Sustainable Development Strategy – 2001-2003

Annex 3: Glossary

• Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy (AFS) — seeks to provide for the effective management and regulation of the Aboriginal fisheries and ensures that the Aboriginal right to fish is respected, through negotiation of mutually acceptable, and time-limited Fisheries Agreements between DFO and Aboriginal groups. Where agreement cannot be reached, DFO will issue a communal fishing license to the groups allowing them to fish for food, social and ceremonial purposes. The AFS applies only where Canada is responsible for managing fisheries.
• Argo Program — is an international venture that aims to deploy 2000 profiling Alace floats around the world. The target depth of these floats will be approximately 2000 metres. They are likely to surface every 10 days and will provide data on oceans currents globally, on surface drift velocity, and on temperature and salinity.
• Automatic Identification System (AIS) — is a broadcast transponder system that is capable of automatically sending ship information (such as identification, position, heading, length, beam, type, draught, and hazardous cargo information) to other ships and shore based stations. It has been developed primarily as a safety system to enhance the safety of navigation at sea, but also has potential benefits for other marine programs and some commercial applications.
• Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) — is the major inter- governmental forum in Canada for discussion and joint action on environmental issues of national and international concern. The Council is made up of Environment Ministers from the federal, provincial and territorial governments.
• Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM) — was established through the 1999 Agreement on Inter-jurisdictional Cooperation. Membership comprises the federal, provincial and territorial Ministers with responsibilities for fisheries and aquaculture. The Council meets annually and has established several working groups to address specific topics of mutual interest such as freshwater fisheries management and an aquaculture development strategy.
• Canadian Hydrographic Services (CHs) — is responsible for surveying Canadian navigable waterways and for producing a number of nautical publications, including nautical charts, sailing directions, bathymetric maps and tide and current tables.
• Climate Change Action Fund (CCAF) — was established by the Government of Canada in December 1997 to help meet its Kyoto Protocol commitments. This $150 million fund allocates support to implement a strategy to meet these commitments and to facilitate early action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Electronic Chart and Display Information System (ECDIS) — is a component of the Marine Aid Modernization Initiative undertaken by the Canadian Coast Guard to ensure that the national marine transportation system continues to be safe, effective, environmentally sound, and responsive to the needs of Canadians. The onboard ECDIS allows mariners to continuously update their vessel's position within the advertised coverage zones.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) — is mandated by the United Nations since October 1945 to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living, to improve agricultural productivity, and to better the condition of rural populations.
• Integrated Fish Management Plans (IFMPs) — in effect set the stage for co-management arrangements by ensuring transparency, establishing overall allocations between sectors and fleets, providing relevant contextual information and ensuring that clients and stakeholders are consulted on the overall goals and strategies for the management of each fishery.
• International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC) — provides a global framework for international co-operation in combating major incidents or threats of marine pollution. Parties to the convention are required to establish measures for dealing with pollution incidents, either nationally or in co-operation with other countries.
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO) — is a non-governmental, worldwide federation of national standards bodies established in 1947 to promote the development of standardization and related activities in the world, to facilitate the international exchange of goods and services, and to develop cooperation in the spheres of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity.
• Joint Project Agreements (JPAs) — are voluntary, negotiated, legally binding arrangements whereby DFO and parties to a fishery agree to participate in a project related to activities associated with the management and operation of that fishery. JPAs are a key component of DFO's co-management approach.
• Marine Environmental Quality (MEQ) — tells us how healthy our marine ecosystems are. Both natural and human activities — including climate change, natural catastrophes, man-made pollution and use of marine resources — affect the physics, water chemistry and biology of marine ecosystems. MEQ integrates these environmental conditions to assess the health of marine ecosystems.
• Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) — provide a powerful and proven tool for achieving conservation objectives in the marine environment. Through MPAs, DFO can begin to protect important ecosystems and species, thereby protecting the marine environment and resources upon which our coastal communities depend.
• National Programme of Action (NPA) — proposes national and regional programs to protect human health, the environment and to prevent, reduce and control land-based activities that contribute to the degradation of the marine environment.