Our Oceans Strategy

Canada's major marine legislation includes: Oceans Act; Canada Shipping Act, 2001; Fisheries Act; Navigable Waters Protection Act; Canadian Environmental Protection Act; Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act; Species at Risk Act.

The Government of Canada is working to ensure the future health of Canada's oceans and ocean resources by increasing understanding and protection of our oceans; supporting sustainable economic opportunities; and demonstrating international leadership in oceans management.

Aquatic invasive species can threaten aquatic ecosystems, occupying habitats or competing with native species. Aquatic invasive species can be introduced in several ways: naturally as larvae or as fragments drifting in water currents, for instance; or through human activities, attached to boat hulls, in ballast waters or through deliberate introductions such as live food fish import, or aquarium and water garden trade. The best approach for protecting our waters from these invaders is to keep them out in the first place. Everyone's cooperation is essential to achieve this.

Effective protection requires new approaches to collaboration across and between governments, new ways of doing business for oceans users, and the active engagement of Canadian communities, Aboriginal people, organizations, and citizens. This is referred to as Integrated Oceans Management.

As a central principle of our Oceans Strategy, Integrated Oceans Management is a commitment to planning and managing human activities in a comprehensive manner while considering all measures necessary for the conservation, protection and sustainable use of ocean resources and the shared use of ocean areas.

An example of some of the diverse activities taking place in Canada's oceans. Establishing an innovative management system for our oceans is essential to successfully integrate the three components of Canada's Oceans Strategy.

Increasing understanding and protection of our oceans

To conserve and protect our oceans, we have to understand them. Science provides the solid basis for our oceans management decisions, such as identifying ecosystem boundaries; developing ecosystem-based management objectives; and assessing the state of ecosystem health.

Oceans Science at work – Canada's contribution to the fourth International Polar Year (IPY March 2007-March 2009) encompasses 44 programs in support of two themes: research on climate change impacts and adaptation; and on the health and well-being of northern peoples. The Government of Canada has allotted $150 million for IPY over six years, of which $100 million is for scientific research. This includes six major IPY research projects led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada that seek to understand climate change in the Arctic and its impact on the ecosystem. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is also collaborating with national and international partners on other IPY projects.

Canada's Three Oceans (C3O) – This initiative will use two Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers to obtain a snapshot of large-scale ocean and ecosystem properties, and thus establish a scientific basis for sustained monitoring of Canada's Sub-Arctic and Arctic seas in the wake of global warming.

C3O will measure ocean and ecosystem properties from Vancouver Island to Nova Scotia, including the Gulf of Alaska, Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, the deep Canada Basin, the Northwest Passage from Amundsen Gulf to Lancaster Sound, Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea.

Disposal at Sea Program – Environment Canada administers a permit system controlling the disposal of waste and other matter at sea. Permits are only granted following a detailed assessment and set conditions to protect the marine environment and human health. Each year in Canada, two to three million tonnes of material are disposed of at sea under this system of permits. Only those substances listed in Schedule 5 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act may be considered for disposal at sea. These are: dredged material, fisheries waste, ships, inert matter, uncontaminated organic matter and bulky substances. Most of the material disposed of at sea is dredged material that must be moved to keep shipping channels and harbours clear for navigation and commerce.

Birds Oiled at Sea Program – Chronic oil pollution coming from ships traveling off Canada's coasts causes the death of hundreds of thousands of seabirds every year. An estimated 300,000 birds are killed every year off of Newfoundland's coast, and at least equivalent numbers may be dying annually on the Pacific coast, because of this illegal pollution.

Marine waters off Canada's coasts are some of the most important places for seabirds in the world. There are tens of millions of seabirds in Canada's marine areas at all times of the year. They are attracted there by the abundant food sources and ideal breeding conditions. About 15 species of seabirds are common on the east coast and about 11 species are common on the west coast.

Environment Canada works together cooperatively with Transport Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Canadian Coast Guard, and the Department of National Defence to address chronic, illegal marine oil pollution in coastal waters. Working closely with Justice Canada, these departments have successfully prosecuted ships, ships' owners, captains and crews that have illegally dumped oil in Canada's waters.

When armed with a clear understanding of the ocean environment, the Government of Canada and its partners are better positioned to manage those areas requiring special protection. Under the federal Marine Protected Areas Strategy,

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada designates Marine Protected Areas to protect and conserve unique, sensitive, or ecologically significant areas of our oceans;
• Environment Canada designates Marine Wildlife Areas to protect and conserve habitat for a variety of wildlife including migratory birds and endangered species; and
• Parks Canada designates National Marine Conservation Areas to protect and conserve representative examples of Canada's natural and cultural marine heritage and provide opportunities for public education and enjoyment.

Building on the vision and direction set out in Canada's Oceans Strategy (2002), the Government of Canada has a five-year funding plan to improve the health of the oceans—Health of the Oceans Initiatives (2007)— as part of its National Water Strategy. The implementation of the federal Marine Protected Areas Strategy and the National Aerial Surveillance Program for pollution prevention are two such initiatives. For the full list of initiatives, visit: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/management-gestion/healthyoceans-santedesoceans.

National Network of Marine Protected Areas – The Government of Canada is working to ensure that future generations of Canadians will inherit healthy oceans and ocean resources, and has committed to working with provincial and territorial partners to develop a National Network of Marine Protected Areas by 2012. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment Canada and Parks Canada each designate protected areas within their respective mandates, contributing directly to the development of the network by 2012.)

Species at Risk – The protection of our oceans requires the recovery of threatened or endangered marine species, and actions that keep healthy populations from becoming at risk. The Species at Risk Act (SARA) was enacted to prevent wildlife species from becoming extinct. The Government of Canada recognizes that it must protect species at risk while also maintaining economic stability and sustainable industries.

An example of a successful recovery is the sea otter population of B.C. The sea otter was decimated by the fur trade of the 1700s and 1800s. Once common across the Pacific rim from northern Japan to Baja California, sea otters were hunted to near extinction during the fur trade of the 18th and 19th centuries. The Canadian population was wiped out.

But in the 1970s, 89 sea otters were successfully reintroduced to British Columbia. The vulnerable creatures were protected from harm under various laws, including the Fisheries Act and, later, SARA. Today, as a result of ongoing protective measures, the B.C. population numbers over 2000 and is growing. In 2008, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, an independent scientific organization, happily downgraded this species from threatened status, to a less at-risk status as a species of special concern.

Supporting sustainable economic opportunities

Recognizing the significant contribution of the ocean economy to the broader Canadian economy, conservation and protection objectives must be balanced with sustainable economic development objectives. By using an integrated approach to the management of how, when and by whom the ocean environment is used, the Government of Canada ensures better decision-making. Ultimately, by following this approach, we will be able to maintain the health of our oceans, address the concerns of oceans users and reduce conflict—while limiting the cumulative effects of human activities—in order to maximize the sustainable use of our oceans.

Commercial fishing is one of the most intensive human uses of the ocean environment. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is addressing the impact of commercial fishing through the Fisheries Renewal initiative launched in 2008, which seeks to establish resource conservation as the first priority of prosperous Canadian fisheries, and through Canada's Sustainable Fish and Seafood program, which seeks to ensure that fish and seafood produced in Canada are managed effectively and harvested using sustainable practices.

Canada is among the world leaders in sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. What does sustainability mean in the context of fish and seafood? It means that harvesting and farming of fish stocks are done in a manner that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This includes taking steps to ensure the conservation of target fish species and the ecosystem in which they live. Sustainability also means that when decisions are taken to allow fishing and aquaculture activities, they will factor in social and economic considerations as well as environmental effects. See Sustainable Fish and Seafood at http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/sustainable/index-eng_htm

Demonstrating international leadership in oceans management

Oceans, by their very nature, require international cooperation and management. International leadership is about advancing Canadian and global ocean-related interests broadly and proactively. By influencing international priorities, decisions and processes, Canada can help ensure its sovereignty and security, and sustainable use of its ocean resources, while also supporting its conservation, social and economic interests.

Canada has a strong history of assisting other nations, particularly developing nations, in the sustainable development of their oceans. For example, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has provided training in Ecosystem-based Management for APEC nations in the Asia-Pacific Region. As well, Canadian ocean scientists regularly provide advice to other nations and international organizations on a wide range of sustainable oceans management and oceans resources issues.

Canada enforces domestic fisheries legislation and takes part in Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, which manage fish stocks on the high seas outside Canada's 200-mile zone – such as the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization. Continuing participation in these fora will assist in strengthening the effective global governance of the oceans.

Canada has achieved a remarkable degree of success in recent years managing fisheries resources – in particular, stopping foreign vessels from overfishing. Canada uses a mix of enforcement tools including Vessel Monitoring Systems, port inspections, satellite image technology, as well as helicopter and fixed-wing aerial patrols to conduct at-sea inspections.

In the North Pacific Ocean, Operation Driftnet Canadian overflights play a key role in shutting down destructive illegal salmon fishing activities. Each year, more than four million square kilometres of the North Pacific, beyond our 200-mile limit, are scanned by Canadian fishery officers and their international partners for Operation Driftnet.