Full report - Conservation Gateway

Chapter 1 - IntroductionImportant steps in the ecoregional planning process,whether applied to terrestrial or marine and coastal ecosystems,include (Groves et al. 2002):1. Identification of the species, habitats andecological processes (conservation targets) that bestrepresent the biodiversity of the ecoregion.2. Collection of data and information on the targets’ecology, distribution, current condition andvulnerability to human uses and/or environmentalchanges (threats).3. Determination of conservation goals for the targets(e.g. population size, areal coverage, distribution).4. Identification of a set of sites and strategies formeeting conservation goals for the targets.Introduction to this AssessmentThe Northwest Atlantic region is known for its cold,nutrient-rich, and highly productive waters that have sustainedregional economies for centuries. With its strongtidal flows, complex circulation patterns, and varied seafloortopography the region supports large diverse populationsof bottom dwelling fish and an array of benthic communities.The deep basins and shallow banks of the Gulfof Maine, with seasonal concentrations of plankton andforage fish, attract an impressive number of marine mammals.Farther south, the broad continental margin, largeestuaries, and deep submarine canyons function as nurseryareas for estuary dependent fishes, critical stopoversites for millions of seabirds, migratory pathways for largepelagic species, and key habitat for coldwater corals.While the accumulated pressures of population growthand human use of the coasts and oceans have resulted inwidespread damage and loss to marine and coastal habitatsand species, there is nonetheless, significant evidenceof resilience and opportunity for actions to conserve andrestore the Northwest Atlantic’s marine biodiversity andecosystem services. This assessment highlights the areas inthis region where significant species, natural communitiesand ecological processes hold the greatest promise for conservationsuccess. This information, in turn, will providethe basis for developing a suite of strategies, from resourcemanagement to marine spatial planning, for achievingthat success.This assessment is intended to support regional ecosystem-basedmanagement (EBM), an approach previouslyendorsed by several blue-ribbon panels and recently by theUnited States Ocean Policy Task Force. Ecosystem basedmanagement approaches acknowledge the interconnectionsbetween air, land, sea, marine organisms and people,and the dynamic interactions between living resourcesand their environments. Such approaches are most effectivewhen management of multiple human activities isintegrated rather than conducted in sector specific isolation(see Pew Oceans Commission 2003; USCOP 2004;JOCI 2006; OPTF 2009). Around the world, marineresource managers are now seeking to implement EBM toimprove conservation of coastal and marine environments.In recognition that political boundaries are essentiallyirrelevant to marine ecosystem function, EBM planningareas are defined by biogeographic rather than politicalboundaries.In order to advance these overarching goals, this assessmentintegrates information about multiple species andtheir habitats. The results summarized in this reportinclude maps and data on concentrations of high biodiversityand critical species specific areas for refuge, forage andspawning, and also some of the limited available spatialdata for human uses such as shipping lanes, port facilities,energy development, fishing effort, dredge sites andlocations of shoreline armoring. The Northwest AtlanticMarine Ecoregional Assessment is designed to be usedby diverse stakeholders to inform diverse decisions, to befreely available online for public use. For direct access toassessment data, please visit www.nature.org/namera/.The Nature Conservancy’s goals in conducting theNorthwest Atlantic Marine Ecoregional Assessment wereto produce a baseline of scientific information on thedistribution and status of key habitats and species (PhaseOne), and a map and report of priority conservation areasfor the region’s marine biodiversity (Phase Two). Thelatter used information collected in the first phase to1-Northwest Atlantic Marine Ecoregional Assessment • Phase 1 Report