Guidance and Lessons Learned for Canada's Marine Protected Area Networks
Proceedings of a national workshop held in Ottawa in January 2008
Table of Contents
- Complete Text
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- DECLARATION
- FOREWORD
- ABBREVIATIONS
- SECTION 1 - Background
- SECTION 2 - Purpose and Details of the Workshop
- SECTION 3 - Good Practices Guidance for MPA Network Planning
- SECTION 4 - International Experiences in MPA Network Planning
- 4.1 Presentation on New Zealand's MPA Policy and Implementation Plan
- 4.2 Presentation on Establishing an MPA Network in Australia
- 4.3 Presentation on Establishing an MPA Network in Germany
- 4.4 Presentation on Implementing the Marine Life Protection Act in California
- 4.5 Summary of Small Group Discussions on International Case Studies
- 4.6 General Discussion
- SECTION 5 - Conclusions and Next Steps
Appendices
Figures and Tables
- Table 1. Federal Agencies, Relevant Legislation, and Program Focus
- Figure 1. Key aspects of building MPA networks
- Figure 2. Four main stages in developing an MPA network
- Figure 3. Depth zones of New Zealand's Coastal and Deepwater Marine Environment Classifications
- Figure 4. New Zealand's coastal biogeographical regions
- Figure 5. New Zealand's Coastal Marine Environment Classification - habitats
- Figure 6. New Zealand's Deepwater Marine Environment Classification
- Figure 7. Marine planning regions in Australia
- Figure 8. Bioregions of Australia's South-west Marine Region
- Figure 9. Three main stages of Australia's bioregional planning process
- Figure 10. Candidate MPA network in Australia's South-east Marine Region
- Figure 11. Simplified overview of the Natura 2000 designation process
- Figure 12. German part of the Dogger Bank in the North Sea
- Figure 13. California north central coast planning structure
- Figure 14. Central California coast MPA network
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Fisheries and Oceans Canada and World Wildlife Fund Canada would like to thank all the experts who helped us plan the workshop and came to share their experience in planning marine protected area networks. We would also like to thank Fanny Douvere and Charles Ehler for helping us capture the discussions that took place throughout the workshop and for providing a first draft of this summary report.
DECLARATION
The views captured in this report represent those of the authors and presenters and do not necessarily reflect the views of Fisheries and Oceans Canada or the Government of Canada.
Recommended citation:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada and WWF-Canada. 2009. Guidance and Lessons Learned for Canada's Marine Protected Areas Networks: Proceedings of a national workshop held in Ottawa in January 2008.
Photo credits:
SGaan Kinghlas-Bowie Seamount underwater view (top): Neil McDaniel
Clown Nudibranch, Strait of Georgia: M. Heibert
© 1986 Panda symbol WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature (also known as World Wildlife Fund)
® "WWF" is a WWF Registered Trademark
FOREWORD
In November 1994 the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans issued A Vision for Ocean Management, which highlighted the need for an oceans-management strategy and oceans legislation. Following an extensive period of consultation and parliamentary committee debate, the Oceans Act came into force on 31 January 1997. The Act established Canada as the first country with comprehensive oceans-management legislation. Canada has begun to implement its Oceans Act through a series of integrated management activities in priority areas, using area-based management tools such as marine protected areas.
Canada committed nationally and internationally to establish marine protected area networks. This commitment has been identified as a key deliverable under the federal Health of the Oceans initiative (2007) and Canada's Federal Marine Protected Areas Strategy (2005). Fisheries and Oceans Canada is the Government of Canada lead for the establishment of Canada's system of marine protected areas, working in cooperation with Parks Canada Agency, Environment Canada, and provincial and territorial agencies with a mandate to conserve and protect marine areas, as well as with First Nations and Aboriginal groups, industries, non-governmental organizations and other interest groups.
This workshop gave these Canadian federal, provincial, and territorial authorities, Aboriginal organizations and national level stakeholders an opportunity to jointly access and explore the growing body of international knowledge and experience in the planning of marine protected area networks. It represents the first of many steps to come in building Canada's marine protected area networks in an inclusive, coordinated, and complementary fashion.
Martine Landry for Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Jennifer Smith for World Wildlife Fund-Canada
ABBREVIATIONS
| BfN | German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation |
| CBD | Convention on Biological Diversity |
| COP | Conference of the Parties |
| DFO | Fisheries and Oceans Canada |
| EBSA | Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area |
| EEZ | Exclusive Economic Zone |
| EU | European Union |
| FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |
| GBRMP | Great Barrier Reef Marine Park |
| IUCN | International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (World Conservation Union) |
| LOMA | Large Ocean Management Area |
| MBS | Migratory Bird Sanctuary |
| MCPA | Marine and Coastal Protected Area |
| MEC | Marine Environment Classification |
| MLPA | Marine Life Protection Act (California) |
| MPA | Marine Protected Area * |
| MPPF | Marine Protection Planning Forum |
| MWA | Marine Wildlife Area |
| NGO | Non-governmental Organization |
| NMCA | National Marine Conservation Area † |
| NRSMPA | National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas |
| NWA | National Wildlife Area |
| NZBS | New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy |
| OSPAR | Oslo-Paris Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic |
| POW | Program of Work |
| SAC | Special Area of Conservation |
| SBSTTA | Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice |
| SCI | Site of Community Importance |
| SPA | Special Protection Area |
| WCPA | World Commission on Protected Areas |
* In this document, the term "marine protected area (MPA)" is used in a generic sense and not to refer to any one specific legislative or regulatory mechanism - unless otherwise noted.
† While the Federal Marine Protected Areas Strategy applies to the ocean environment, it is recognized that Parks Canada Agency's NMCA program also includes the Great Lakes.
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