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Home  Infocentre Policy and Legislation MPA Policy
Marine Protected Areas
Canada's Oceans Act (Section 35 (2)) states:
For the purposes of integrated management plans ... the Minister (of Fisheries
and Oceans) will lead and coordinate the development and implementation of
a national system of marine protected areas on behalf of the Government of
Canada.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Parks Canada and Environment
Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service) all have mandated responsibilities to
create protected areas in the marine environment. Since the Oceans Act
names the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans as the lead federal authority
responsible for oceans, DFO will lead in the development of a national system
of marine protected areas* incorporating the programs of all three departments.
Since management of marine ecosystems is a shared responsibility, it is
essential to work together to conserve and protect these areas.
The different federal protected area programs share a common objective:
to further conservation and protection of living marine resources and their
habitats. By coordinating the policies, programs and prospective sites amongst
the different federal agencies, the integrity and health of Canada's estuarine,
coastal and marine waters will be better maintained. The booklet Working
Together For Marine Protected Areas: A National Approach describes the
federal programs in greater detail.
Federal Departments
and Program
Fisheries and Oceans
Parks Canada
- Marine Conservation Areas
Environment Canada
(Canadian Wildlife Service)
- Migratory Bird Sanctuaries
- National Wildlife Areas
- Marine Wildlife Areas
Program Focus
- Conserving and protecting marine species, habitats and ecosystems
- Protecting representative examples of natural and cultural heritage
- Protecting major marine and nearshore areas for wildlife, research, conservation and public education
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