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Home  Infocentre Publications
Appendix 1: Federal Tools for Establishing and Managing Marine
Protected Areas
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| Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(DFO) |
Oceans Act: The Oceans
Act tasks the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans with the development
and implementation of a national oceans management strategy based on
principles of sustainable development, integrated management and the
precautionary approach. The Act details the responsibilities
of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada in the development and
implementation of integrated management plans, including the authority
to recommend
the establishment of Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas by
regulation, to conserve and protect commercial and non-commercial fishery
resources and their habitats; endangered or threatened marine species
and their habitats; unique habitats; and areas of high biodiversity
or biological productivity. The Act also provides the Minister
of Fisheries and Oceans Canada with a lead role in the development
and implementation of a national system of marine protected areas in
Canada
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Fisheries Act: The Fisheries Act provides
the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada with the authority to manage
freshwater and
marine fisheries throughout Canada, including providing for licensing and
enforcement and provisions for closing areas to fishing, prohibiting the
harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat or the deposit
of substances deleterious to fish.
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National Framework
for Establishing and Managing Marine Protected Areas: The
National Framework for Establishing and Managing Marine Protected
Areas describes DFO’s Marine Protected Areas program and outlines
a step-by-step approach to designation which includes the selection
of DFO Areas of Interest, assessment and evaluation of the Areas
of Interest as a potential MPA, and, formal establishment of the
MPA by regulation followed by the on-going management of the area. |
| Environment Canada |
Canada Wildlife Act: The
Canada Wildlife Act provides the authority for the acquisition of nationally
significant habitats by the Minister of the Environment for the purposes
of wildlife research, conservation and interpretation. The Act provides
for the establishment and management of National and Marine Wildlife Areas,
by regulation, to ensure the conservation and protection of key breeding,
feeding, migration and over wintering sites for birds, species-at-risk
and other wildlife of national importance.
Migratory Birds
Convention Act: Under the Sanctuary Regulations of
this Act, the Minister of Environment may establish and manage areas of
major migratory bird population concentrations, such as seabird breeding
colonies or the critical habitat of migratory birds at risk, for the purposes
of protecting the birds and their nests from harm/harassment. Such Migratory
Bird Sanctuaries (MBS) on federal land/areas of federal jurisdiction also
afford protection to habitat.
Species at Risk Act: The
Species at Risk Act provides the ministers of Environment,
Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Parks Canada with the authority
to protect nationally
listed wildlife at risk from becoming extinct or lost from the wild,
provides for the recovery of endangered and threatened species and
encourages the management of other species to prevent them from
becoming at risk. The Act also creates prohibitions to
protect listed threatened and endangered species, their residences and
their critical habitat. Conservation through stewardship and cooperation
are at the foundation of the Act. |
Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Policy, Criteria and Procedures: The Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Policy, Criteria and Procedures provides a set of criteria to identify
suitable areas for establishing Migratory Bird Sanctuaries based on
key habitat sites for migratory bird populations in Canada. The Policy
also provides a uniform national process for sanctuary administration
and outlines administrative procedures and other considerations.
Criteria for Selecting Candidate National Wildlife Areas: The
Criteria for Selecting Candidate National Wildlife Areas outlines the
context of the National Wildlife Area Program as well as Environment Canada’s
role in habitat. The document provides a basis for establishing a minimum
standard of national habitat importance, based on defensible biological
values in keeping with Canada 's obligations under the Convention on Biological
Diversity and A Wildlife Policy for Canada. It also provides
a basis for making decisions for the selection of new areas that are generally
consistent across the country and for communicating the uniqueness and
national value of areas.
Habitat Conservation Program Strategy: The Habitat Conservation Program Strategy outlines the mission and core
strategies of Environment Canada in terms of habitat conservation. These
include 1) the identification, designation and management of protected areas
within terrestrial, fresh water, and marine ecosystems of Canada , 2) sustainable
land use by
demonstrating and enhancing the stewardship of habitat for migratory birds and
species-at-risk and 3) advancing and communicating the science of habitat conservation. |
| Parks Canada |
Canada National Marine
Conservation Areas Act: The Canada National Marine
Conservation Areas Act provides the Minister of the Environment
with the authority to establish National Marine Conservation Areas,
with the objective of protecting and conserving marine areas that
are representative of the country’s ocean environments and Great
Lakes, and to encourage public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment
of this marine heritage.
Canada National Parks Act: The Canada National Parks Act provides
the Minister of Environment with the authority to establish and manage
National Parks for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people
of Canada and in a manner so as to leave them unimpaired for future
generations. Several existing National Parks have a marine component.
Species at Risk Act : see Environment Canada
above. |
National Marine Conservation
Areas Policy: Parks Canada’s National Marine Conservation
Areas Policy outlines the objectives of the National Marine Conservation
Areas System, criteria for identifying, selecting and assessing the
feasibility of potential NMCAs. The policy also provides guidance
on the contents of management plans and principles for ongoing management
of the area.
Sea to Sea to Sea – Canada’s
National Marine Conservation Areas System Plan: The establishment
of National Marine Conservation Areas is guided by the National Marine Conservation
Areas System Plan. The Plan provides a description of the 29 marine regions,
and the status of system planning for each region. |
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