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Marine Protected Areas

In Canada, and across the world, there is growing recognition that marine protected areas have a critical role to play in the conservation and protection of marine life and their habitats.

What is a Marine Protected Area?

The Oceans Act defines a Marine Protected Area as an area of the sea that forms part of the internal waters of Canada, the territorial sea of Canada (12 nautical miles) or the exclusive economic zone of Canada (to 200 nautical miles); and has been designated for special protection under the Oceans Act for one or more purposes.

Overall Purposes for MPAs

The Oceans Act provides for the designation of Marine Protected Areas to:

• conserve and protect commercial and non-commercial fishery resources, including marine mammals and their habitats;
• conserve and protect endangered or threatened marine species, and their habitats;
• conserve and protect unique habitats;
• conserve and protect marine areas of high biodiversity or biological productivity; and
• conserve and protect any other marine resource or habitat as is necessary to fulfill the mandate of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
  

Why Does Canada Need Marine Protected Areas?

Canada's oceans are rich and have enormous potential to benefit both present and future generations. Coastal and offshore marine ecosystems extend from Arctic waters to temperate estuaries.

These ecosystems are host to a remarkable diversity of species including marine mammals, fish, and a wide variety of invertebrate species and plants.

Important habitats are being modified by a wide variety of land-based activities. In some areas, ocean waters have been seriously polluted resulting in contamination of marine resources and their habitats. Threats to the biodiversity, productivity and ecological integrity of marine ecosystems must be addressed, not only because we value our oceans but also because coastal communities and regional economies depend on healthy productive oceans. The ability to establish Marine Protected Areas means that Canada now has additional tools to prevent this environmental degradation from occurring and provide marine resources and their habitats with a second chance.

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Managing Marine Protected Areas

The Oceans Act and the development of an MPA program present an exciting new challenge for DFO and for Canada.

1. Over the next few years DFO, together with various partnering organizations and stakeholders, will build an MPA program encompassing a network of protected areas.
2. The MPA program will evolve over time, adopting a learn-by-doing approach and will be developed in close coordination with existing protection initiatives undertaken by other organizations. This will take commitment, active involvement and consensus-building among a wide range of stakeholders.
3. The concept of partnering is a driving force in DFOs MPA program. Stakeholder information, cooperation and ongoing support is key in creating and managing MPAs, in ensuring efficiency and in avoiding duplication of effort. The degree of involvement and responsibility of interested parties will depend on the purpose of the MPA and its geographic location.
4. Where possible, MPAs will be managed in the context of an overall Integrated Management plan for the area.

Federal Government Initiatives/National Approach to MPAs

The Federal Government currently has three formal protected area programs for the marine environment. These are administered by Canadian Heritage (Parks Canada), by Environment Canada and most recently by DFO. These programs are distinct but share one common objective: to further marine conservation.

Each contributes from its own particular focus. In addition, some provinces are developing coastal and marine protected areas, and policies addressing values and sensitivities under their jurisdiction.

By working together these initiatives can set up marine protected areas to fit the needs of Canada and its oceans. This collaboration is re-inforced by the Oceans Act which provides the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans with the lead federal authority on all oceans-related issues.

Published by:
Communications Directorate
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E6