http://hdl.handle.net/10222/13000 2013-05-24T20:06:22Z http://hdl.handle.net/10222/15662 Improving resources to assess climate change coastal vulnerability: a pre-assessment criteria of the socio-economic values of working waterfront infrastructures in Nova Scotia Cisneros Linares, Paola B. The scientific community has stated that coastal zones will be among the zones that would suffer major negative consequences in terms of climate change effects. Nova Scotia, as a coastal province, is not absolved of such predictions. Working waterfront facilities are infrastructures that are always exposed to the inclement weather events, such as hurricanes, and would be threatened by future coastal hazards, such as sea level rise. Although full and detailed vulnerability and risk assessments are evaluations that could contribute to determine the level of risk a facility is exposed to, pre-assessment have been seen as useful tool to broadly estimate potential loss in terms of values. One such pre assessment tool is the Nova Scotia Coastal Infrastructure Assessment Tool (CIAT) used to determine economic vulnerability of working waterfronts. This graduate project seeks to complement the CIAT by incorporating an additional criteria in which the societal and non-fishery based economic values of working waterfront facilities are assessed together with the financial and economic fishery based values. The method used to build the Socio-economic Pre-Assessment Criteria (SEPAC) was the inventory of other uses and activities at working waterfronts, which consisted of literature online searches, site visits, and expert consultation. The SEPAC was also tested by two Nova Scotia Department of Fishery and Aquaculture (NS-DFA) staff. A focus group comprising of representatives from the NS-DFA and the Federal Small Craft’s Harbour (Division of Department of Fisheries and Oceans) was also conducted to obtain feedback on the SEPAC and the practical implications for decision-making. Overall, the SEPAC appears to be a pre-assessment component that (i) represents socio-economic values that working waterfront offers to local citizen and visitors, (ii) is practical and easy to assess, and (iii) is a potential assessment component that could guide future assessments and decision-making in terms of prioritising infrastructures in regards of their values. Graduate Project 2012-10-26T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10222/15541 Applications of Coral Bio-Optics to Coral Reef Management Hamilton, Samantha Christine The unabated decline of coral reefs has led to criticisms of both coral reef monitoring and management: monitoring data provides management with a limited capacity to detect current sources of stress acting on the reef, address sources of stress before they significantly affect the reef, and predict future trends in order to prevent further harm. This project evaluates the management merits of developing coral bio-optics, the study of coral pigmentation using underwater spectrometry, into a uniquely precise and proactive reef monitoring methodology and part of a monitoring program. This includes an evaluation of the technology’s ability to pre-emptively detect nutrification and bleaching stress in aquaria. The evaluation informs a discussion of how coral bio-optical monitoring might provide management decision support for the control of human activities in Bermuda’s reef ecosystems, given the country’s recent marine policy initiatives. Recommendations include the implementation of coral bio-optical monitoring to expand our understanding of stresses and pigmentation health, further develop the technology, and apply the technology to monitoring the optical properties of multiple coral species. Graduate Project 2012-09-20T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10222/15540 Narwhal co-management in Nunavut: Deepened collaboration needed to improve partnership, process and outcome Wirz-Held, Mirjam B. E. Since the ratification of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) in 1993, narwhal harvesting in Nunavut has been governed by a formalized co-management regime. The Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, a body created under the NLCA, has decision-making power, while the ultimate management authority remains with Fisheries and Oceans Canada as marine mammals are a federal responsibility. Calling for an effective system of wildlife management that complements Inuit harvesting rights, fosters public participation, and reflects the traditional and current patterns of Inuit harvesting and wildlife management, the NLCA provides an adequate framework for co-management. However, co-management processes take a long time to mature and the Nunavut narwhal co-management is no exception. While there have been attempts to devolve management responsibility to the local level, cooperation between the co-management partners is challenged by a lack of capacity among the local and regional hunters organizations as well as a lack of trust. The assessment of the shortcomings of the current co-management process revealed issues regarding communication, power sharing and the limited inclusion of Inuit knowledge and values in the decision-making process. A number of recommendations on advancing narwhal co-management are proposed, including capacity building among hunters, a true commitment to adaptive co-management which will facilitate social learning, and the engagement of a facilitator to assist in developing collaborative and effective ways of collecting and sharing information. Such coproduction of knowledge would help the Nunavut narwhal co-management partners to form their recommendations and decisions on a more inclusive and equitable knowledge base. Graduate Project 2012-09-20T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10222/15539 Protecting the migratory bird habitat at Malpeque Bay, Prince Edward Island: An identification of the management needs Wilkin, Sarah Malpeque Bay, Prince Edward Island (PEI), was designated as containing “wetlands of international importance” under the Ramsar Convention in 1988 due to its unique ecological features and importance as a resting ground for thousands of migratory birds. As part of Canada’s commitment to this convention, management actions at this site must promote its wise use and, yet, no efforts have been made to develop a management plan. This is in light of existing threats to the birds and their habitat, particularly coastal impacts from climate change, pollution from industrial runoff, the presence of invasive species, and the potential for negative effects to result from aquaculture in the Bay. In addition, while the existing policies and legislation that exist at the provincial, federal, and international level may offer some level of protection to aspects of the Bay, they do not sufficiently protect the whole ecosystem from the posed threats. This is particularly concerning as the province does not currently have the fiscal capacity to develop a management plan for the site and the federal government is unable to provide much directive as it has recently had widespread budget and departmental cuts. Recognizing the existing challenges on PEI in regards to resource management and the continued funding to provincial watershed groups even amidst a deficit, it is suggested that it is most reasonable for the management plan of Malpeque Bay to be adopted into a broader watershed management planning process. Graduate Project 2012-09-20T00:00:00Z