THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE BASIN

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THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE BASIN

• What DO we know about marine values and what are
  the gaps?
• R.C. Bocking, LGL Ltd environmental research
  associates
• bbocking_at_lgl.com

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Presentation Overview

• Historical Context
• Present Day Sources of Information
• Government
• Communities / Resource Sectors
• Traditional Knowledge
• Valued Ecosystem Components in QCB
• Biota
• Resource Use
• Relevance to Offshore Oil and Gas
• Gaps
• VEC gaps
• Access to knowledge gaps
• Next Steps

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Historical Context
Government Science Data
Local Knowledge - TEK
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Historical Context (cont)

• Each era has made different contributions to
  knowledge base with different constraints to its
  use and applicability
• We often rely heavily on recent initiatives
  because of accessibility and techno-centricity

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Present Day Sources of Information

• GIS databases
• Non-GIS databases
• Planning documents
• Reports and Publications
• Shoe-boxes
• Oral
• Community / Sector knowledge
• Traditional Knowledge

E-data
Oraldata
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Recent reviews

• UNBC State of Knowledge of Marine and Shoreline
  Areas of the Queen Charlotte Basin LGL Ltd.
• http//www.unbc.ca/nlui/ncirp/marine_shoreline_a
  reas.html
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada State of Knowledge
  of Marine Habitats of the Northern BC Coast in
  Oil and Gas Lease Areas Jamieson and Davies
• http//www-sci.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sci/psarc/defau
  lt_e.htm

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Valued Ecosystem Components(from LGL review of
Marine Areas in QCB)

• Marine Mammals
• Marine-associated Birds
• Fish and Marine Habitat
• Fisheries
• Tourism and Recreation
• Archeology and Culture
• Areas of Special Significance

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Marine Mammals
Some species migratory, some colonial Limited
knowledge on distribution and abundance Profession
al judgment of value Based on old whaling
records, sightings and habitat modeling Some
species at risk
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Marine-Associated Birds
Some species migratory, some colonial Reasonable
Knowledge colonies well known Professional
judgment of value Based on CWS research and
data Some species at risk
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Fish and Marine Habitat
Good knowledge esp. intertidal
areas Professional judgment / CRI
database Extensive surveys, shoreline video
classification (some gaps) Few species at risk
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Fisheries
Good knowledge Best for commercial, then sport,
then First Nation Fishing locations well
known Professional judgment / CRI database
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Tourism and Recreation
Indicative of Eco-values Good knowledge but data
issues
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Archeology and Culture
Many, but not all sites, known Ongoing
discoveries Often driven by development
pressure Some underwater
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Areas of Special Significance
Identified through previous planning
initiatives Varying levels of protection Based on
known high values Ongoing discoveries (e.g.
sponge reefs) More MPAs to come?
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Overall Values
Nearshore areas clearly of high value as
previously described in 1986 Data gaps in
mid-straits areas for mammal, bird and fish
VECs Assuming equal value across VECs
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Addition of Local Knowledge
Value significantly increased in many areas In a
few cases, local knowledge decreased value Local
knowledge tends to be geographical restricted
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Relevance to Offshore Oil and Gas and
Environmental Protection

• Knowledge requirements related to minimizing
  environmental risk are reasonably well understood
• Understanding of local VECs Incorporating
  Traditional Knowledge
• Use of general science and biological knowledge
  (e.g. life histories)
• Extrapolation from other areas (similar projects
  in similar environs)
• Each OG activity requires different knowledge
  base
• Establishing exclusion zones and protected areas
• Seismic
• Exploratory drilling
• Etc.
• Environmental Assessment Approach is well defined
• VECs
• criteria for identifying adverse effects
• level of significance, likelihood
• Required rigor of science

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Gaps

• Do we need to know everything? - NO
• Do we know a lot? - Yes
• Are there still gaps to fill? - Yes
• Where are these gaps?

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VEC Gaps

• Distribution and abundance information for some
  VECs (marine mammals, pelagic fish, pelagic birds
• Critical habitats (spawning, migration and
  rearing) for some VECs (benthic and pelagic,
  mid-straits region)

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Access to Knowledge Gaps

• Scientific and Research Data
• Improved data management and delivery services by
  government
• Local and Traditional Knowledge
• Develop methods and procedures for inclusion in
  overall knowledge base

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Next Steps

• Address issue of access to knowledge
• Address gaps in VECs using a strategic approach
  with relevance to OG including knowledge to
  support
• Identification of exclusion zones, protected
  areas
• Improving understanding of effects of OG
  activities

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END