Co-Convenors: R.
Ian Perry (Canada) and Chang-Ik Zhang (Korea)
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and
the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have been encouraging the
sustainable use of marine living resources by the identification of
vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) and ecologically and biological
significant areas (EBSAs), in particular but not exclusively in international
waters, and have developed criteria. The broad purpose for identifying
such areas is to prevent significant adverse impacts and to protect
the marine biodiversity and services that these ecosystems provide.
To achieve these objectives, researchers and managers must be able
to identify areas where VMEs are known, or are likely, to occur. Outstanding
questions related to VME identification include: (1) what characteristics
should be used to classify these systems, (2) how can current information
on VMEs and EBSAs be consolidated, and (3) how can models which predict
the locations of such areas be developed and tested. PICES member countries
are beginning to identify VMEs that meet a variety of biological and
socio-economic objectives. However, no comprehensive comparison of the
different methods or assessment of their performance against established
ecological, social and economic objectives exists to provide guidance
on the appropriate tools to be used. This session will bring together
researchers and managers engaged in ecosystem-based management to address
two objectives: (1) to compare current approaches and datasets used
to identify VMEs/EBSA by different member countries in order to develop
a list of appropriate tools and (2) to explore how the criteria for
these areas (such as defined in the FAO Guidelines FIEP/R881 and CBD
Resolution UNEP/CBD/COP/DEC/IX/20) can be used to identify VME/EBSA-type
areas in the high-seas of the North Pacific Ocean. Both benthic/demersal
and pelagic systems will be considered, as they may have different characteristics.
Presentations and methods developed for shelf and coastal waters are
welcome to the extent that they provide guidance and case studies for
open ocean situations. This review of international experiences with
applying approaches and data to identify VMEs and EBSAs will contribute
to the international discussion and evaluation of these issues, and
to the application of measures to protect these significant regions.