Supplementary information tables

Horizontal initiatives

• Funding to implement emergency protection to support the survival and recovery of the Southern Resident Killer Whale
• 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 emergency protection to support the survival and recovery of the Southern Resident Killer Whale

Lead department

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)

Federal partner departments

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC); Transport Canada (TC); Parks Canada (PC)

Start date

2019-20

End date

2023-24

Description

In May 2018, the Ministers of Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, as competent ministers under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) determined following completion of an Imminent Threat Assessment, that the Southern Resident Killer Whale population is facing imminent threat to their survival and recovery. A recommendation was made to the Governor in Council to enact an emergency order for their protection. In consideration of ongoing threat mitigation and additional measures to be implemented, the GiC declined the making of the emergency order.

This Horizontal Initiative implements additional measures to protect the Southern Resident Killer Whale from two of the three anthropogenic impacts that threaten their survival and recovery, namely prey availability, and physical and acoustic disturbance. Measures to address threats associated with the third threat of contaminants was provided through the Oceans Protection Program (OPP) and the Whales Initiative. The outcome of this horizontal initiative, as an extension of the WI whose shared outcome is to “address human-induced threats for Southern Resident Killer Whale, North Atlantic Right Whale and St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga in support of the implementation of SARA Recovery Strategies and Action Plans”, aims to reduce threats impacting the Southern Resident Killer Whale population in order to allow the population to achieve stability and growth, and to ultimately increase their chances for survival and recovery.

Addressing the threats facing Southern Resident Killer Whale requires actions by the Government of Canada across several Departments and multiple partners. The threats do not impact the population in isolation, rather they are cumulative and chronic and action on all fronts is needed simultaneously. Threats associated with prey availability requires action to enable Southern Resident Killer Whale to have access to their preferred prey, Chinook Salmon. Managing fisheries such that there is enough of this resource is available for the whales, and improving environmental conditions so that they can forage effectively (meaning they are protected from physical and acoustic disturbance that can interfere with successful feeding). Since they hunt and communicate using echolocation they require an environment where underwater noise (e.g., from shipping, whale watching, fishing activity, etc.) is not impeding these activities. Additionally, to ensure their health and reproductive success they need an environment and food source that is free of environmental contaminants.

Accordingly, the actions to be undertaken through this initiative will build on existing activities under the Whales Initiative aimed at protecting endangered whales, including Southern Resident Killer Whale. The incremental activities are designed to more rapidly and effectively address the imminent threats to the Southern Resident Killer Whale related to prey availability and disturbance and will take an adaptive management approach to those threats in order to halt population decline and support population growth. Existing resources and measures are in place regarding environmental contaminants.

Governance structures

To ensure a whole-of-government approach, and consistent and complementary application with other related initiatives for Southern Resident Killer Whale and other endangered whales, in particular the Oceans Action Plan and consistent with Species at Risk Recovery Strategies, an interdepartmental Assistant Deputy Minister-level oversight committee has been created with Assistant Deputy Ministers (ADMs) from the lead Departments responsible for the recovery of these species: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Transport Canada (TC), Parks Canda (PC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). In addition, the Assistant Secretary, Economic Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat, is an ex-officio member of the ADM-level oversight committee. The committee also provides representation from other relevant Departments as necessary e.g., Department representation from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs. This ADM Committee maintains strong oversight, provides strategic direction, and facilitates coordination amongst departments and alignment with other federal priorities, such as reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and energy development. It also systematically reviews the implementation dashboard developed for measuring, monitoring and assessing the progress of specific initiatives. This ADM Committee will leads oversight of the delivery of the Whales Initiative including the incremental activities in this initiative. It reports to and takes guidance from the existing Oceans Protection Program Deputy Ministers Committee to ensure whole of government coordination and alignment with Government priorities at the most senior level.

The interdepartmental ADM Committee is also responsible for horizontal reporting on plan progress and results to Ministers and Canadians, and linking initiatives and progress to related Government-wide initiatives. In addition to Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports, reporting on achievements of the Plan is shared with the public at key intervals, highlighting results and benefits for Canadians.

Total federal funding allocated (from start to end date) (dollars)

$90,082,517

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars)

$91,660,134

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars)

$66,241,716

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)

DFO increased the release of Chilliwack fall-run Chinook hatchery juveniles in years 2019 to 2023 from one million to two million to support investigation between hatchery production and Southern Resident Killer Whale prey availability. As planned, the period of elevated hatchery production and the supporting funding has ended.

Annual measures to support Southern Resident Killer Whale recovery were implemented as planned in 2023 and 2024. Mandatory measures included area-based fishing closures to support prey availability in key Southern Resident Killer Whale foraging areas, interim sanctuary zones, speed restricted zones, and an Interim Order requiring vessels to stay 400 m from killer whales in southern BC waters. Measures were informed by the best available science as well as advice from Indigenous groups, threat-based technical working groups, stakeholders, and the public. DFO continues to enforce fisheries-related management measures and respond to incidents involving marine mammals including Southern Resident Killer Whale.

Transport Canada (TC)

In 2023-24, Transport Canada:

1. found that underwater noise intensity had been reduced by 55% since 2017 due in part by the participation of thousands of ship operators slowing down and maintaining a distance from the Southern Resident Killer Whale critical habits and key foraging areas
2. using science, Indigenous knowledge and input, stakeholder and public feedback, continued to adapt and implement measures aimed at reducing the physical and acoustic impacts of vessels on Canada’s at-risk whale populations while ensuring the safe and efficient movement of people and goods, including:
   • setting both voluntary and mandatory vessel speed restrictions and exclusion zones
   • monitoring shipping zones and alerting mariners to the presence of whales
   • continuing operation of the Sustainable Whale Watching Authorization program
3. on an international level, continued to lead work on the development of the revised guidelines for the reduction of underwater radiated noise from shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life, approved in July 2023 by the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO's) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80) and took effect on October 1, 2023. In addition, TC led the coordination of the Correspondence Group on the development of a program of action to further address underwater radiated noise at the IMO
4. continued to support testing encouraged uptake of new quiet vessel technologies aimed at reducing the acoustic impacts of vessels on Canada's at-risk whale population

Parks Canada (PC)

Parks Canada continued efforts related to law enforcement (e.g., on-water surveillance patrols), compliance promotion and outreach, science and monitoring (e.g., implementation of actions identified in Parks Canada Southern Resident Killer Whale Conservation Plans), and Indigenous engagement (e.g., Indigenous-led marine conservation programs in and around PC places). In 2023-34, Parks Canada made just over 66,000 personal and non-personal contacts and 99,000 park visitors and contacts were exposed to information on marine species at risk. In addition, Parks Canada continued to support Indigenous-led marine conservation programs in and around Pacific Rim and Gulf Islands National Park Reserves through conservation agreements with First Nations partners (activities and outcomes of the Indigenous-led marine conservation programs vary based on community priorities). In 2023-24, Parks Canada expanded the environmental DNA salmon project to include streams within and adjacent to the Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. This project was implemented in collaboration with First Nations whose territories and interests overlap with the study area (total of six First Nations). Park wardens patrolled and continued presence on the water, especially when whales were in the area, leading to significant increase in compliance. Park wardens continued to conduct partnership patrols with DFO and RCMP. Parks Canada law enforcement have an information sharing agreement in place with DFO. This agreement enhances enforcement response and coordination.

Contact information

Tanya Dunsmore, Tanya.Dunsmore@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Shared outcomes:

Address human-induced threats for Southern Resident Killer Whale in support of survival and recovery of the Southern Resident Killer Whale population in Canada.

Performance information

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

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 Canada (ECCC), Transport Canada (TC), Natural Resource Canada (NRCan), and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs (CIRNAC) through three pillars of activities that support conserving 25 per cent of Canada’s oceans by 2025. In addition, DFO sought 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. 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 to 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 sought 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, PC, 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, PC, 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 provides horizontal oversight to the initiative.

The Horizontal Initiative Oversight Committee for this initiative is the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) Marine Conservation Targets (MCT) Implementation Committee, a new sub-committee that was formed under the auspices of the existing ADMs’ Interdepartmental Committee on Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has a secretariat in place to support this committee. Meetings of the new ADM MCT Implementation Committee are held quarterly and membership includes DFO, Parks Canada Agency, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Transport Canada, and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. As lead for this committee, DFO facilitates regular interactions with ADMs on issues of substance, such as national policy and/or program implementation challenges, and monitors results of the initiative and proposes course corrections as required.

The ADM MCT Implementation Committee leverages expertise and best practices put in place by the long term work of the ADMs’ Interdepartmental Committee on Oceans, and coordinates meeting agendas and secretariat services in order to reduce administrative burden of a new governance structure. The ADM MCT Implementation Committee is 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 are discussed through the Director Generals’ Federal Marine Protected Area Strategy Committee, with recommendations, and outstanding issues sent to the ADM MCT Implementation Committee for discussion and review.

Total federal funding allocated (from start to end date) (dollars)

$846,504,832

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)

As of March 2024, Canada has conserved 14.66% of its oceans. This includes 60 marine refuges, 14 Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and protected areas established by DFO, Parks Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada and provincial governments.

Work continues to advance to achieve the interim domestic target to conserve 25% of Canada’s oceans by 2025 and the 30% by 2030 target driven by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework established at COP-15 under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. For example, the proposed ministerial order for the repeal and replacement of the existing ministerial order for Tuvaijuittuq MPA was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on December 22, 2023.

On October 5, 2023, the Government of Canada, represented by DFO Minister Lebouthillier and ECCC Minister Guilbeault, alongside the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) and The Pew Charitable Trusts, on behalf of philanthropic donors, signed an Agreement in Principle on Closing Conditions for the Qikiqtani Project Finance for Permanence Agreement (Q-PFP). The Q-PFP aims to empower Inuit to protect and manage 989,879 km² of land and waters in the Qikiqtani region. Once completed, the Q-PFP project has the potential to comprise the largest network of Inuit-led protected areas in the world.

On January 17, 2024, Coast Solutions Task Group, the Government of Canada, represented by DFO, and the Government of BC finalized the signing of a non-legally binding Term Sheet that sets out the shared intentions, goals, objectives, and proposed closing conditions of the Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence (GBS-PFP) Closing Agreement. Once completed, the GBS-PFP agreements will support Indigenous-led conservation efforts underway in these regions. The GBS PFP aligns with the Northern Shelf Bioregion Marine Protected Area Network Action Plan, which represents the core conservation plan for the PFP. New areas identified in the Plan are expected to contribute up to 0.29% of Canada's MCTs and builds on the successful model of the Great Bear Rainforest, a terrestrial PFP established in 2007, and will support the implementation of Canada’s first and the world’s most ecologically diverse marine protected areas network.

Processes to establish new areas are underway; however, COVID-19 related delays and resource constraints of partners and stakeholders have contributed to longer timelines for some sites currently underway.

Transport Canada (TC)

In 2023‒24, Transport Canada continued to actively support Marine Conservation Targets (MCT) under three pillars:

1. continuing to support lead federal agencies in the establishment of new marine protected areas, which continue to be a significant element of Canada’s Marine Conservation Targets initiative, protecting and conserving 25% of Canada’s oceans by 2025, and working toward 30% by 2030, which included:
   • providing advice and guidance on mitigating the impacts of marine transportation activities to support conservation objectives in protected areas
   • working to enhance restrictions on certain vessel discharges within federal marine protected areas as part of the Government’s broader conservation work
2. negotiating impact and benefit agreements (IBA), which include:
   • supported the establishment of 3 MPAs in Nunavut through the signing of 2 Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreements
   • supported capacity building through grants and contributions programs for negotiations on transportation elements of the IIBAs
3. initiating marine spatial planning, which includes:
   • supported marine spatial planning in the Western Arctic, in the Inuvialuit settlement region by providing funding support for data gathering and analysis on transportation in this region

Parks Canada (PC)

Highlights for 2023-24:

1. with the support of partners, feasibility assessments were completed for western James Bay and the northern Labrador Coast (Torngat)
2. a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in June 2023 with partners to begin a feasibility assessment in the South Coast Fjords (NL)
3. feasibility assessments continued to advance in eastern James Bay (QC), Îles de la Madeleine (QC), Southern Strait of Georgia (BC), and Central Coast (BC)
4. site selection work and securing partner support for beginning feasibility assessments continued to advance for sites in Pemsik (NS), south-Western Hudson Bay (MB), the Vancouver Island Shelf / Pacific Rim (BC), and Mingan-Anticosti (QC)
5. parks Canada continues to participate in meetings for Arctic related files, including marine spatial planning for the Western Arctic. MSP work has been put on hold
6. NMCAs continue to develop and implement their monitoring plans in collaboration with partners, including monitoring water quality and fish at Great Lakes sites, and marine mammals and ocean noise in the Pacific and the Gulf of St. Lawrence

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)

Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) is advancing three marine National Wildlife Areas instead of the original five sites given that two proposed areas (Witless Bay and Cape St. Mary's) were combined into a single area called Southeast Avalon. In addition, a decision was taken among DFO, ECCC and PC to have PC lead on protecting Swiftsure Bank given proximity to the existing National Park (Pacific Rim).

In BC, CWS continues to engage with the Council of the Haida Nation (facilitated by a Contribution Agreement) to advance a marine National Wildlife Area in nearshore Haida Gwaii. This site is one of the proposed marine protected areas within the Northern Shelf Bioregion Network and also part of the Great Bear Sea Project for Finance Permanence (PFP) agreement. An ecosystem overview has been initiated and feasibility assessments are underway (the hydrocarbon and mineral assessment has been completed by NRCan).

As part of broader multi-partner conservation planning initiatives, conservation targets have been identified and pressures evaluated for the Inner Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and Southeast Avalon in Newfoundland & Labrador; feasibility studies are underway and planning has begun to shift to site-scale design facilitated by several contribution agreements with non-government organizations and certain Indigenous organizations. The hydrocarbon assessment for Inner Bay of Fundy has been completed by NRCan and a hydrocarbon assessment has been initiated for Southeast Avalon.

Natural Resource Canada (NRCan)

Amendments to the Accord Acts were drafted and included in Bill C-49, which was tabled on May 30, 2023.

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)

CIRNAC's engagement with Inuit partners has continued to increase annually. One multi-year project has moved forward with the Kivalliq Inuit Association, which is a new Designated Inuit Organization funded through this initiative. To address the key risk of Inuit organizations potentially not being able to absorb MCT funding due to capacity issues, CIRNAC has been able to establish agreements with federal and academic recipients who co-manage projects with Indigenous organizations. CIRNAC continued participating in working groups to network with hopes of advancing shared marine-related priorities in new regions next fiscal.

Contact information

Christie Chute, Christie.Chute@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Kathy Graham, Kathy.Graham@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Shared outcomes:

1. Canada’s estuarine, marine, and coastal ecosystems and marine natural heritage are conserved and effectively managed
2. Crown-Indigenous partnerships and engagement are enhanced through a shared interest in marine conservation

Performance information

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

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

2023-24

End date

2025-26

Description

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Parks Canada are seeking $151.9 million over three years to renew previous activities focused on protecting the North Atlantic right whale (North Atlantic right whale), Southern Resident killer whale (Southern Resident Killer Whale), and St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga (SLEB), their prey and ecosystems. The proposed activities under this Initiative will 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 (SARA) Recovery Strategies and the Oceans Protection Plan (OPP), an interdepartmental Assistant Deputy Minister-level oversight committee was created under Whales Initiative (WI) 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 WI 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 WI 2.0, liaising with central agencies, and ensuring that major reporting issues that arise are reported to TBS. It 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 WI 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 uses the following method to decide which level disputes need to be dealt at:

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 WI 1.0. To help oversee, provide direction, and coordinate amongst departments to ensure a whole-of government approach in implementing WI 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 continue to 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 interests 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 meet 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 consist 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 puts 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)

$152,782,940

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars)

$39,921,692

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)

Zero North Atlantic Right Whale deaths observed in Canadian waters; 17 projects supported to build capacity for marine mammal response across the country. Implemented annual management measures for both North Atlantic Right Whale and Southern Resident Killer Whale to protect these endangered species from key threats.

In 2023-24, a total of 1,295 dedicated hours were flown to survey the North Atlantic Right Whale. DFO Science was able to respond to 100% of received requests for targeted near real-time North Atlantic Right Whale aerial surveillance and/or acoustic monitoring in order to meet specific management needs. DFO Science successfully launched 3 operational acoustic glider missions to report on North Atlantic Right Whale presence in near real-time. DFO Science published a total of 8 publications related to key knowledge gaps for North Atlantic Right Whale, Southern Resident Killer Whale and St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga.

Transport Canada (TC)

In 2023-24 Transport Canada:

• following the issuance of an Interim Order under the Canada Shipping Act, implemented measures to establish mandatory Interim Sanctuary Zones, Speed Restricted Zones, increased the minimum approach distance to a killer whale (from 200 to 400 metres) and a new measure which prohibits vessels from impeding the path of a killer whale
• continued development on a specific framework to provide greater protection to marine species from the impacts of navigation and shipping activities, which would replace the current interim measures for the protection of Southern Resident killer whales and North Atlantic right whales
• continued the implementation of mandatory measures in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, including mandatory 10 knots slowdown and a restricted area. The mandatory measures apply to all marine vessels over 13 metres in length and are covering over 65,000 square kilometers
• continued the implementation of a voluntary slowdown to 10 knots covering over 7,000 square kilometers in Cabot Strait and applies to all marine vessels over 13 metres in length.
• continued the use of aerial and acoustic detection platforms to monitor for North Atlantic right whales in the Gulf of St-Lawrence:
  • National Aerial Surveillance Program (NASP): rotating between 3 aircraft when our measures are in place, monitoring mainly the Dynamic Shipping Zones and the restricted area;
  • gliders: in collaboration with Dalhousie University and University of New Brunswick, 2 gliders surveyed 3 Dynamic Shipping Zones;
  • Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS): tested a vertical takeoff and landing helicopter drone, which does not require an airport runway, equipped with a camera to collect images with the intention to optimize artificial intelligence software in marine mammal detection;
  • Infrared Camera (IR): In collaboration with the Erlangen University in Germany, 4 land-based infrared camera systems are being assessed for their capacity and performance in detecting right whales in near-real time.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)

Completed first year of WI 2.0 monitoring programs in freshwater and sediment, wastewater, and marine sediment to improve our understanding of the sources and possible impacts to whales and their prey. / Completed the first year of the WI 2.0 program, measuring atmospheric contaminants to better understand the sources of pollution impacting whales and their prey in the Salish Sea and SLE regions. / Collected marine sediment samples for chemical analyses. / ECCC Freshwater quality monitoring and surveillance continues to monitor freshwater and sediment, further improving our understanding of contaminant sources and possible impacts to Southern Resident Killer and Saint Lawrence Estuary Beluga whales and their prey. ECCC FWQMS is also finalizing the W1.0 Year 5 report for the Southern Resident Killer Whale and continues to validate existing data to update the GoC's Open Data portal.

Parks Canada (PC)

Building on existing Southern Resident Killer Whale recovery programming, Parks Canada continued efforts related to law enforcement (e.g., on-water surveillance patrols), compliance promotion and outreach, science and monitoring (e.g., implementation of actions identified in Parks Canada Southern Resident Killer Whale Conservation Plans), and Indigenous engagement (e.g., Indigenous-led marine conservation programs in and around Parks Canada places).

Park wardens continued to conduct partnership patrols with DFO and RCMP. Parks Canada law enforcement have an information sharing agreement in place with DFO. This agreement enhances 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 Saint-Laurent Estuary Beluga populations, their prey and environment from harmful human activities.

Performance information

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.