Establishing a National Coastal Environmental Baseline Program: Working with Indigenous and Coastal Communities to Characterize Ecosystems

The “Coastal Environmental Baseline Program” is an initiative under Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan. Fisheries and Oceans Canada will engage partners in coastal environmental baseline data collection at six pilot sites:... [ view full abstract ]

The “Coastal Environmental Baseline Program” is an initiative under Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan. Fisheries and Oceans Canada will engage partners in coastal environmental baseline data collection at six pilot sites: Port of Vancouver, Port of Prince Rupert, Lower St. Lawrence Estuary, Port of Saint John, Placentia Bay, and Iqaluit.      

Year one of Baseline focused largely on national program development and was heavy on engagement activities to introduce and acquire feedback on the program. Data to be collected at each site is determined in partnership with key parties in the local area, where ecosystem components of particular interest will likely vary between the sites.  Other fundamental aspects of program development that necessitate collaborative planning approaches include setting appropriate baseline data collection objectives and sampling protocols at each site; and the determination of data management strategies to ensure open data.   

Subsequent years of Baseline will see the initiation and continuation of baseline data collection through partnerships with Indigenous and Coastal Communities; refinement of sampling protocols as needed; analysis of baseline data collection results; and reporting on baseline conditions of pilot sites. This initiative will result in baseline environmental data that is open and accessible; that can contribute to the characterization of important coastal areas; and support evidence-based assessments and management decisions.   

Developing and advancing partnerships to collect Baseline data over the next several years will benefit with ongoing evaluation of best practices and challenges encountered along the way; and will be key to the success of the Coastal Environmental Baseline program.