Ecologically & Biologically Significant Marine Areas
© naturepl.com / Steven Kazlowski / WWF-Canon

Ecologically & Biologically Significant Marine Areas

According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ecologically and Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) “are special areas in the ocean that serve important purposes, in one way or another, to support the healthy functioning of oceans and the many services that it provides.” These important areas are serve as key mating, feeding, resting, molting, staging or breeding areas for many marine wildlife species that are highly valued by local people.

EBSAs are designed to guide protection and development planning to support healthy, resilient marine ecosystems; according to the Beaufort Sea Partnership, they are “a tool for calling attention to areas that have particularly high ecological or biological significance, to facilitate provision of a greater-than-usual degree of risk aversion in the management of activities in such areas.”

Fisheries and Oceans Canada uses input from expert scientists and traditional knowledge holders to best identify which areas in the Canadian Beaufort are Ecologically and Biologically Significant.

###Importance EBSAs are particularly important to ensuring marine ecosystems remain healthy, especially as the Arctic changes rapidly. They play a critical role in ensuring that communities and species benefit from healthy ecosystems.

###Potential impact of an oil spill Depending on which EBSA is impacted, and the timing of the impact, an oil spill in the Beaufort Sea could affect one or more of these key areas and their respective functions, which are integral to the overall health of the ocean and the local communities.

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Adapted from: Selected records from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Oceans Program), Marine Species Distribution and Marine Protected Areas Database. This product has been produced by the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Oceans Program) for use in marine planning initiatives. Reproduced with permission of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Oceans Program).


##Hanna Shoal Hanna Shoal is a highly productive, shallow water region in the Chukchi Shelf off the northwest coast of Alaska. It is located near some Alaskan offshore drilling sites, and the focus of considerable research.

###Importance Hanna Shoal is one of the Chukchi Sea’s most biologically productive areas, and a key feeding ground for bowhead whales. The shoal may also host sea ice for many years to come, making it a potential future home for ice-dependent species like polar bears and seals.

###Potential oil spill impact Oil contamination could leave deposits on benthic organisms, such as clams, and impact the health of species that rely on these organisms for food. Oil deposits on the rocks or substrate could also impact animals that haul-out in this region, oiling fur or skin and potentially causing health problems. Wildlife might also be directly ingest the oil or be contaminated by it, as oil might concentrate in the shoal’s waters.

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