Achievements

On August 1^st, 2019 Prime Minister Trudeau announced that Canada had surpassed its marine conservation target of 10% protection of marine and coastal areas, conserving almost 14% of Canada’s ocean. This significant achievement was reached through considerable collaborative efforts with indigenous peoples, all levels of government, marine industries and stakeholders.

To date, Canada has established 14 MPAs under the Oceans Act, three National Marine Conservation Areas, one marine National Wildlife Area, and 59 marine refuges.

The Government of Canada is now looking beyond 2020, toward an ambitious new target of conserving 25% of our marine and coastal areas by 2025, working toward 30% by 2030.

Some milestones and achievements that contribute towards Canada’s marine conservation targets include:

2019

• Establishment of the Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area (MPA) on August 1^st, 2019 via ministerial order. This MPA contributes 5.55 percent towards Canada’s marine conservation targets and encompasses an area of 319 411 km².
• Amendments to the Oceans Act enabling the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to designate interim MPAs to provide protection to vulnerable areas while further scientific research and consultation take place. The Act has also been modernized to align with other environmental legislation in terms of fines, punishments, and enforcement provisions.
• Adoption of a new Protection Standard for federal marine protected areas and a new Protection Standard for other effective area-based conservation measures to better conserve sensitive and important parts of our oceans.
• Establishment of 2 Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas
  • Banc-des-Américains MPA; as the first MPA to be established under the Canada-Quebec Collaborative Agreement.
  • Laurentian Channel MPA; as the first MPA to apply Canada's new protection standards.
• Announcement of 8 new marine refuges in Howe Sound, between mainland British Columbia and Vancouver Island.

2018

• Establishment of Scott Islands marine National Wildlife Area off the northwest of Vancouver Island, as the first protected marine area established by Environment and Climate Change Canada under the Canada Wildlife Act.
• Announcement of the Canada-Quebec Collaborative Agreement to Establish a Network of Marine Protected Areas in Quebec.

2017

• Announcement of 51 marine refuges; representing approximately 275,000 km² and 4.78% of conserved marine territory.
• Establishment of 2 Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas
  • Hecate Strait/Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reef MPA
  • St. Anns Bank MPA
• Announcement of the final boundary for the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area in the High Arctic.

2016

• Establishment of Anguniaqvia niqiqyuam Marine Protected Area in the Beaufort Sea, Northwest Territories.