ACZISC Overview
The ACZISC was established in January 1992 to foster cooperation in Atlantic Canada
with regard to ICOM, coastal mapping and geomatics. Its membership includes the
federal government, provincial governments, academia, community organizations and
the private sector.
The ACZISC is actively:
- Networking and disseminating information via meetings and thematic workshops, the
Coastal Update (monthly e-newsletter) and the website.
- Engaging stakeholders in the establishment of COINAtlantic –the Coastal and
Ocean Information Network –in support of ICOM in Atlantic Canada.
- Participating in studies and projects to further our understanding of the coastal zone.
The ACZISC holds three meetings per year in the Atlantic provincial capitals by rotation.
In addition it organizes thematic workshops as required. The meetings and workshops
are attended by ACZISC members and by observers from all sectors, including
community groups, the private sector, academia, etc.
The Role of the ACZISC
Because of the expanding role of the federal government (Environment Canada,
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada, etc) and provincial governments in
ICOM, it is critical that knowledge, data and experience are shared amongst all
concerned. This includes building upon best practices and policy development
methodology that are used by all ICOM stakeholders. The challenge and importance of
ACZISC is connecting these organizations that are either geographically or sectorally
limited to a narrow group of participants (i.e. government, industry etc.)
This exemplifies the true strength of the ACZISC. The Committee provides a nonpartisan, non-political and inclusive forum for the sharing of ideas, information and data, as well as ensuring there is a minimum of duplication, all of which leads to a consistency of approach to policy development and implementation.
The ability of the ACZISC to provide this leadership is achieved in the following ways.
- The ACZISC mandate specifically deals with the sharing of both data and
information which are critical to successful ICOM initiatives.
- The ACZISC can address the ‘problem’ that government-only organizations/ committee have whereby their policies and regulations may make them less
responsive to current issues. In addition, political realities sometimes lessen
government organizations’ability to respond.
- The ACZISC can provide a long-term vision and commitment in relation to ICOM.
Governments can not always provide this vision or commitment as they are always
influenced by political timelines and shifting priorities.
- The ACZISC meetings and workshops provide a neutral opportunity for all
participants to discuss new ideas, current issues and potential policy directions in an
open forum.
- The ACZISC, being open to all interested parties, provides an opportunity for local
initiatives to gain insight into current provincial, regional and national initiatives and
to provide feedback on planned policies.
- The ACZISC facilitates integration through the concept of joint project funding, i.e.
individual members provide a relatively small amount of funding which collectively
can be used to address common objectives at a much larger scale.
- The ACZISC provides linkages to international initiatives and developments that
many smaller organizations may not be aware of or have access to.
- The ACZISC strongly supports the idea of a community of practice. There currently
exists no other such mechanism for ICOM policy practitioners. The ACZISC provides
the added advantage of linking this community with the data providers and
managers.
- The ACZISC minutes and records have institutionalized the long-term memory of
ICOM initiatives and practices in the Atlantic Canadian region, that will serve the
community well in the future.
- The ACZISC has been able to accomplish one of the more difficult aspects of ICOM
by introducing many industry perspectives to the ongoing development and
implementation of ICOM.
In Atlantic Canada there is a clear challenge to integrate coastal management practices
with large ocean management initiatives. A second challenge is to achieve collaboration
among governments and stakeholders with different capacities and goals. Connectivity
is certainly needed between organizations that advance coastal and oceans issues,
e.g., the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment (1989); the Southern Gulf of
St. Lawrence Coalition on Sustainability (1999); the Bay of Fundy Ecosystem
Partnership (1995/97); the Atlantic Coastal Action Program (1991); and coastal
management areas such as Placentia Bay (1997).
The ability to reach across and ‘link’ the numerous organizations which support ICOM in Atlantic Canada is a major strength of the ACZISC.
Current Situation
Of particular relevance to this discussion is the ICOM Working Group. It is composed of
ACZISC members and others with an interest in, or responsibility for, ICOM policy
development. The ICOM Working Group meets on a regular basis to discuss ICOM
policy developments and best practices at a “sub-official” level.
This Working Group:
- provides a forum to share best practices and standards
- raises awareness of regional initiatives and research related to ICOM
- identifies information needs, and
- identifies potential collaborative policy and operational projects.
In order to achieve the multiple objectives associated with Integrated Coastal and
Ocean Management, it is essential to have long term objectives and commitment
and ensure open access to the process by all interested parties. The ACZISC has
proven its ability on all of these counts.
The Future
The ACZISC can position itself to build on existing governance relationships across the
Atlantic Provinces and in Québec. The ICOM Working Group would be an effective
means of accomplishing this by providing the focus and linkages to integrated coastal
and ocean planning initiatives.
Existing linkages between Gulf of St. Lawrence Integrated Management (GOSLIM), the
Eastern Scotian Shelf Integrated Management (ESSIM) initiative and the Placentia Bay
/ Grand Bank Large Ocean Management Area (PB/GB LOMA) could be strengthened
and expanded upon within the ICOM Working Group. The ICOMWorking Group is in a
position to further develop linkages among Provincial Governments as each Atlantic
Province progress with their own coastal and ocean strategic planning initiatives.
The true success of ACZISC will be measured, not by the number of meetings and
networks, but with evidence of revitalized and sustainable fisheries; the opening of
closed nearshore shellfish areas; protected and/or restored critical habitats; the
establishment of a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), integrated with other
protected areas such as parks and wildlife refuges; and a marine ecosystem in Atlantic
Canada that exhibits good health and ecological integrity.
It is important that the ACZISC and its ICOM working group build on their successes.
The true value-added benefit will be when all ICOM stakeholders are able to share best
practices and make more efficient decisions based on better information. The sharing of
information is a key to success, hence the importance of COINAtlantic and the
implementation of ICOM principles at all levels (i.e. international, national, regional and
local).
Taken from the ACZISC ICOM Working Group Discussion paper: "The Role of the ACZISC in Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management Policy Development and Implementation in Atlantic Canada."
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 03 May 2011 18:58
