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MPA network planning in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion Where does Marxan fit in? Introduction to Marxan Training June 23, 2011 Marty King Oceans and Coastal Management Division Fisheries and Oceans Canada Outline • Background – Canada’s commitments to networks – Past MPA network planning work – Scotian Shelf Bioregion • Why Marxan? • Selecting an Area of Interest • Moving forward with MPA network planning • Challenges Background • Canada’s commitments to MPA networks – International: • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) – Networks that protect at least 10% by 2020 – National: • Oceans Act – DFO lead network planning – Major partners: » Parks Canada and Canadian Wildlife Service » Provinces • Health of the Oceans (HOTO) Initiative (2007-2012) – 6 new Oceans Act MPAs by 2012 » 1 on Eastern Scotian Shelf – National Framework Background • Past network planning work in the Bioregion – Initial focus on marine habitat classification (20002005) – Identification of EBSAs (2006) – WWF-CLF “Marxan Report” (2006) – ESSIM Plan (2007) – Initial Marxan analysis for HOTO AOI selection (2008) – Coastal conservation planning (2008-2010) • Current focus: Developing “Bioregional Framework” Scotian Shelf Bioregion ? Why Marxan? • Capable of analyzing many data layers • Helps find spatially efficient solutions • Flexible – Identifies multiple network scenarios for the same set of targets – Can use a variety of data types – Able to lock areas in & out • Repeatable • Internationally recognized Selecting an Area of Interest Results of Initial Marxan analysis Selecting an Area of Interest 3 candidate AOIs 14 priority areas St Anns Bank Area of Interest St Anns Bank Area of Interest • Contributions to the network targets: – Representation: • • • • 4 of 4 natural disturbance regions 2 of 4 scope for growth regions 3 of 29 seabed feature types 1 of 1 high topographic roughness layer – EBSAs (special features): • • • • • • 2 of 8 depleted species layers 4 of 32 significant species layers 9 of 12 dominant invert species layers 1 of 3 biodiversity hot spot layers 0 of 2 coldwater corals layers 0 of 3 endangered whale species layers What we heard (about network planning) • Stakeholders want to be involved earlier • Marxan analysis needs to be put through formal Science Review process • Socioeconomics should be built into the analysis from the outset … so, now what…? Moving forward with MPA network planning 1. Identify and involve governments, Aboriginal groups, and stakeholders 2. Set objectives for the network 3. Compile available ecological and socioeconomic data • Science Review - Phase 1 4. Identify priority areas • • Set targets and run Marxan Science Review - Phase 2 5. Implement 6. Monitor and evaluate Planning areas for the Scotian Shelf Bioregion Set objectives for the network • Objectives: – The species, habitats, and ecosystem features the network will attempt to protect • Will be based on CBD design criteria – Representation and EBSAs • Primary site selection criteria – Connectivity, Replication, and Adequacy • Secondary site selection criteria • Design considerations/modifying criteria Set objectives for the network Examples of ecological objectives Representation • Protect examples of each seabed feature type (banks, basins, canyons, etc.) • Protect examples of each coastal habitat type EBSAs • • • • Protect preferred habitat Atlantic wolffish Protect cold-water coral reefs Protect critical habitat for endangered northern bottlenose whales Protect biodiversity hotspots Compile available data Examples of ecological data Representation data layers • Seabed feature types • Natural disturbance regions • Coastal ecosystem types EBSA data layers • • • • • Preferred habitat for depleted fish species Preferred habitat for significant fish species Coral and sponge concentrations Eel grass Important bird habitats Compile available data Examples of socioeconomic data Analysis Identify priority areas • Set targets (ecological data layers only) • Marxan analysis – Start with ecological layers only – Then build in socioeconomic information • Assign relative costs or ‘lock out’ certain areas • Marxan output is simply a map of priority areas and not the final network design – Just a starting point for dialogue Results of initial Marxan analysis Challenges • Incorporating socioeconomics in Marxan – Assign relative cost to each Planning Unit? – Lock areas of high economic value out? • Involving stakeholders – Want to be involved early… but how? – Communicating Marxan results to stakeholders • Data gaps – Coastal – should we use Marxan? – Cetaceans, inverts – Future human uses (e.g., marine renewables) Resource Slides Fisheries and Oceans Canada Pêches et Océans Canada Science Review Phase 1 • Focus on objectives, data, and methods for identifying EBSAs and classifying coastal and marine ecosystems Phase 2 • Focus on targets and Marxan analysis