ESSIM ACTION PLAN: SPATIAL CONSERVATION PLANNING Purpose and Goals The purpose of this Action Plan is to support a collaborative process to advance spatial conservation planning on the Scotian Shelf. The overall goals of the Action Plan are as follows: Share knowledge among stakeholders about the concept and practice of spatial conservation planning, areas that are currently managed for conservation purposes, and areas that have been identified as having conservation value. Several of the objectives identified in the ESSIM Strategic Plan relate to conservation of ecological values that can benefit from an area-based approach. Within the boundaries of the ESSIM initiative are areas that have been identified as having special conservation value. Some of these areas are currently managed for conservation purposes through a range of regulatory and voluntary measures. To fully implement the ESSIM Plan we need to pool our knowledge and communicate our priorities. Assess the contribution of existing management areas and identify gaps in conservation efforts. Many of the objectives in the ESSIM Strategic Plan direct stakeholders and government toward more effective conservation measures on the Scotian Shelf. An inventory of existing protection measures will be developed and used to help identify gaps in conservation measures. Identify and build agreement on areas of conservation priority and make recommendations for action. The development of a spatial conservation action plan needs to be an iterative process, in which the outputs of technical analyses can be used to draw additional knowledge from stakeholders. An effective collaborative process will build a common understanding of the needs for conservation and the tools available to fulfill ESSIM objectives. Steward the implementation of recommendations. Stewarding implementation of the Plan, its objectives and strategies is part of the role of the Stakeholder Advisory Council. The work of this Action Plan will not end with recommendations: participants will work with the responsible government agencies, industries and communities to identify ways to act on the priorities identified. Lead roles and partners This Action Plan was initiated by environmental non-governmental organizations in partnership with the ESSIM Planning Office, but all interested organizations and individuals are encouraged to become involved. Interpreting the results of the maps and analysis and identifying ways to fill the gaps will need to be a collaborative effort. Rationale A number of the management objectives identified in the ESSIM Strategic Plan can be defined in spatial terms. The primary focus for this Action Plan is on spatial conservation measures designed to meet ESSIM objectives for healthy ecosystems, especially those that that are best addressed through an area-based approach. While these measures may primarily address ecosystem-related objectives, many of them will also address related ESSIM objectives for collaborative governance, integrated management and sustainable human use. Although not in intended as a comprehensive marine spatial planning initiative in itself, the outputs of this Action Plan will represent a contribution to the conservation component of the wider implementation of integrated management. In addition to identifying linkages between spatial conservation approaches and relevant ESSIM objectives, this Action Plan will provide direct input into the Marine Protected Area Network Action Plan being facilitated by DFO, in partnership with other federal and provincial departments and stakeholders. It is envisioned that recommendations and information arising from this Action Plan may also inform other Action Plans, such as those led by industry sectors. A suite of tools for marine conservation already exists on the Scotian Shelf, ranging from formal conservation areas with regulatory zones (e.g., the Gully MPA), to areas that are meant to provide information and guidance about the conduct of use activities (e.g., right whale conservation areas). This Action Plan will recognize and build on existing conservation measures, using enhanced stewardship and management where necessary. Additional areas will also be identified as opportunities for conservation action by the responsible government agencies, by industry sectors on a voluntary basis, or by community-led conservation approaches. This Action Plan will be a collaborative effort among parties with an interest and a stake in the ESSIM area. Together stakeholders will strive to: • define and build a common understanding of spatial conservation planning and identify direct linkages with the ESSIM Strategic Plan objectives • develop inventories of existing and legislated area-based conservation measures; areas of conservation value (e.g. EBSA); and tools that can be used in spatial conservation planning • assess the contribution of existing spatial management measures and areas of conservation value • identify gaps in conservation effort • engage a broad range of stakeholders in spatial conservation planning and identify areas of importance to communities and resource users • build stakeholder agreement on priority areas for conservation • increase awareness of community-based conservation initiatives • make recommendations for spatial conservation measures to competent agencies for implementation Detailed activities, outputs, timelines and roles/responsibilities are outlined in the attached table. Achieving ESSIM objectives The outputs of this Action Plan will support many ESSIM objectives, including the ones listed below. As part of the development of this spatial conservation action plan, a ‘crosswalk’ document is being developed that details how spatial conservation planning supports certain of the ESSIM Strategic Plan objectives and strategies. Collaborative government and integrated management: • Collaborative structures and processes with adequate capacity, accessible to community members are established. • Ocean stewardship and best practices are in place. Information and knowledge: • Natural and social science research is responsive to knowledge needs. Sustainable human use: • Sustainable ocean/community relationships are promoted and facilitated. Economic well-being: • Wealth is generated sustainably from renewable ocean resources. • Wealth is generated sustainably from ocean-related activities. Healthy ecosystems: • Diversity of benthic, demersal and pelagic community types is conserved. • At-risk species protected and/or recovered. • Trophic structure is healthy. • Biomass and productivity of harvested and other species are healthy. • Habitat integrity is conserved.