COASTAL ZONE CANADA ASSOCIATION
NEWSLETTER #20, DECEMBER 2006
This newsletter, which is issued quarterly, is presented in both
English (first half of newsletter) and French (second half of newsletter).
It is distributed by e-mail to members of the Coastal Zone Canada
Association (CZCA), providing news about the Association, its activities
and its members, as well as information of potential interest to
members. Please feel free to circulate it among your own networks.
Also check out the Association’s Web site at: http://www.czca-azcc.org.
~~~ Season’s Greetings to all our readers
~~~
COASTAL ZONE CANADA (CZC) 2006 CONFERENCE, TUKTOYAKTUK, NORTHWEST
TERRITORIES
An initial report on the conference was included in the previous
issue of the newsletter (#19, September 2006). In this issue additional
information is provided based on reports and articles by attendees.
The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation included a short write-up of
the event in the October issue of its newsletter (IRC Newsletter,
Vol. 11, No. 3, October 2006). The article states that the Youth
Forum kicked-off the proceedings on August 11 with 50 participants,
including at least one youth from each Inuvialuit community. Then,
on August 14, the persons attending the main conference arrived,
swelling the size of Tuktoyaktuk by 300. The planning of both the
Youth Forum and the Conference was spearheaded by DFO, with assistance
from several agencies including the following northern groups: Hamlet
of Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, and the local Fisheries
Joint Management Committee. The Honorary Co-chairs were Nellie Cournoyea
(Chair, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation) and Frank Pokiak (Chair,
Inuvialuit Game Council). The article states that the event generated
a lot of activities and excitement in the community, with both residents
and participants enjoying the many social functions. To refer to
this article, which includes photos, go to: http://www.irc.inuvialuit.com/publications/pdf/
2006-03%20October.pdf
Among the young people attending the Youth Forum (and also the
main conference) was graduate student Bonnie Gemmill, University
of Manitoba. She was funded to attend by DFO. In her report to the
department she stated that attending the Conference and Youth Forum
was an experience that she would never forget. She concluded her
report as follows: “I have taken a lot back with me from this
conference, especially issues that I had no idea were happening.
Before attending this conference I basically only knew of the research
that I was working on in the Arctic, but from this conference I
have learned that there are many other issues that are going on,
and this opportunity has made me become more interested in furthering
my education in this field of study.”
In another perspective on the event, this one from a member of
DFO Headquarters, Ottawa (Robert Siron, Manager, Ecosystem-based
Management Unit, Oceans and Policy Planning) recognition was paid
to the organizing committee “for their tremendous and continuing
efforts to make the challenge to get this conference in the North
a successful reality…” In his report, Siron states that
“From a professional perspective, it was a very interesting
conference with a lot of discussions on topics and issues of interest
for oceans management in the Arctic; from a personal point of view,
this was really an unforgettable experience, as we lived within
a coastal northern community for a week and were in touch with the
Inuit culture, participating in great social activities and events.”
A key output of the conference is the Tuktoyaktuk Declaration (reproduced
in full in the previous issue the newsletter). In the near future,
all of the conference presentations will be posted on the CZC’06
Web-site: http://www.czca-azcc.org.
In addition, the conference will be summarized by a series of peer-reviewed
papers (mostly invited), and published in 2007 in “Arctic”,
North America’s premier journal of northern research. Progress
in addressing the actions arising from CZC’06 will be reviewed
at the 2007 Ocean Management Research Network (OMRN) Conference
in Ottawa (Fall 2007), and at CZC’08 in Vancouver.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
The main activity of the Association since CZC’06 has been
in following-up on the commitments made in the Tuk Declaration,
which was included in the September Newsletter. In particular we
have been working to identify ways in which we can ensure that northern
discussion around the critical CZM issues facing Arctic Canada do
not end with CZC’06, and to ensure continued involvement of
our northern colleagues in the work of the CZCA. Jack Mathias and
Thomas Suluk have been especially involved, and have taken on very
important leadership roles in this initiative. The CZCA is very
grateful to Jack and Thomas for these efforts.
A report of the Northern Forum, which was held during CZC’06,
was produced by Sherrie Blakney (Natural Resources Institute, University
of Manitoba). The report highlights the need for a regional Arctic
Coastal Zone Association or Working Group to be under the direction
of the Inuit but that would ensure the wide involvement of scientists
and researchers from the South (through such organizations as CZCA
and OMRN), as well as all coastal communities of the North. The
key issues to be identified by the Forum are: Arctic sovereignty;
federal and territorial harvesting legislation; the Tuk Declaration,
Ocean Action Plan, and land claims; environmental damage and critical
habitat areas; wildlife and marine safety & protection guidelines
and regulation; and global warming. There was considerable discussion
over what relationship should exist between the new regional group
and the CZCA, ranging from it being a regional chapter of the CZCA
to it being its own Association with a formal linkage. Following
this report, an application was made to the Gordon Foundation to
fund a meeting that would bring together key individuals from the
North, the CZCA, the OMRN, and other appropriate groups, to develop
a Strategy and Action Plan for the establishment of a Northern Coastal
Zone organization.
I am delighted to say that the proposal was accepted by the Gordon
Foundation, and a sum of $25,000 will be made available to organize
the meeting. The money will be managed by the CZCA, and the meeting
will be held in the New Year. I am delighted to see this activity
emerging from CZC’06, and the CZCA will assist in any way
possible to ensure that the momentum from Tuk is built upon successfully.
We are grateful to the Gordon Foundation for this support, and look
forward to a successful follow-up meeting to get this Northern Coastal
Zone group up and running.
As we approach the Christmas season, I wish each and every one
of you a very happy and peaceful holiday and all the best for an
exciting New Year.
Best wishes,
Peter Ricketts,
President, CZCA
VICE-PRESIDENT, GREAT LAKES, REPORT (Patrick Lawrence)
The Great Lakes Coastal Zone Regional Division of the CZCA will
host a one day forum on the “Future of the Great Lakes Coast”
in association with the Lake Huron Coastal Conservation Center.
The forum will focus on several key topical issues of interest to
the Great Lakes coastal community including wind energy, public
access, climate change impacts, and farmland & rural source
water protection. Each topic will consist of presentations by two
counterpoint speakers. The event will be of interest to professionals,
agencies, non-government organizations, and citizens. The forum
is currently tentatively scheduled for September 2007 in London,
Ontario. For more information look for updates on http://www.greatlakescoastalzone.com/.
VANCOUVER AQUARIUM LAUNCHES AQUAQUEST – THE MARILYN BLUSSON
LEARNING CENTRE
(Report by Sondi Bruner; submitted on behalf of new CZCA Board
Member John Nightingale, President, Vancouver Aquarium)
In November 2006 the Vancouver Aquarium opened its new, $22-million
building Aquaquest – the Marilyn Blusson Learning Centre.
Named in recognition of a major gift towards the cost of the facility
from Canadian philanthropists Marilyn and Stewart Blusson, this
52,000 sq ft facility was inspired as part of the Aquarium’s
commitment to education and conservation, and to enhance the Aquarium’s
economic, cultural and social contributions to the local community.
Aquaquest promises to be a healthy, innovative space for learning,
which will model, inform and challenge visitors, other public institutions,
businesses and governments to continue the pursuit of excellence
in environmental responsibility.
The Vancouver Aquarium’s mission is to conserve aquatic life
through interpretation, education, research and direct action. The
not-for-profit society’s vision is a world in which our grandchildren
know the beauty and bounty of nature we enjoy today. Aquaquest is
a move in that direction, one of several as the fifty- year-old
Vancouver Aquarium looks at renewing and expanding its aging facilities
in preparation for the next half-century.
“What is so important about Aquaquest is how it enhances
our capacity to touch millions of people throughout Canada and around
the world for the betterment of our aquatic environments,”
says Vancouver Aquarium President Dr. John Nightingale. “When
we can put people together with the living world, we know awareness
increases and inspiration occurs. Aquaquest gives us new spaces
and new capacities to connect our visitors and millions across BC
and Canada to what is happening in the world.”
A new era in education
The facility represents the Aquarium’s commitment
to educating children, inspiring action in conservation and enhancing
the community through economic, cultural and social means. The Aquarium
hosts more than 80,000 students in school programs annually. Aquaquest
triples the Aquarium’s capacity for delivering educational
programs to students, ushering in a new era of leadership in aquatic
learning and conservation education.
Prior to the opening of Aquaquest, the only teaching space available
in the Aquarium was the Aldyen Hamber Student laboratory, which
opened in 1967. With a new wet lab and two new classrooms, the Aquarium
has now tripled its educational capacity, making it Canada’s
largest aquatic learning centre.
“More teaching spaces allows us to realize the potential
of our education programs,” says Eric Solomon, Aquarium VP
of Conservation, Research and Education. “We have more space
for our curriculum-based programs. Combined with the new gallery,
we can provide a whole new experience for kids.”
Experience marine life in a whole new way
For most Aquarium visitors, the main highlight of Aquaquest
is the Canaccord Capital Exploration Gallery. Entering this space
is like walking through time. As you step through the Treasures
of the BC Coast section, which leads to the gallery, you pass by
dozens of fish found in the waters of British Columbia, all brilliantly
lit and carefully described. But when you hit the mouth of the new
gallery, you descend into a futuristic darkness, and come face to
face with an enormous sea nettle display that is illuminated by
a warm blue backdrop.
The Gallery includes interactive exhibits and the ‘Windows
on Research’ area, a new children’s play learning area
called Clownfish Cove, an environmental newsroom, a new wet lab
and two classrooms, a 170-seat theatre, and administrative offices
for staff. “By the time you’ve left the Gallery you
have a whole bunch of ways to look at animals that you’ve
never thought of before,” says Solomon. “It goes beyond
sea stars to dolphins, beluga whales and even the tiniest flecks
of algae.”
Growing a green building
While the Canaccord Capital Exploration Gallery may be
the most noticed and publicly admired facet of Aquaquest, the Aquarium
is also proud of its implementation of innovative green technology.
Aquaquest is the first zoo or aquarium anywhere in the world aiming
for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification.
The Aquarium has made every effort to make its newest building
as environmentally sustainable as possible. “It was our intention
from the beginning to make sustainability the core of the new Learning
Centre,” says Dr. Nightingale. “We’re located
in beautiful Stanley Park, where we teach people about conservation
every day of the year. We need to demonstrate that commitment through
more than just our words. We need to walk our talk.” This
meant weaving sustainability into every aspect of the building with
a carefully crafted design that ensures Aquaquest generates less
waste and uses less energy than a conventional building.
“This project is a flagship,” says Max Richter, an
architect at Canadian company Stantec who consulted on the LEED
aspects of Aquaquest. “The Aquarium has been very forward-looking
and has taken a real leadership role in promoting green buildings
in Vancouver.”
SHORT NEWS ITEMS
(a) Canada’s second National Report to the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on the implementation of Canada’s
National Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment
from Land-based Activities (NPA)
This October 2006 report highlights the role that the Association’s
Coastal Zone Canada (CZC) conference series plays in addressing
coastal and oceans management issues. It was recently presented
to the Second Intergovernmental Review Meeting on Implementation
of the Global Programme of Action held in China. To obtain a copy
of the document contact the NPA Secretariat at Environment Canada’s
Marine Environment Branch: sarah.kennedy@ec.gc.ca
(b) Scotian Shelf atlas
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has recently released “The Scotian
Shelf: An Atlas of Human Activities”. The atlas includes over
50 maps of ocean activities occurring on the Scotian Shelf (and
where data was available the Canadian Portion of the Gulf of Maine)
including fishing, defense operations, shipping, research, oil and
gas activities, special management areas, ocean disposal and marine
environmental quality, and other activities. There are limited copies
in print, but it is now available on-line in PDF format at:
http://www.mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/e/essim/
essim-atlas-e.html
(c) Ocean energy in coastal British Columbia
A recently published report by the Pembina Institute and Pollution
Probe outlines the energy efficiency potential and renewable energy
resources available in B.C. Under the title “Maximizing Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy in British Columbia”, the
report includes a section on ocean energy, which focuses on the
conversion of energy from waves, tides and currents into useful
power. The report notes that BC Hydro explored options for wave
projects at Ucluelet in the early 2000s, while the Pearson College-EnCana
Clean Current Tidal Power Demonstration Project, deployed in coastal
waters near the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve, SW of Victoria, is
expected to be completed in the near future. To download the document
go to: http://www.pembina.org/pdf/publications/
MaxREandEEinBC.pdf
(d) Coastal Management Journal – Canadian Theme Issue
Volume 35, Number 1, Jan-Mar, 2007 of this journal focuses on Canadian
coastal and oceans issues. Published by Taylor and Francis, it is
now available online at the publisher’s Web-site: http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/sara.The
first article, Coastal and Ocean Management in Canada: Moving into
the 21st Century, is authored by CZCA President, Peter Ricketts
and 2006 CZCA H.B. Nicholls Award recipient, Peter Harrison. This
paper is followed by five other papers focusing on various Canadian
issues; among the authors are several members of the Association.
(e) Adapt or Fry? -- Another view on global warming (news
item from the Sep 9-15, 2006 issue of the New Scientist)
“Is it all over for Kyoto? Should we accept that global warming
is inevitable and plan accordingly? Yes says Frances Cairncross,
president of the British Asssociation for the Advancement of Science
(BA) which held its annual festival in Norwich, UK, this week. On
Monday Cairncross described the Kyoto protocol as ‘ineffectual’
and called for the world to accept that a ‘hotter, drier world’
is coming -- even if everyone fulfills their obligations under Kyoto
and pegs levels of carbon dioxide back below the 1990 baseline.
‘Adaptation policies have had far less attention than mitigation,’
she told the BA.”
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS
(This item comprises selected events of potential interest to members,
the emphasis being on Canadian and US conferences. Events indicated
by an asterisk are repeats from previous lists. Members are invited
to submit items for inclusion.)
*Jan 22-25, 2007; 4th International Conference
on Remediation of Contaminated Sediments; Savannah, Georgia; Sponsored
by Battelle.
Information: http://www.battelle.org/conferences/default.stm
Feb 1-2, 2007; “Six Years in the Mud –
Restoring Maritime salt marshes: Lessons learned and moving forward”
(Workshop focusing on Bay of Fundy salt marshes); Bedford Institute
of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS; Organized by the Ecology Action
Centre and the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment.
Information: http://www.ecologyaction.ca/coastal_issues/
saltworkshop.html
Feb 16-17, 2007; FSRS 14th Annual Conference;
Truro, NS; Organized by Fishermen & Scientists Research Society.
Information: http://www.fsrs.ns.ca
*Mar 5-8, 2007; “Coastal GeoTools 07”
Conference (Focus: Integration of geospatial tools and methodologies
with coastal resource management); Myrtle Beach, South Carolina;
Sponsored by NOAA Coastal Services Center.
Information: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/geotools/
Apr 2-5, 2007; International Marxan Best-Practices
Workshop (application of Marxan software to marine planning); UBC,
Vancouver, BC; Organized by Pacific Marine Analysis & Research
Association.
Information: http://www.pacmara.org/
*Apr 16-20, 2007; 9th International Coastal Symposium
(ICS2007); Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; Hosted by Griffith
University.
Information: http://www.gu.edu.au/school/eng/ics2007/
May 21-26, 2007; Sixth International SAMPAA Conference
(Theme: Ecosystem Based Management: Beyond Boundaries); Acadia Univ.,
Wolfville, NS; Presented by The Science and Management of Protected
Areas Association.
Information: http://www.sampaa.org
May 28-Jun 1, 2007; “Air, Ocean, Earth and
Ice on the Rock” (CMOS-CGU-AMS Joint Congress); St. John’s,
NF; Hosted by: the Canadian Meteorological & Oceanographic Society,
the Canadian Geophysical Union, and the American Meteorological
Society.
Information: http://www.cmos2007.ca/en/index.htm
Jun 11-14, 2007; International Symposium on Integrated
Coastal Zone Management; Arendal, Norway; Convened by Institute
of Marine Research, Arendal (co-sponsors include ICES).
Information: http://www.imr.no/iczm/
Jun 30-Jul 3, 2007; 13th International Conference
on the Environment (topics include: environmental issues in New
England and the Maritime Provinces; coastal management issues; and
community and sustainability); Portland, Maine; Presented by the
Interdisciplinary Environmental Association.
Information: http://www.ieaonline.org
*Jul 22-26, 2007; “Coastal Zone 07”
(Theme: Brewing Local Solutions to your Coastal Issues); Portland,
Oregon; Sponsored by NOAA Coastal Services Center.
Information: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/cz/
Jul 31-Aug 3, 2007; International Association
for the Study of the Commons (IASC) 2007 Conference (Theme: Transitions
in defining and utilizing North American commons); Corner Brook,
NF; Hosted by Sir William Grenfell College, Memorial University
of Newfoundland.
Information: http://www.swgc.mun.ca/iasc2007/index.asp
Aug 20-24, 2007; IPY (International Polar Year)
GeoNorth 2007 (Ist International Circumpolar Conference on Geospatial
Sciences & Applications); Yellowknife, NWT; Organized by: Natural
Resources Canada, Can. Inst. of Geomatics, and NWT Centre for Geomatics.
Information: http://ess.nrcan.gc.ca/ipygeonorth/index_e.php
Sep 29-Oct 4, 2007; “Oceans 2007”
(Theme: On the Edge of Tomorrow); Vancouver, BC; Sponsored by MTS/IEEE-OES.
Information: http://www.oceans07mtsieeevancouver.org
REMINDER!!!
Don’t forget to renew your membership in the Association
for another two years – see form at end of newsletter or click
HERE for a printer friendly version (not applicable if you attended
CZC’06).
The contribution of Marie Lagier for translating the English text
into French is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are also expressed
to Maxine Westhead, DFO, Ottawa, ON for reviewing the final version
of the newsletter.
Questions and comments pertaining to this newsletter should be
addressed to the editor, Brian Nicholls, at nicholls@telusplanet.net.
Questions and comments pertaining to the Coastal Zone Canada Association
should be addressed to the CZCA Secretariat at the Bedford Institute
of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS, B2Y 4A2 (coastalz@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca)
COASTAL ZONE CANADA ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FORM
(Click
HERE for printer-friendly version)
I am proud to support the CZCA in its efforts and activities to
advance Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management in Canada and the
world, to shape Canada’s Ocean Action Plan, and to demonstrate
to the Government of Canada and the governments of the Provinces
and Territories the level of interest and commitment to ICOM from
coast to coast to coast.
Please renew my membership in the CZCA for (check one of the following):
__ Two Years (2006-2008) - $40
__ One Year (2006-2007) - $20
I enclose a cheque or money order for the appropriate amount, payable
to the “CZCA”. (Please note that a receipt will be issued
by e-mail)
COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CLEARLY
Name:
Mailing Address:
Tel:
Fax:
E-Mail:
Please send your membership renewal along with your cheque or money
order to:
CZCA Secretariat
Bedford Institute of Oceanography
P.O. Box 1006
Dartmouth, NS, B2Y 4A2
Canada
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