Supplementary information tables
Horizontal Initiatives
- Funding to implement Canada’s new marine conservation targets
- Funding to protect and promote the health of Canada’s priority at-risk whale populations
Funding to implement Canada’s new marine conservation targets
Lead department
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
Federal partner departments
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC); Transport Canada (TC); Parks Canada (PC); Natural Resource Canada (NRCan); Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)
Start date
2021-22
End date
2025-26
Description
This initiative provides funding for Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Parks Canada (PC), Environment and Climate Change Canda (ECCC), Transport Canada (TC), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) through three pillars of activities that will support conserving 25 per cent of Canada’s oceans by 2025. In addition, DFO is seeking incremental resources to manage existing Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). Together, the three pillars will advance new and existing MPAs and OECMs by building on the lessons learned and best practices gained through previous marine conservation efforts. Previous efforts have demonstrated that achieving marine conservation efforts within Canada requires a multi-pronged approach that is based on best available information and ensuring support and trust of partners and stakeholders. This horizontal initiative uses a whole-of-government approach that is based on capacity to implement the necessary activities to inform establishment and management of sites, enables the active participation of partners and stakeholders, and applies a balanced approach for advancing conservation by considering economic and societal objectives within the marine environment.
This initiative has been developed based on implicated departments’ experience with previous marine conservation initiatives, even though an evaluation of the 2016 marine conservation targets initiative has not been undertaken. This initiative uses a cooperative approach between departments where centrally coordinated policy direction is provided to support and advance collaborative responses to current and emerging oceans management issues, and to support the development of strengthened performance measurement tools, including enhanced outcomes, indicators and protocols.
Increasing Canada’s conservation efforts to 25 per cent by 2025 is highly ambitious. To establish new conservation areas and ensure that those that are contributing to the target are effectively conserving important species, habitats and ecosystems, departments must gain an understanding at site and bioregional levels of the ecological, social, economic and cultural importance of areas, while concurrently ensuring that the efforts have the support of governments, Indigenous peoples, and stakeholders. To achieve these objectives in less than five years will require the activities under each of the three pillars be implemented in a complementary manner. Working towards the 2025 target by establishing new conserved areas while pursing Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and collaborative partnerships will set a solid framework for the Government of Canada to achieve the 2025 target. Furthermore, this initiative contributes to other mandate priorities of the Government, such as the sustainability of fish stocks, the protection of whales, and climate change adaptation.
This initiative aligns with the Government of Canada’s Greening Government Strategy. Consistent with the Strategy, departments will minimize the ecosystem impacts of marine activities, such as reducing impacts from noise due to vessel operations. This initiative is focused on the collaborative involvement of Indigenous peoples, marine users, and local communities. Departments commit to engaging and collaborating in a way that achieves common environmental goals and supports sustainability planning in local communities.
The activities outlined in this initiative ensure that Canada’s duty to consult and accommodate is met. Departments will engage and consult with Indigenous groups to establish new conservation areas and in the ongoing management of sites. Where sites are within territory under a Modern Treaty, activities within this initiative have been developed to ensure respect for Modern Treaty obligations. For new sites, potential Indigenous groups and Modern Treaty partners to be consulted have been identified. This initiative seeks resources to support Indigenous involvement in the establishment and management of sites, enabling self governance and stewardship of Indigenous territory. This initiative also aims to support the inclusion of Indigenous authorities at the table within MSP governance structures. Overall, this initiative has been developed in a manner that recognizes the Government of Canada’s duty to consult, respects Modern Treaty agreements, and seeks to emphasize reconciliation and facilitation of stewardship and economic opportunities for Indigenous groups.
Governance structures
DFO, PCA, and ECCC are responsible for achieving the new marine conservation targets by pursuing the activities outlined within this initiative. However, implementation of supporting activities by TC, NRCan, and CIRNAC are critical to DFO, PCA, and ECCC’s planning, establishment, management and outreach activities. Given the fact that this initiative tasks six different departments to work collaboratively to pursue shared outcomes, an Assistant Deputy Minister level governance committee will provide horizontal oversight to the initiative.
The Horizontal Initiative Oversight Committee for this initiative will be the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) Marine Conservation Targets (MCT) Implementation Committee, a new sub-committee that will be formed under the auspices of the existing ADMs’ Interdepartmental Committee on Oceans. DFO will have a secretariat in place to support this committee. Meetings of the new ADM MCT Implementation Committee will be held quarterly and membership will include Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Parks Canada (PC), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Transport Canada (TC), and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC). As lead for this committee, DFO will facilitate regular interactions with ADMs on issues of substance, such as national policy and/or program implementation challenges, and will monitor results of the initiative and propose course corrections as required.
The ADM MCT Implementation Committee will leverage expertise and best practices put in place by the long term work of the ADMs’ Interdepartmental Committee on Oceans, and will coordinate meeting agendas and secretariat services in order to reduce administrative burden of a new governance structure. The ADM MCT Implementation Committee will be supported by the existing Director Generals’ Federal Marine Protected Area Strategy Committee. This Committee’s mandate is to strengthen partnerships and increase collaboration between federal government departments that establish and manage Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs). All departments included in this initiative are members of the Committee, which meets on a quarterly basis to discuss policy and implementation issues across all member departments related to marine conservation and planning, with chair responsibilities shared between DFO and PC.
Issues relevant to the implementation of this initiative will be discussed through the Director Generals’ Federal Marine Protected Area Strategy Committee, with recommendations, and outstanding issues to be sent to the ADM MCT Implementation Committee for discussion and review.
Total federal funding allocated (from start to end date) (dollars)
$842,621,554
Total federal planned spending to date (dollars)
$477,773,098
Total federal actual spending to date (dollars)
$353,832,884
Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative
Not applicable
Total federal funding allocated at the last renewal, and source of funding (dollars)
Not applicable
Additional federal funding received after the last renewal (dollars)
Not applicable
Total planned spending since the last renewal
Not applicable
Total actual spending since the last renewal
Not applicable
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation
An evaluation is scheduled to be completed in 2025-26
Performance highlights
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
Fisheries and Oceans Canada plans to:
- conserve 30% of Canada's oceans by 2030
- manage existing and establish new marine protected areas and areas recognized as other effective area-based conservation measures with the support of negotiated Impact and Benefit agreements where required, and Project Finance for Permanence agreements
DFO is also examining all existing Oceans Act Marine Protected Area Enforcement Plans to ensure an updated national approach. Of the 14 Oceans Act MPAs, all have up-to-date enforcement plans completed and in place.
DFO's science sector will continue to collect baseline and monitoring data, and provide science advice to inform the establishment and management of marine conservation areas (MCAs; MPAs and OECMs). In addition to using traditional monitoring methods, non-invasive sampling methods for data collection in these areas will continue to be explored and advanced, e.g., imagery and eDNA. Collaborative opportunities internally and externally will be used to leverage scientific capacity and expertise. In 2025-26, the focus will be on the analysis, communication, and/or reporting of information collected in MCAs, for management, as well as the public. A DFO technical report will outline best practices for MCA monitoring and other materials will showcase current Canadian approaches to MCA monitoring. Developing new strategies to integrate climate considerations in area-based science and management activities will continue. Capital funds will be used to acquire field and laboratory equipment and to maintain and upgrade equipment on hand - with a focus on acquiring new technologies that allow efficiencies in data collection.
Transport Canada (TC)
For 2025-26, TC plans to:
- provide advice and guidance on marine transportation activities in marine protected areas (MPAs) in support of Canada’s domestic and international commitments to protect 25% of our oceans by 2025, and 30% by 2030
- as part of the 2023 Protection Standard, enhanced restrictions on vessel discharges will be applied within new federal MPAs (created after 2019), including oily engine bilge, greywater, sewage, food waste and wash water from exhaust gas cleaning systems
Parks Canada (PC)
Parks Canada plans to:
- advance feasibility assessments for the four active national marine conservation area (NMCA) proposals that will contribute to the mandate letter of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change that calls for the establishment of 10 new NMCAs by 2025, with a goal of completing four of these feasibility assessments in fiscal year 2024-25
- advance negotiations for establishment agreements for the four proposed NMCA sites that will contribute to the mandate letter of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change that calls for the establishment of 10 new NMCAs by 2025, with a goal of completing two agreements in fiscal year 2024-25
- continue working with partners to identify and launch feasibility assessments for two sites (in Manitoba and Nova Scotia). This work is to be undertaken with Indigenous governments and organizations and/or territorial and provincial governments, in part, to the meet the minister’s mandate letter to achieve co-management agreements for new sites
- reinitiate the feasibility assessment for the designation of Tuvaijuittuq as an NMCA
- work will be undertaken to identify a candidate site in the Western Arctic as part of marine spatial planning work led by DFO
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
In 2025-26, Environment and Climate Change Canada plans to:
- seek renewal of 5 year funding for marine NWA establishment
- further advance the establishment of three marine National Wildlife Areas
- continue to explore partnerships to expand marine conservation
- further advance work and participation in Marine Spatial Planning efforts in the Western Arctic, including surveys of key marine habitat and species abundance, working with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) on the identification of marine and terrestrial areas for conservation, and ensuring research methodologies are appropriately considering future climate change impacts
- enable the participation of Indigenous peoples in the establishment of marine protected areas with contribution funding
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
NRCan will continue to provide robust scientific assessments and reports to support decisions that are economically sound, sustainable and legally viable for Canada’s marine resources and associated communities.
- For Provision of Federal Leadership in the Minerals and Metals Sector: It is anticipated that Newfoundland & Labrador will mirror Bill C-49 amendments in the current fiscal year (2024-25). Nova Scotia has already passed a provincial mirror version of Bill C-49 through its Legislative Assembly. Once both milestones have taken place, Bill C-49 are likely to come into force.
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada will continue supporting Indigenous partners to develop, participate in, lead and implement environmental and socio-cultural projects that expand the knowledge base to help inform conservation efforts, while building research capacity in communities. Projects with academia and other federal departments also align with local values and priorities, and include community engagement and participation, while contributing to Indigenous and federal outcomes.
CIRNAC plans to continue strengthening relationships with Indigenous partners and supporting multi-year projects to ensure information is available for decision-making related to marine conservation and marine planning.
A key risk for 2025-26 includes the potential inability of Indigenous organizations to absorb MCT funding and execute projects due to capacity issues. CIRNAC plans to work closely with each organization to provide as much support as possible for those who want to take on marine related work.
Contact information
Christie Chute, Christie.Chute@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Kathy Graham, Kathy.Graham@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Shared outcomes:
- Canada’s estuarine, marine, and coastal ecosystems and marine natural heritage are conserved and effectively managed
- Crown-Indigenous partnerships and engagement are enhanced through a shared interest in marine conservation
| Name of theme | Theme A: Establishment, Monitoring, and Management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) | Theme B: Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) in Western Arctic | Theme C: Advancing Reconciliation | Internal Services | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theme outcome(s) | Canada’s network of protected areas is expanded and strengthened | Protected and conserved areas are effectively managed and monitored | Governance is stabilized within a Marine Spatial Planning framework | Science and knowledge products are developed to inform Marine Spatial Planning | Enhanced relationships with, involvement of, and outcomes for Indigenous peoples | Indigenous peoples are engaged in collaborative decision-making and management bodies | n/a | |
| Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) | $450,188,212 | $21,137,647 | $101,927,193 | $108,690,372 | ||||
| Parks Canada (PC) | $48,166,686 | $770,298 | $269,988 | $4,348,253 | ||||
| Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) | $10,654,202 | $1,263,929 | $9,449,979 | $2,064,938 | ||||
| Natural Resource Canada (NRCan) | $15,522,626 | $2,880,327 | n/a | $2,033,477 | ||||
| Transport Canada (TC) | $26,541,417 (including internal services) | $1,575,305 (including internal services) | $13,563,200 (including internal services) | n/a | ||||
| Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) | $10,584,480 | $10,584,480 | n/a | $404,546 | ||||
Performance information
| Name of horizontal initiative | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewal* | 2025–26 Planned spending | Horizontal initiative shared outcome(s) | 2025–26 Performance indicator(s) | 2025–26 Target(s) | Date to achieve target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funding to Implement Canada’s New Marine Conservation Targets | $842,621,554 | $184,372,758 | Canada’s estuarine, marine, and coastal ecosystems and marine natural heritage are conserved and effectively managed | Percentage of marine and coastal areas that are conserved through networks of protected areas and Other Effective Conservation Measures | 25% | December 2025 |
| Percentage of conserved marine and coastal areas that are effectively managed | 14% | December 2025 | ||||
| Crown-Indigenous partnerships and engagement are enhanced through a shared interest in marine conservation | Percentage of Indigenous people engaged in marine planning and conservation who indicate that the engagement was meaningful | 70% | December 2025 |
| Name of theme | Total federal theme funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewal* | 2025–26 Federal theme planned spending | Theme outcome(s) | Theme performance indicator(s) | Theme target(s) | Date to achieve theme target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishment, Monitoring, and Management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) | $667,310,515 | $147,442,798 | Canada’s network of protected areas is expanded and strengthened | Number of new Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas established | 16 | December 2025 |
| Percentage of marine regions represented in the national marine conservation area system | 45% | December 2025 | ||||
| Number of ECCC Protected Areas, OECMs and other conserved areas with demonstrated progress toward establishment or expansion | 5 | December 2025 | ||||
| Number of new marine Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures recognized | 3 | December 2025 | ||||
| Protected and conserved areas are effectively managed and monitored | Percentage of Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas and marine Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures established by 2020 where management plans have been initiated | 100% | December 2025 | |||
| Percentage of Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas and marine Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures established by 2020 where monitoring plans have been initiated | 100% | December 2025 |
| Departments | Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Horizontal initiative activity | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewal* | 2025–26 Planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity | 2025–26 Horizontal initiative activity expected result(s) | 2025–26 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s) | 2025–26 Horizontal initiative activity target(s) | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DFO | Marine Planning and Conservation | Conservation of marine habitats and species as Oceans Act MPAs and OECMs through regulation, management and evaluation | $70,000,000 | $15,594,712 | Industry, local communities, and external parties support the design of MPAs and OECMs | Number agreements signed that support industry, local communities, and external parties participation in, management and monitoring activities of MPAs and OECMs | 15 (per year) | December 2025 |
| $103,840,058 | $19,738,865 | Number of advisory committees established to support the design of a proposed MPA | 16 | December 2025 | ||||
| $103,840,058 | $19,738,865 | Required analyses are developed to support the designation of areas | Number of socio-economic, and cultural assessments and risk analyses developed to support the designation of areas | 38 | December 2025 | |||
| $798,735 | $165,043 | MPA effectiveness is measured nationally | Number of site specific reports completed | 14 | December 2025 | |||
| Conservation & Protection | $62,929,814 | $7,382,699 | Enforcement training programs for marine conservation initiatives are developed and delivered | Percentage of Conservation & Protection officers with training and education on marine conservation measures | 15% | December 2025 | ||
| Increased surveillance and enforcement for MPAs and OECMs via a pilot project | Percentage of Oceans Act MPAs with up-to-date enforcement plans completed and in place by 2025 | 25% | December 2025 | |||||
| Ecosystems & Oceans Sciences | $108,779,546 | $25,349,641 | Data is collected to support establishment and management of MPAs and OECMs | Percentage of scheduled science advisory processes on MPAs and OECMs that were completed | 100% | December 2025 | ||
| ECCC | Habitat Conservation and Protection | Protection of wildlife habitat as National Wildlife Areas, Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, and conservation areas through regulation, management, and evaluation | $9,980,998 | $2,487,478 | ECCC network of Protected Areas is expanded | Total area of habitat protected as ECCC National Wildlife Areas, Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, and Conservation Areas (Hab-32) | 14,375 km2 | December 2025 |
| ECCC network of Protected Areas is effectively managed | Effective management of the ECCC Protected Areas network (average performance of all sites), as assessed by the application of the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (Hab-24) | 90% | December 2025 | |||||
| Central Charges | - | $673,204 | $150,908 | - | - | - | - | |
| PC | Heritage Places Establishment | Expand and conserve Canada’s network of protected areas through NMCA Establishment and Monitoring | $48,166,686 | $10,733,151 | Heritage places are established | Number of new National Marine Conservation Areas established or with demonstrable progress towards establishment | 9 | December 2025Footnote1 |
| CIRNAC | Northern and Arctic Environmental Sustainability | Establishment and Management of MPAs and OECMs | $10,584,480 | $3,832,736 | Regional initiatives are informed by science, Indigenous Knowledge, monitoring and stakeholder input | Percentage of Research, harvest and monitoring studies will serve to inform the establishment and management of conservation sites in the Eastern Arctic | 100% | December 2025Footnote2 |
| TC | Protecting Oceans and Waterways | MPA and OECM Establishment and Management | $26,541,417 | $5,520,552 | Potential threats to marine conservation from vessel traffic in MPAs and OECMs are addressed | Percentage of new or expanded MPAs and OECMs in which marine transportation is identified as a risk, that have measures in place to reduce the impacts of vessel traffic while maintaining safe and efficient marine transportation | 100% | December 2025 |
| NRCan | Geoscience for Sustainable Development of Natural Resources, Energy Safety and Security and Petroleum Resource Energy and Climate Change Policy Provision of Federal Leadership in the Minerals and Metals Sector | MPA and OECM Establishment and Management | $654,651 | $140,430 | Accord Acts are updated with provincial partners so that prohibitions on oil and gas in MPAs can be included in the Accord Acts, thereby strengthening protections of these sites | Number of proposed changes to the Accord Acts with provincial partners that support strengthened protection of MPAs established in Accord Act offshore area | 4 amendments proposed | March 2025 |
| $14,867,975 | $3,030,174 | Petroleum, mineral, economic and socioeconomic assessments to inform management decisions on the establishment of marine conservation areas, thereby contributing to the expansion of Canada’s network of protected areas | Number of assessments that are conducted which inform management decisions for the establishment of new marine conservation areas proposed by DFO, ECCC or Parks Canada | 20 | December 2025 |
| Name of theme | Total federal theme funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewal* | 2025–26 Federal theme planned spending | Theme outcome(s) | Theme performance indicator(s) | Theme target(s) | Date to achieve theme target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) in Western Arctic | $43,196,441 | $7,953,379 | Governance is stabilized within a Marine Spatial Planning framework | Percentage of key planning partners engaged in a Marine Spatial Planning governance structure | 100% | 2025 |
| Science and knowledge products are developed to inform Marine Spatial Planning | Number of new socio-economic analyses conducted to inform a marine spatial plan | 1 | 2025 | |||
| Percentage of planned data sets that are integrated into online platforms to inform spatial planning efforts | 100% | 2025 |
| Departments | Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Horizontal initiative activity | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewal* | 2025–26 Planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity | 2025–26 Horizontal initiative activity expected result(s) | 2025–26 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s) | 2025–26 Horizontal initiative activity target(s) | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DFO | Marine Planning and Conservation | Initiating MSP in the Western Arctic | $9,994,431 | $1,926,537 | Collaborative governance structures are established in the Western Arctic | Number of established collaborative governance structures in Western Arctic | 1 | December 2025 |
| $11,143,216 | $2,147,978 | Existing scientific and socio-economic data are collated and analyzed to support MSP decision making in the Western Arctic | Percentage of priority data gaps that are filled to support planning processes for identifying future conservation sites for the Western Arctic. | 75% | December 2025 | |||
| ECCC | Habitat Conservation and Protection | Initiating MSP in the Western Arctic | $1,154,942 | $257,532 | ECCC network of protected areas grows to support the conservation of important biodiversity areas | Total area of key habitat sites integrated into the marine spatial plan | 28,750 km2 | December 2025 |
| Central Charges | - | $108,987 | $25,381 | - | - | - | - | |
| PC | Heritage Places Establishment | Engage with partners and communities in the Western Arctic to validate areas that have been targeted for protection through MSP | $770,298 | $18,684 | MSP process identifies candidate NMCA sites | Number of candidate NMCA sites identified through marine spatial planning process | 1 | December 2025Footnote3 |
| TC | Environmental Stewardship of Transportation | Initiating MSP in the Western Arctic | $1,575,305 | $357,462 | Marine spatial planning and conservation is advanced by Transport Canada’s participation in a collaborative approach and informed by technical expertise | Number of established collaborative governance structures in Western Arctic that Transport Canada participates in | 1 | December 2025 |
| CIRNAC | Northern and Arctic Environmental Sustainability | Initiating MSP in the Western Arctic | $10,584,480 | $1,277,579 | Regional initiatives are informed by science, Indigenous Knowledge, monitoring and stakeholder input | Percentage of Research, harvest and monitoring studies will serve to inform MSP in the Western Arctic | 100% | December 2025Footnote4 |
| NRCan | Energy Safety and Security, and Petroleum Resources | Initiating MSP in the Western Arctic | $2,530,327 | $519,841 | Science-based information and knowledge products related to oil accumulation in Arctic waters are developed to inform marine spatial planning in the Western Arctic | Number of science-based presentations, publications, and research reports used by departments to inform marine spatial plans in the Western Arctic | 3 per year | December 2025 |
| $350,000 | $50,000 | Equipment is acquired by CanmetENERGY Devon to support scientific research related to marine spatial planning in the Western Arctic | Number of pieces of equipment acquired to support scientific research related to marine spatial planning | 5 | December 2022Footnote5 |
| Name of theme | Total federal theme funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewal* | 2025–26 Federal theme planned spending | Theme outcome(s) | Theme performance indicator(s) | Theme target(s) | Date to achieve theme target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advancing Reconciliation | $132,114,598 | $28,976,581 | Enhanced relationships with, involvement of, and outcomes for Indigenous peoples | Number of Indigenous groups funded to participate in marine conservation and management activities. | 15 (per year) | December 2025 |
| Indigenous peoples are engaged in collaborative decision-making and management bodies | Percentage of affected Indigenous groups participating in collaborative governance bodies. | 100% | December 2025 | |||
| Number of new federal sites with active (i.e. ongoing and/or planned activities) co-management agreements. | 24 | December 2025 |
| Departments | Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Horizontal initiative activity | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewal* | 2025–26 Planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity | 2025–26 Horizontal initiative activity expected result(s) | 2025–26 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s) | 2025–26 Horizontal initiative activity target(s) | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DFO | Marine Planning and Conservation | Building capacity for Indigenous groups to participate in marine planning and conservation activities | $81,700,000 | $18,197,988 | Indigenous peoples are supported to participate in governance, management and monitoring activities | Number of agreements signed with Indigenous groups that relate to MSP, MPA and OECM management and monitoring activities | 15 (per year) | December 2025 |
| $3,700,000 | $850,000 | Number of memorandums of understanding signed for collaborative management of MPAs and OECMs | 10 | December 2025 | ||||
| Establishing IBA Negotiating Capacity | $12,927,193 | $2,157,597 | Protocols in support of IBAs are developed in collaboration with the respective Designated Inuit Organization | Number of protocols developed | 2 | December 2025 | ||
| $3,600,000 | $600,000 | Inuit organizations are engaged to have exploratory discussions as per their respective Modern Treaties obligations | Number of contribution agreements entered into that support Inuit participation in negotiating IBAs | 3 | December 2025 | |||
| ECCC | Habitat Conservation and Protection | Enabling the participation of Indigenous peoples in the establishment, management, and monitoring of protected areas, other effective conservation measures, and Indigenous conserved and protected areas with contribution funding | $8,943,876 | $2,239,709 | Indigenous people are engaged in conservation activities. | Percentage of Indigenous people engaged with ECCC who indicate that the engagement was meaningful (Bio-12) | 66% | April 2026 |
| Number of indigenous-led projects supported (Hab-48) | 5 | March 2026 | ||||||
| Central Charges | - | $506,103 | $116,623 | - | - | - | - | |
| PC | Heritage Places Establishment | Investigate, with Indigenous partners, potential methods of fostering joint or contiguous national parks / national marine protected areas and co-designation Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas | $269,988 | $67,068 | Indigenous peoples are engaged in establishment activities and proposals that result in agreements to establish and manage new sites | Feasibility assessments launched and completed in collaboration with Indigenous organizations. Negotiation of co-management arrangements within establishment agreements | 100% of feasibility assessments for establishment projects are completed in collaboration with Indigenous organizations | December 2025 |
| TC | Indigenous Partnerships and Engagement | Establishing IBA Negotiating Capacity | $13,563,200 | $2,739,429 | Indigenous groups are enabled to negotiate as full partners to address marine transportation matters in Impact and Benefit Agreements | Percentage of IBAs negotiated that include articles outlining marine transportation impacts and benefits for Inuit groups and communities | 80% | December 2025 |
| Marine transportation matters are addressed through the negotiation of Impact and Benefit Agreements | Percentage of IBAs negotiated that included Transport Canada’s participation in whole-of-government negotiations teams | 80% | December 2025 |
| Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewal* | 2025–26 total federal planned spending | |
|---|---|---|
| Theme A: Establishment, Monitoring, and Management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) | $667,310,515 | $147,442,798 |
| Theme B: Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) in Western Arctic | $43,196,441 | $7,953,379 |
| Theme C: Advancing Reconciliation | $132,114,598 | $28,976,581 |
| Total, all themes | $842,621,554 | $184,372,758 |
Funding to protect and promote the health of Canada’s priority at-risk whale populations
Lead department
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
Federal partner departments
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC); Transport Canada (TC); Parks Canada (PC)
Start date
2023-2024
End date
2025-2026
Description
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Parks Canada are investing $152.7 million over three years to renew previous activities focused on protecting the North Atlantic right whale, Southern Resident killer whale, and St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga, their prey and ecosystems. The proposed activities under this Initiative seek to renew science and technology investments and to renew whale intervention programming, including the coordination, implementation and enforcement of management interventions to ensure evidence based decision making. The residual risk of this initiative is low.
Governance structures
To ensure a whole-of-government approach and complimentary application with other related initiatives, in particular Species At Risk Act Recovery Strategies and the Ocean Protection Plan, an interdepartmental Assistant Deputy Minister-level oversight committee was created under Whales Initiative 1.0 with ADMs from all responsible departments. The ADM Committee oversees the inter-departmental roll-out of whale programming and allows for the monitoring of progress against plans and anticipated results to help identify and manage implementation risks.
To ensure the continued coordination and collaboration between federal partners for Whales Initiative 2.0, DFO continues to lead these meetings on a bi-annual basis with the intention of providing strong policy and implementation advice; supporting cross-departmental coordination; ensuring processes are in place to implement, monitor and communicate action, progress and risk on priority whale populations; and identify issues that require Deputy Minister engagement.
The ADM Committee is also responsible for resolving disputes or any other issues that may arise that may lead to inaccurate performance or financial reporting. This includes providing strategic direction to ensure that results are achieved on-time and within budget, including directing any necessary adjustments to the implementation of Whales Initiative 2.0, liaising with central agencies and ensuring that major reporting issues that arise are reported to TBS. The Committee also systematically reviews the continued use of a reporting dashboard developed for measuring, monitoring and assessing the progress of specific initiatives; including assessment(s) of Whales Initiative 2.0 and/or specific initiatives. This continues to be led through DFO’s National Program Whales Team, which is further outlined above. The ADM Committee would use the following method to decide which level disputes need to be dealt at:
| High Impact Issue | Lead Department Action |
|---|---|
| Performance information has been or will be inaccurately reported | Resolve at the ADM committee level |
| Financial information has been or will be inaccurately reported | Advise TBS on the issue and resolution |
| Questions may arise in an evaluation or audit | If it cannot be resolved, address with TBS |
In order to effectively manage and ensure progress, the Committee continues to be supported by an interdepartmental Director General level sub-committee to oversee horizontal initiatives, led by DFO and developed through Whales Initiative 1.0. To help oversee, provide direction, and coordinate amongst departments to ensure a whole-of government approach in implementing Whales Initiative 2.0, the DFO-led Whales Executive Committee is supported by cross-Government coordination teams to provide support and coordination for the DG and ADM oversight Committees.
In order to support DG and ADM oversight Committees, departments work together to ensure policy coherence between partners and reflect each department’s mandate through the existing working groups. While each department conducts work specific to its mandate, federal partners collaborate through existing programming, as outlined above, and existing governance mechanisms to ensure coordination between partners of shared information, resources and integration of overlapping interest or legislative accountability.
As an example of policy coherence noted above, on the West Coast, multiple interdepartmental working groups consisting of representatives from DFO (the regulator); TC (for the work on vessel measures), ECCC (for their work on contaminants) and PC (for their work on enforcement and outreach around interim sanctuary zones) regularly meets to ensure a whole of government approach to protect southern Resident Killer Whale. This includes the Indigenous and Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group (IMAG), and Technical Working Groups (focusing on prey, contaminants and acoustic and physical disturbance of vessels) which consists of a large range of stakeholders and Indigenous partners, including representatives from marine industry, non-governmental organizations, provincial government and academia, who meet to ensure the proper implementation and maintenance of existing management measures to protect Southern Resident Killer Whale.
Continued coordination between partner departments ensures a consistent Government of Canada approach to whale conservation and aids in alleviating previous challenges identified by stakeholders regarding a lack of cohesion in whales-related programming across jurisdictions.
Each participating department has in place its own internal mechanisms for ensuring accountability for its respective results under this initiative.
Total federal funding allocated (from start to end date) (dollars)
$152,783,938
Total federal planned spending for 2025-26 (dollars)
$56,414,782
Total federal actual spending to date (dollars)
$32,096,903
Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative
Not applicable
Total federal funding allocated at the last renewal, and source of funding (dollars)
Not applicable
Additional federal funding received after the last renewal (dollars)
Not applicable
Total planned spending since the last renewal
Not applicable
Total actual spending since the last renewal
Not applicable
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation
An evaluation was completed in 2022-23.
Performance highlights
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
In 2025-26, DFO plans to continue to reduce threats to North Atlantic Right Whales (NARW) and Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) through fishery closures and response to incidents. For NARW, this includes dynamic and static fishery closures when NARW are detected on the East Coast, to reduce the threat of entanglement. For SRKW, this includes continued fishing closures implemented in identified SRKW key foraging areas to support prey availability on the West Coast. Additionally, both species, as well as other large whale species, will continue to benefit through the Marine Mammal Response Program Capacity Building Fund. This fund seeks to build capacity across Canada for safe, effective, and timely marine mammal incident response.
Transport Canada (TC)
In 2025-26, TC plans to:
- provide authorizations to eligible whale watching and ecotourism companies to view non-Southern Resident killer whales (Bigg’s or Transient killer whales) and abstain from planning, or promoting excursions based on the offering, planning or promoting tours of Southern Resident killer whales
- implement a minimum approach distance that vessels must maintain from any killer whale in Southern British Columbia waters, as well as prohibit vessels from impeding the path of killer whales
- implement mandatory Interim Sanctuary Zones to restrict boats from entering key areas
- implement mandatory Speed Restricted Zones to restrict vessel speed in key foraging areas
- implement a mandatory slowdown for all marine vessels over 13 metres in length from mid-April to mid-November when North Atlantic right whales are present in greater number in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
- provide restricted areas prompting vessels to avoid the area when North Atlantic right whales are present
- test innovative detection technologies (ie. drones, thermal imaging cameras) to find ways to enhance our visual and acoustic surveillance program
- implement a voluntary 10 knots slowdown zone for all marine vessels over 13 metres in length in the Cabot Strait in spring and fall to coincide with the migration of large numbers of North Atlantic right whales in and out of the Gulf of St Lawrence
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
In 2025-26, Environment and Climate Change Canada plans to focus on protecting at-risk whale populations through targeted research, monitoring, enforcement, and stakeholder collaboration. Planned activities include advancing scientific efforts to monitor contaminants, promoting compliance with regulations, and working with partners to share knowledge and support recovery efforts. Key risks include unexpected resource constraints, which could reduce project capacity, and adverse meteorological or climate conditions that may delay fieldwork completion. ECCC will continue to monitor and manage these challenges to support conservation efforts.
Parks Canada (PC)
Building on existing Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) recovery programming, Parks Canada plans to continue efforts related to law enforcement (i.e., on-water surveillance patrols), compliance promotion and outreach, science, and monitoring (i.e., implementation of actions identified in Parks Canada SRKW Conservation Plans), and Indigenous engagement. Implementation through collaboration and Indigenous stewardship are a priority. Park wardens will build on existing progress and continue to conduct partnership patrols with DFO, RCMP, and Transport Canada. Parks Canada law enforcement have an information sharing agreement in place with DFO and with Transport Canada. These agreements enhance enforcement response and coordination.
Contact information
Jennifer Buie, Jennifer.buie@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Shared outcomes:
Protection of North Atlantic right whale, Southern Resident killer whale, and St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga, their prey and environment from harmful human activities.
| Name of theme | Theme A: Strengthening science-based evidence and expanding technology driven solutions | Theme B: Coordinating, implementing, and enforcing management measures to safeguard priority at-risk whale populations and habitats | Internal Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme outcome(s) | Scientific research is provided to inform decision-makers to protect North Atlantic right whale, Southern Resident killer whale, and St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga | North Atlantic right whale, Southern Resident killer whale, and St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga populations, their prey and environment are in contact with less harmful human activities | n/a |
| Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) | $30,582,941 | $22,129,422 | $8,947,900 |
| Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) | $5,272,818 | $4,383,361 | $976,312 |
| Transport Canada (TC) | $27,404,146 | $46,275,705 | n/a |
| Parks Canada (PC) | $1,357,829 | $4,948,512 | $504,992 |
Performance information
| Name of horizontal initiative | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewal* | 2025–26 Planned spending | Horizontal initiative shared outcome(s) | 2025–26 Performance indicator(s) | 2025–26 Target(s) | Date to achieve target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funding to Protect and Promote the Health of Canada’s Priority At-risk Whale Populations | $152,783,938 | $56,414,782 | North Atlantic right whale, Southern Resident killer whale, and St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga populations are on track for recovery according to the SARA recovery strategies | Number of endangered whale populations that, when reassessed, have trends consistent with the recovery goal and/or population and distribution objectives laid out in the recovery strategies | 3 | March 2026 |
| Name of theme | Total federal theme funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewal* | 2025–26 Federal theme planned spending | Theme outcome(s) | Theme performance indicator(s) | Theme target(s) | Date to achieve theme target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strengthening science-based evidence and expanding technology driven solutions | $70,520,498 | $25,554,095 | Scientific research is provided to inform decision-makers to protect North Atlantic right whale, Southern Resident killer whale, and St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga | Percentage of requests met for targeted near real-time North Atlantic right whale aerial surveillance and/or acoustic monitoring to meet specific management (client) needs | 90% of requests actioned | March 2026 |
| Number of total successful technology trials aimed at reducing the impact of vessel underwater noise of at-risk whales (whale, Southern Resident killer whale, and St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga) | 9 technology trials | March 2026 |
| Departments | Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Horizontal initiative activity | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewal* | 2025–26 Planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity | 2025–26 Horizontal initiative activity expected result(s) | 2025–26 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s) | 2025–26 Horizontal initiative activity target(s) | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DFO | Aquatic Ecosystem Science | Whale Science Research Program | $30,582,941 | $10,909,643 | North Atlantic right whale aerial surveys and near real-time acoustic monitoring in Canadian are meeting both scientific and management (client) needs | Percentage of requests met by DFO Science for targeted near real-time North Atlantic right whale aerial surveillance and/or acoustic monitoring to meet specific management (client) needs | 90% | March 2026 |
| Percentage of total North Atlantic right whale flying hours directed to fishing grid clearance, whale disentanglement support, and other management (client) related requests | Baseline: 40% of total flying hours Target: 40% of total flight hours |
|||||||
Number of DFO Science led acoustic glider missions* dedicated to surveying North Atlantic right whale in Canadian waters *mission is defined as a continuous 3 week period |
12 missions | |||||||
| Scientific evidence is provided to support protection measures for North Atlantic right whale, Southern Resident killer whale and St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga | Number scientific publications / reports related to key knowledge gaps for the North Atlantic right whale, Southern Resident killer whale and St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga | 12 publications | ||||||
| TC | M60 | Understanding Underwater Vessel Noise in the Context of Southern Resident killer whale, North Atlantic right whale, St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga | $14,480,481 | $5,668,700 | Vessel types, technologies and operational practices are measured and assessed to mitigate anthropogenic threats to whales | Number of total successful technology trials aimed at reducing the impact of vessel underwater noise of at-risk whales (North Atlantic right whale, Southern Resident killer whale, St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga) | 9 technology trials | March 2024, 2025, and 2026 |
| Engineering, Science, and Research Support for the Implementation of Seasonal East and West Coast Vessel Measures | $12,923,665 | $4,106,793 | Increased monitoring of whales and vessels interactions to better inform management action, and increased data storage. | Number of gigabytes (Gb) of data generated across all deployed devices to inform of the presence of whales presence (baseline to be determined annually) on the East Coast | Baseline: 60Gb / year Target: 60Gb / year |
|||
| ECCC | Air Quality; Aquatic Ecosystems Health, Substance and Waste Management | Environmental Monitoring: Advancing Vital Contaminant Data Collection in the Pacific and Quebec Region | $5,272,818 | $1,915,340 | Scientific evidence is available to support the establishment of management measures | Number of science products on contaminants in the environment and their transmission to regulators. | Baseline: 0 Target: 5 science products |
March 2026Footnote6 |
| PC | Heritage Places Conservation | Science and Monitoring in Critical Whale Habitats overlapping with Parks Canada managed protected areas | $1,357,829 | $669,412 | Heritage places are managed responsibly | Percentage of actions in Parks Canada conservation plans that are implemented (for Southern Resident killer whale) | 100% | March 2026Footnote7 |
| Name of theme | Total federal theme funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewal* | 2025–26 Federal theme planned spending | Theme outcome(s) | Theme performance indicator(s) | Theme target(s) | Date to achieve theme target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coordinating, implementing, and enforcing management measures to safeguard priority at-risk whale populations and habitats | $82,263,440 | $30,860,687 | North Atlantic right whale, Southern Resident killer whale and St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga populations, their prey and environment are in contact with less harmful human activities | Percentage of verified human caused mortalities for North Atlantic right whale, Southern Resident killer whale and St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga | 0% increase in North Atlantic right whale mortalities | March 2026 |
| 0% increase in Southern Resident killer whale mortalities | ||||||
| 0% increase in St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga mortalities |
| Departments | Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Horizontal initiative activity | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewal* | 2025–26 Planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity | 2025–26 Horizontal initiative activity expected result(s) | 2025–26 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s) | 2025–26 Horizontal initiative activity target(s) | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DFO | Marine Communications and Traffic Services | Marine Mammal Desk | $8,437,539 | $3,161,632 | Government of Canada at-risk whale education and enforcement activities are effectively supported to mitigate vessel interactions with whales. | Percentage of non-compliant vessel data provided to TC, PC and DFO in accordance with the Interim Order for the Protection of the Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) in southern British Columbia waters | 100% | March 2026Footnote8 |
| $496,286 | $145,198 | Percentage of non-compliant vessel data provided to TC, PC and DFO in accordance with the Interim Order for the Protection of North Atlantic right whales | March 2026Footnote9 | |||||
| Conservation and Protection | Conservation and Protection | $6,017,331 | $2,783,681 | Fisheries, oceans and other aquatic ecosystems are protected from unlawful exploitation and interference | Percentage of incidents and inspection activities that have resulted in compliance actions or otherwise for killer whales (Disaggregate by region) |
At most 60% | March 2026 | |
| Fisheries Management | Pacific Marine Mammal Hub | $1,264,410 | $524,374 | Human-induced threats to at-risk whale populations, their prey and environment are reduced | Percentage of fishing closures implemented in identified Southern Resident killer whale key foraging areas to support prey availability | 50% | March 2026 | |
| Marine Mammal Response Program | $3,931,072 | $1,848,361 | Response program and partners are equipped and have capacity to respond to observed incidents. | Percentage of capacity proposals funded vs capacity proposals received (Disaggregate by region) |
25% of proposals received are funded each year | |||
| National Program Whales Team | $1,982,784 | $739,091 | Entanglement threats to North Atlantic Right Whale are reduced | Percentage change in number of verified entanglements of North Atlantic right whale in Canadian fishing gear | Baseline: Average of 3/year (2020-2023) Target: 0% change from 2022 baseline |
|||
| Atlantic Marine Mammal Hub | ||||||||
| TC | M60 | Addressing Vessel Impacts: Pacific Region | $14,971,159 | $5,165,435 | Reduction of vessel related risks to Southern Resident killer whale and North Atlantic right whale | Percentage decrease in the number of vessel incident reports in the sanctuary and speed restricted zones, identified through Canadian Coast Guard Marine Mammal Desk reports, to support the reduction of physical and acoustic disturbance of Southern Resident killer whales | Baseline: 1127 incident reports (2022) Target: 2% annually |
March 2024, 2025, and 2026 |
| Increase in the number of compliance monitoring and enforcement actions taken against vessels within the sanctuary and speed restricted zones, to support the reduction of physical and acoustic disturbance of Southern Resident killer whales | Baseline: 42 (weighted score, actual enforcement actions is 157 for 2022) Target: 5% Increase |
|||||||
| Addressing Vessel Impacts: Atlantic Region | $31,304,547 | $10,924,945 | Monitored vessels transiting Canadian waters maintain compliance with mandatory management measures, to reduce the threat of vessel collisions with at-risk whale populations | Baseline: 99% Target: 99% |
March 2024 (on going), 2025, and 2026 | |||
| Increase percentage of participation in voluntary management measures, to reduce the threat of vessel collisions with at-risk whale populations | Baseline: 48% Target: 50% |
|||||||
| ECCC | Compliance Promotion and Enforcement - Pollution | Enforcement Capacity for Contaminants to Uphold Regulatory Compliance | $2,250,939 | $582,883 | High-risk non-compliance enforcement targets are identified (intelligence assessment) in at-risk whale ecosystems/important areas | Percentage of non- compliance addressed by enforcement action (e.g. warning letter, AMP, direction, prosecution) | Baseline: 0 Target: 80% |
2026 |
| Aquatic Ecoystems Health, Substance and Waste Management | Governance and Contaminants Program Delivery | $2,132,422 | $705,042 | Engagement with stakeholders on contaminants affecting whales enables the translation of knowledge to support the recovery of Southern Resident killer whale and SLEB | Number of engagement opportunities supporting the transmission of relevant knowledge on contaminants affecting whales to stakeholders | Baseline: 0 Target: 5 |
2026Footnote10 | |
| PC | Heritage Places Conservation | Improving S Southern Resident killer whale oversight and Enforcement of Regulations in Parks Canada Managed Protected Areas | $1,611,306 | $795,620 | Heritage places are managed responsibly Natural and cultural resources in heritage places are maintained or improved |
Number of hours of proactive law enforcement patrols related to Southern Resident killer whale | 1,040 hours | March 2026Footnote11 |
| Conservation Actions for Southern Resident killer whale Critical Habitat Overlapping with Parks Canada Managed Protected Areas | $3,337,206 | $1,657,719 | Indigenous peoples actively participate in and contribute to the stewardship and conservation of heritage places | Number of heritage places where Indigenous peoples actively participate in stewardship of natural and cultural heritage of their traditional territories | 2 | March 2026 | ||
| Number of agreements in place that support Indigenous-led stewardship | 7 | March 2026Footnote12 | ||||||
| Visitors safely discover, experience, and enjoy Parks Canada places | Number of contacts reached through multimedia, outreach and interpretation initiatives relating to Southern Resident killer whale | 40,000 | March 2026Footnote13 |
| Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewal* | 2025–26 total federal planned spending | |
|---|---|---|
| Theme A: Strengthening science-based evidence and expanding technology driven solutions | $70,520,498 | $25,554,095 |
| Theme B: Coordinating, implementing, and enforcing management measures to safeguard priority at-risk whale populations and habitats | $82,263,440 | $30,860,687 |
| Total, all themes | $152,783,938 | $56,414,782 |
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