Development of a Human Use Objectives Framework for Integrated Management of the Eastern Scotian Shelf

Under the 1997 Oceans Act, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is required to lead and facilitate the development of integrated management plans for Canada's oceans. One of the integrated management projects is the Eastern Scotian Shelf Integrated Management Initiative (ESSIM), through which DFO is working with a range of stakeholders to develop and implement an integrated ocean management plan for the eastern Scotian Shelf. As part of this Initiative, DFO has undertaken a program to develop a set of objectives and related indicators for ocean management. This includes the development of a framework, objectives, and indicators for human use of the resource including the social, economic, and institutional (governance) components of ocean management, areas that have received little attention internationally. This article provides some background to ESSIM and human uses of the resources of the eastern Scotian Shelf; briefly reviews objectives-based management and human use objectives internationally; outlines the process undertaken to develop the Human Use Objectives Framework; presents the resultant objectives and indicators that were developed; and highlights some of the lessons learned and challenges for their implementation.