Marine Areas

To protect and manage our oceans, Canada has identified particular bodies of water as priority areas. Applying different policy tools and approaches to these areas helps to balance the need to protect the marine environment from the impact of human and industrial activities that take place within these areas.

Canada’s Approach to Protecting Marine Areas

Canada is developing a marine protected areas network, involving all levels of government, to ensure a comprehensive approach to protecting marine areas. Fisheries and Oceans Canada follows an integrated-management approach when managing large ocean areas, which involves users and stakeholders working together to protect the marine environment and to manage human activity in ocean areas.

Large Ocean Management Areas

Integrated Management

Large Ocean Management Areas

• Beaufort Sea
• Pacific North Coast
• Gulf of St. Lawrence
• Eastern Scotian Shelf
• Placentia Bay/Grand Banks

Marine Protected Areas

Canada's Network of Marine Protected Areas

Spotlight on Marine Protected Areas in Canada

Federal Marine Protected Areas Strategy

Marine Protected Areas (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

• • Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents
  • Bowie Seamount
  • Musquash Estuary
  • Basin Head
  • The Gully
  • Gilbert Bay
  • Eastport
  • Tarium Niryutait

Areas of Interest

• • Race Rocks
  • St. Lawrence Estuary
  • Hecate Strait/Queen Charlotte Sound
  • Laurentian Channel
  • St Anns Bank
  • Shediac Valley
  • American Bank
  • Anuniaqvia niqiqyuam

Other Federal Marine Protected Areas

National Marine Conservation Areas — Parks Canada
Marine Wildlife Areas — Environment Canada

Related Information

FrancVert - The Environmental Webzine
(available in French only)
Species at Risk
Fish Habitat Management