scien9fic advice on sustaining marine biodiversity. The report should be
viewed as an
opportunity…
a vehicle for change.
Acknowledgements
Cecilia Engler-Palma, Geoffrey Flynn, Susanna Fuller, Patricia
Gallaugher, Christopher Garrett, Ray Hilborn, William Leiss, Daniel
Pauly, Daniel Ricard, RSC Staff, Science Media Centre of Canada, Simon
Fraser University, Gordon Slade, Laurie Wood, all those who responded
to the Panel’s Invitation to Submit Evidence, and the eight external
reviewers of the draft version of the Expert Panel’s Report.