Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) are areas within Canada's oceans that have been identified through formal scientific assessments as having special biological or ecological significance when compared with the surrounding marine ecosystem. Failure to define an area as an EBSA does not mean that it is unimportant ecologically. All areas serve ecological functions to some extent and require sustainable management. Rather, areas identified as EBSAs should be viewed as the most important areas where, with existing knowledge, regulators and marine users should be particularly risk averse to ensure ecosystems remain healthy and productive. Why are EBSAs identified? EBSA information is used to inform marine planning, including environmental assessment and the siting of marine-based activities, by: - Informing and guiding project-specific or regional environmental assessments; - Informing and guiding industries and regulators in their planning and operations, for example: EBSAs have been acknowledged and referred to (often as "Special Areas" or "Potentially Sensitive Areas") in oil and gas related assessments; - EBSA information has been provided to proponents of submarine cable projects to be used for route planning purposes; - Informing and guiding Integrated Oceans Management (IOM) process within five Large Ocean Management Areas (LOMAs) and twelve marine bioregions; - Serving as a basis for the identification of Areas of Interest (AOIs) and of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) (individually and in the context of planning bioregional networks of MPAs). How are EBSAs identified? The process used to identify EBSAs is generally comprised of two phases. The first phase involves compiling scientific data and knowledge of a marine area's ecosystems - notably fish species, marine mammals, sea birds, marine flora, marine productivity, physical and chemical conditions and geology. "Knowledge" includes experiential knowledge of long-time uses of the areas. In some cases (e.g., in the Arctic), substantial efforts are taken to collect traditional knowledge on ecosystems and environmental conditions from community members, fish harvests, hunters and individuals whose knowledge of the study area complement often helps fill scientific data gaps. In the second phase, the available information for a marine area (e.g. a bioregion) is assessed against five nationally-established science-based criteria including: - Uniqueness: How distinct is the ecosystem of an area compared to surrounding ones? - Aggregation: Whether or not species populate or convene to the study area? - Fitness consequence: How critical the area is to the life history of the species that use it (e.g. is it a spawning or feeding ground)? - Naturalness: How pristine or disturbed by human activities is the study area? - Resilience: What is the ability of the ecosystem to bounce back if it is disturbed? Progress to date and next steps EBSAs have been identified for large portions of Canada's Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as most of the Arctic oceans. EBSAs will continue to be identified in priority areas as resources become available to carry out the process. The boundaries or locations of existing EBSAs may be modified to reflect both new knowledge and changing environmental conditions.

****New revised data soon available In 2009, DFO defined twelve spatial units in three of Canada's oceans to inform marine planning exercises such as the establishment of marine protected area networks. However, these bioregions cover large territories and are ecologically heterogeneous, especially along the coasts. The ecological regionalization presented in this report is based on existing classification systems, in particular those of Parks Canada, Environment Canada, DFO and MELCC, in addition to the unique ecological characteristics of each sub-region in terms of habitats, breeding grounds, feeding grounds, migratory routes, surface deposits, geomorphology, etc. For the Quebec region, a total of 12 sub-ecoregions have been identified. The analyzes leading to these sub-ecoregions are both based on a description of terrestrial ecosystems adjacent to the coast and on a marine description. Consultation with experts in marine biology and conservation helped refine our analyses and conclusions. Data presented here are the limit of the 12 ecoregions made from this work. A technical report is available for more details : Narancic, B. et Gendreau, Y. 2022. Écorégionalisation du territoire côtier de l’estuaire et du golfe Saint-Laurent. Rapp. tech. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 0000 :vii + 27p.

Key ecological features are the parts of the marine ecosystem that are considered to be of importance for a marine region's biodiversity or ecosystem function and integrity.Key ecological features (KEFs) meet one or more of the following criteria:a species, group of species, or a community with a regionally important ecological role (e.g. a predator, prey that affects a large biomass or number of other marine species);a species, group of species, or a community that is nationally or regionally important for biodiversity;an area or habitat that is nationally or regionally important for:enhanced or high productivity (such as predictable upwellings - an upwelling occurs when cold nutrient-rich waters from the bottom of the ocean rise to the surface);aggregations of marine life (such as feeding, resting, breeding or nursery areas);biodiversity and endemism (species which only occur in a specific area); ora unique seafloor feature, with known or presumed ecological properties of regional significance.KEFs have been identified by the Australian Government on the basis of advice from scientists about the ecological processes and characteristics of the area. A workshop held in Darwin in 2007 also contributed to this scientific advice and helped to underpin the identification of key ecological features.As new information becomes available, the spatial representations of identified key ecological features will continue to be refined and updated.Sixteen KEFs have been identified in the South-west Marine Region:Commonwealth marine environment surrounding the Houtman Abrolhos IslandsPerth Canyon and adjacent shelf break, and other west coast canyonsCommonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to the west coast inshore lagoonsCommonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to Geographe BayCape Mentelle upwellingNaturaliste PlateauDiamantina Fracture ZoneAlbany Canyons group and adjacent shelf breakCommonwealth marine environment surrounding the Recherche ArchipelagoAncient coastline at 90-120 m depthKangaroo Island Pool, canyons and adjacent shelf break, and Eyre Peninsula upwellings.Meso-scale eddies (points).Western demersal slope and associated fish communities.Western rock lobster.Benthic invertebrate communities of the eastern Great Australian Bight. No spatial representation available.Small pelagic fish of the South-west Marine Region. No spatial representation available.Thirteen KEFs have been identified in the North-west Marine Region:Ancient coastline at 125 m depth contourAshmore Reef and Cartier Island and surrounding Commonwealth watersCanyons linking the Argo Abyssal Plain and Scott PlateauCanyons linking the Cuvier Abyssal Plain and the Cape Range PeninsulaCarbonate bank and terrace system of the Sahul ShelfCommonwealth waters adjacent to Ningaloo ReefContinental Slope Demersal Fish CommunitiesExmouth PlateauGlomar ShoalsMermaid Reed and Commonwealth waters surrounding the Rowley ShoalsPinnacles of the Bonaparte BasinSeringapatam Reef and Commonwealth waters in the Scott Reef ComplexWallaby SaddleEight KEFs have been identified in the North Marine Region:Carbonate bank and terrace system of the Van Diemen RiseShelf break and slope of the Arafura ShelfTributary canyons of the Arafura DepressionGulf of Carpentaria basinGulf of Carpentaria coastal zonePlateaux and saddle north-west of the Wellesley IslandsPinnacles of the Bonaparte BasinSubmerged coral reefs of the Gulf of CarpentariaThree KEFs have been identified in the Coral Sea:Tasmantid seamount chainReefs, cays and hebivorous fish of the Queensland PlateauReefs, cays and hebivorous fish of the Marion PlateauEight KEFs were identified in the Temperate East marine Region:Tasmantid seamount chainLord Howe seamount chainNorfolk RidgeCanyons on the eastern continental slopeShelf rocky reefsElizabeth and Middleton reefsUpwelling off Fraser IslandTasman Front and eddy fieldEight KEFs were identified in the South-east Marine Region.Seamounts, east and south of

Key ecological features are the parts of the marine ecosystem that are considered to be of importance for a marine region's biodiversity or ecosystem function and integrity.Key ecological features (KEFs) meet one or more of the following criteria:a species, group of species, or a community with a regionally important ecological role (e.g. a predator, prey that affects a large biomass or number of other marine species);a species, group of species, or a community that is nationally or regionally important for biodiversity;an area or habitat that is nationally or regionally important for:enhanced or high productivity (such as predictable upwellings - an upwelling occurs when cold nutrient-rich waters from the bottom of the ocean rise to the surface);aggregations of marine life (such as feeding, resting, breeding or nursery areas);biodiversity and endemism (species which only occur in a specific area); ora unique seafloor feature, with known or presumed ecological properties of regional significance.KEFs have been identified by the Australian Government on the basis of advice from scientists about the ecological processes and characteristics of the area. A workshop held in Darwin in 2007 also contributed to this scientific advice and helped to underpin the identification of key ecological features.As new information becomes available, the spatial representations of identified key ecological features will continue to be refined and updated.Sixteen KEFs have been identified in the South-west Marine Region:Commonwealth marine environment surrounding the Houtman Abrolhos IslandsPerth Canyon and adjacent shelf break, and other west coast canyonsCommonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to the west coast inshore lagoonsCommonwealth marine environment within and adjacent to Geographe BayCape Mentelle upwellingNaturaliste PlateauDiamantina Fracture ZoneAlbany Canyons group and adjacent shelf breakCommonwealth marine environment surrounding the Recherche ArchipelagoAncient coastline at 90-120 m depthKangaroo Island Pool, canyons and adjacent shelf break, and Eyre Peninsula upwellings.Meso-scale eddies (points).Western demersal slope and associated fish communities.Western rock lobster.Benthic invertebrate communities of the eastern Great Australian Bight. No spatial representation available.Small pelagic fish of the South-west Marine Region. No spatial representation available.Thirteen KEFs have been identified in the North-west Marine Region:Ancient coastline at 125 m depth contourAshmore Reef and Cartier Island and surrounding Commonwealth watersCanyons linking the Argo Abyssal Plain and Scott PlateauCanyons linking the Cuvier Abyssal Plain and the Cape Range PeninsulaCarbonate bank and terrace system of the Sahul ShelfCommonwealth waters adjacent to Ningaloo ReefContinental Slope Demersal Fish CommunitiesExmouth PlateauGlomar ShoalsMermaid Reed and Commonwealth waters surrounding the Rowley ShoalsPinnacles of the Bonaparte BasinSeringapatam Reef and Commonwealth waters in the Scott Reef ComplexWallaby SaddleEight KEFs have been identified in the North Marine Region:Carbonate bank and terrace system of the Van Diemen RiseShelf break and slope of the Arafura ShelfTributary canyons of the Arafura DepressionGulf of Carpentaria basinGulf of Carpentaria coastal zonePlateaux and saddle north-west of the Wellesley IslandsPinnacles of the Bonaparte BasinSubmerged coral reefs of the Gulf of CarpentariaThree KEFs have been identified in the Coral Sea:Tasmantid seamount chainReefs, cays and hebivorous fish of the Queensland PlateauReefs, cays and hebivorous fish of the Marion PlateauEight KEFs were identified in the Temperate East marine Region:Tasmantid seamount chainLord Howe seamount chainNorfolk RidgeCanyons on the eastern continental slopeShelf rocky reefsElizabeth and Middleton reefsUpwelling off Fraser IslandTasman Front and eddy fieldEight KEFs were identified in the South-east Marine Region.Seamounts, east and south of

Biologically Important Area data are spatially defined areas where aggregations of individuals of a regionally significant species are known to display biologically important behaviours such as breeding, foraging, resting or migration. This layer was originally produced by the Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, 2015), and has been cropped to Victoria's state boundaries, and queried for temperate east marine regions (SEMR- south east marine region).

Significant Benthic Areas are defined in DFO's Ecological Risk Assessment Framework (ERAF) as "significant areas of cold-water corals and sponge dominated communities", where significance is determined "through guidance provided by DFO-lead processes based on current knowledge of such species, communities and ecosystems". Here we provide maps of the location of significant concentrations of corals and sponges on the east coast of Canada produced through quantitative analyses of research vessel trawl survey data, supplemented with other data sources where available. We have conducted those analyses following a bio-regionalization approach in order to facilitate modelling of similar species, given that many of the multispecies surveys do not record coral and sponge catch at species level resolution. The taxa analyzed are sponges (Porifera), large and small gorgonian corals (Alcyonacea), and sea pens (Pennatulacea). We applied kernel density estimation (KDE) to create a modelled biomass surface for each of those taxa, and applied an aerial expansion method to identify significant concentrations, following an approach first applied in 2010 to this region. We compared our results to those obtained previously. KDE uses only geo-referenced biomass data to identify "hot spots". The borders of the areas so identified can be refined using knowledge of null catches and species distribution models that predict species presence-absence and/or biomass, both incorporating environmental data.

The Species at Risk (SAR) Program is responsible for carrying out DFO’s mandate under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) to protect, recover and conserve all listed aquatic SAR in Canada. Critical habitat is identified for species listed as Endangered or Threatened under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). This mapping tool is for general guidance only. “Mapped” representations of waterbodies and watercourses are based on authoritative provincial geospatial products, guidance and standards. Due to the nature of dynamic systems and the resolution/accuracy of these data sets, areas within which critical habitat is found as displayed on the mapping tool may not align exactly with natural watercourses. If discrepancies occur, refer to the relevant species recovery strategy and/or action plan for additional information on critical habitat. If additional guidance is required, please contact the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pnw-ppe/contact-eng.html Critical habitat is defined under section 2 of SARA as: "the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of a listed wildlife species and that is identified as the species' critical habitat in the recovery strategy or in an action plan for the species". Section 49(1)(a) of SARA requires that a species' Recovery Strategy/Action Plan include an identification of the species' critical habitat to the extent possible, based on the best available information, including information provided by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). SARA makes it illegal to destroy any part of the critical habitat of SAR and may impose restrictions on development and construction. Critical habitats were assembled by SARA regional biologists and recovery teams. They are designed to support the protection and recovery of species listed as Endangered or Threatened under the Species at Risk Act. They are also described and displayed in species' Recovery Documents and Action Plans.

The spatial planning framework for Canada's national network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is comprised of 13 ecologically defined bioregions that cover Canada's oceans and the Great Lakes. Note that the geographic boundaries for the bioregions are fuzzy and may change based on ecosystemic conditions. Detailed descriptions and discussions on the federal network of marine bioregions can be found in: - DFO. 2009. Development of a Framework and Principles for the Biogeographic Classification of Canadian Marine Areas. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2009/056 (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/publications/sar-as/2009/2009_056-eng.htm); - DFO. 2010. Proceedings of a National Science Advisory Process to Provide Guidance on the Development of a Framework and Principles for the Biogeographic Classification of Canadian Marine Areas; 15-16 June 2009. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Proceed. Ser. 2009/039. (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/publications/pro-cr/2009/2009_039-eng.htm); and - National Framework for Canada's Network of Marine Protected Areas (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/publications/mpanf-cnzpm/page01-eng.html).

The selection of an Area of Interest (AOI) marks the beginning of the Oceans Act Marine Protected Area (MPA) establishment process led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The process includes completing detailed ecological and socioeconomic assessments, setting conservation objectives, determining boundaries and management measures, and eventually developing the regulations under section 35 of the Oceans Act. Collaboration, consultation, and engagement occurs with stakeholders and partners throughout each step of this process.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Coastal Environmental Baseline Program supports the collection of ecological information on the current state of key coastal ecosystems across Canada. This initiative aims to acquire environmental baseline data (physical, chemical and biological) contributing to the characterization of important coastal areas and to support evidence-based assessments and management decisions for preserving marine ecosystems. From this page, you will find links to the data from projects undertaken from 2018-2022 at six coastal sites across Canada.