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Maritime Awards Society of Canada Oceans Governance on Canadas West Coast June 8 & 9, 2007 Roger Creasey Shell Canada Slide 2 The Opportunity for Integrated Resource Planning Slide 3 Slide 4 Integrated Ocean/Coastal Management Initiatives LOMA Placentia Bay/Grand Banks Large Ocean Management Areas ESSIM Eastern Scotian Shelf Integrated Management Plan GOSLIM Gulf of St. Lawrence Integrated Management Plan BSIMPI Beaufort Sea Integrated Management Planning Initiative Slide 5 Eastern Scotian Shelf Integrated Management Initiative (ESSIMI) First oceans management area defined under the Oceans Act with an offshore focus Based on, and incorporates, the principles of: ecosystem approach, sustainable development, integrated approach, collaborative approach, precautionary approach Slide 6 Eastern Scotian Shelf Integrated Management Initiative (ESSIMI) Integrate the management of all activities in the eastern Scotian Shelf area, To encourage the conservation, effective management and responsible use of marine resources in the eastern Scotian Shelf, To support the maintenance of biological diversity and productivity, and To foster opportunities for economic diversification and sustainable wealth generation for coastal communities and stakeholders. Slide 7 Beaufort Sea Integrated Management Planning Initiative (BSIMPI) A partnership between the Inuvialuit, government, and industry within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region Based on the principles of: traditional knowledge and western science based planning, co-operative approach to ocean management healthy communities and a healthy marine environment Slide 8 Offshore Science Workshop October 15-17, 2003 Roger Creasey Manager - Ecosystem Management Shell Canada Limited Approaches to Protected Areas and Regional Planning Slide 9 The Shell Biodiversity Standard In Shell, we recognize the importance of biodiversity. We are committed to: work with others to maintain ecosystems respect the basic concept of protected areas seek partnerships to enable Shell to make a positive contribution towards the conservation of global biodiversity Slide 10 The Shell Biodiversity Standard Shell companies will: conduct environmental assessments, which include the potential impacts on biodiversity, prior to all new activities and significant modifications to existing ones, and bring focused attention to the management of activities in sites internationally-recognized for biodiversity, including the identification of, and early consultation with, key participants. Slide 11 The industry benefits from early designation of Protected Areas Early initiation of baseline/regional studies where information doesnt exist, and collation of existing information where it does exist. Early engagement and identification of protected areas. Need to understand the rationale for existing sites. Examination and refinement of buffer zones considering possible prospectivity and modern technology. Slide 12 Shell supports the concept of protected areas: Recognizing that there are a range of risk management strategies that may make a protected area fit for purpose timing or seasons nature of the activity geographic location other mitigation plans early identification of these aspects is important for: industrys orderly exploration & development planning, and completion of a protected areas strategy Slide 13 Clear delineation of sensitive or vulnerable areas essential to preserve biodiversity and ensure ecosystem integrity, so that industry and others will be able to develop proposals for offshore activity with a clear initial understanding of any boundary conditions or restrictions Protected Area Pre-conditions noted by the B.C.Offshore Task Force: Slide 14 Offshore Science Workshop October 28-30, 2003 Roger Creasey Manager - Ecosystem Management Shell Canada Limited The Environmental Impact Assessment Framework Slide 15 Slide 16 Example: East Coast EIA Scope (Jacques-Whitford 2001, 2003) Existing Environment physiography meterology & climate oceanography marine benthos plankton fish mammals turtles birds special areas human activities Impact Assessment study boundaries potential interactions, issues and concerns mitigation options environmental effects assessment environmental effects evaluation cumulative environmental effects follow-up, adaptive management Impact Assessment Approach and Methods Slide 17 Benthic surveys conducted in collaboration with other companies/agencies is one way to collect baseline data Slide 18 Slide 19 Knowledge of west coast oceanography is incomplete. Slide 20 Ocean temperature studies from satellite imagery (from Crawford) Slide 21 Ocean temperatures and seasonal trends at depth Slide 22 No single issue elicited greater passion or emotion from presenters than did the environment, residents of coastal B.C. have a special relationship with the natural environment. (Offshore Oil & Gas Task Force 2001) - acoustic effects of seismic programs - disturbance to commercial fisheries - discharges of fluids/wastes, - flaring - birds - spills (prevention & response), - habitat loss or avoidance, - extreme conditions offshore Slide 23 Mutual trust and respect, open communication, flexibility and perseverance are pre-requisites for a stakeholder-driven, consensus-based approach to regional cumulative effects management. Spaling, Zwier, Ross and Creasey Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management Vol. 2, No. 4 (December 2000)