Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is committed to the implementation of Canada’s  Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, which was tabled in Parliament on
October 6, 2010 by the Minister of the Environment.  The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy will strengthen the way in which the Government of Canada promotes environmental sustainability, and it makes important improvements to the transparency and accountability of environmental decision-making. Complete details on the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy can be found by selecting the above link to Environment Canada’s website.

In accordance with Section 11 of the Federal Sustainable Development Act (2008), DFO has prepared a Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy containing objectives and plans for the Department that complies with and contributes to the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, appropriate to DFO’s mandate. The departmental strategy is shared with Canadians through this website and through the information provided in DFO’s Reports on Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance Reports that are tabled in Canada’s Parliament annually.

To view the Department’s specific contribution to the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, please see:

DFO’s Implementation Strategies to support Federal Sustainable Development Strategy Theme III (Protecting Nature)

DFO’s Contribution to Federal Sustainable Development Strategy Theme IV (Shrinking the Environmental Footprint--Beginning With Government)

Please consult the Department’s Report on Plans and Priorities 2011-12 for associated information on DFO’s Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy.

Our Vision

The Department’s vision is:

Departmental Decision Making and Sustainable Development

Managing Sustainable Development

According to the Federal Sustainable Development Act “The Government of Canada accepts the basic principle that sustainable development is based on an ecologically efficient use of natural, social and economic resources and acknowledges the need to integrate environmental, economic and social factors in the making of all decisions by government.”  The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy builds on this foundation by emphasizing accountability and transparency on managing sustainable development at the federal level through an integrated approach, establishing clear links to expenditure management, and putting the mechanisms and processes in place to monitor, track and report on departmental and government-wide progress.

Sustainable development is the lens through which DFO undertakes its business and plays an important role in decision-making on policy, plans and programs. The Department’s work is guided by three key pieces of legislation:

• The Oceans Act entrusts the Minister with leading integrated oceans management and providing coast guard and hydrographic services.
• The Fisheries Act gives the Minister responsibility for the management of fisheries, habitat, and aquaculture.
• The Species at Risk Act gives the Minister responsibilities associated with the management of aquatic species at risk.

Key challenges in managing Canada's oceans and freshwater include oceans health, loss of marine habitat, declining biodiversity, growing demands for access to ocean resources, and regulatory and jurisdictional complexities. Precautionary and ecosystem approaches support resource sustainability and economic prosperity for commercial, Aboriginal, and recreational fish harvesters and communities with the common goal of a sustainable, economically viable, internationally competitive industry. DFO continues to work with others to develop recovery strategies, make adjustments to fisheries facing serious challenges, and develop a conservation ethic that values long-term objectives for the
resource over short-to-medium-term social or economic goals.

DFO uses integrated processes, a multi-skilled workforce and broad stakeholder engagement to inform decisions. Internally, senior-level decision-making is supported by a departmental governance structure that integrates consideration of environmental science, economic analysis, and policy, program and regional expertise. It is also informed by the results of departmental initiatives that seek the collaboration and input of external stakeholders (e.g., other federal departments and agencies, provincial and territorial governments, international governments and organizations, universities, industry sectors and potentially implicated aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities across Canada.)

To support accountability and transparency, consideration of Canada’s environmental goals and targets under the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy is being integrated into DFO’s business planning processes, in reports to Canadians and in tools to support
decision-making, such as strategic environmental assessments.

Strategic Environmental Assessment Planned Highlights and Commitments

DFO commits to making environmental decision-making more transparent and to ensuring that the Government's environmental goals are taken into account when pursuing social and economic goals.

Over the course of fiscal year 2011-12, the Department will review and update its internal operational guidance and supporting processes and tools for Strategic Environmental Assessment to align with the FSDS and the recently revised 2010 Guidelines for Implementing the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals. These initiatives will be informed by work led by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency in collaboration with other federal departments to strengthen the application of strategic environmental assessment and improve reporting on summary information regarding the results of strategic environmental assessments.

DFO’s Implementation Strategies to support Federal Sustainable Development Strategy Theme III (Protecting Nature)

The Department provides 17 implementation strategies spread across five Federal Sustainable Development Strategy targets related to species at risk, marine ecosystems, alien invasive species, sustainable fisheries and sustainable aquaculture. For more information on the implementation strategies, Federal Sustainable Development Strategy goals and targets, DFO programs, and associated performance information, please click here.

DFO’s Contribution to Federal Sustainable Development Strategy Theme IV (Shrinking the Environmental Footprint--Beginning With Government)

The Department is committed to meet 11 new government-wide targets related to Greening Government Operations and outlined in Federal Sustainable Development Strategy Annex 4 on Environment Canada’s website. For department-specific details concerning these commitments, please consult the Supplementary Table Greening Government Operations on the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat website.