Conserving Canada’s oceans by 2030 and beyond

Whether you live next to the ocean or not, it plays a key role in all our lives. The ocean feeds us, creates jobs in our communities, and sustains life itself by producing over half the oxygen we breathe.

Healthy oceans are critical to fighting climate change and protecting marine life. That's why Canada has committed to conserving 30% of our marine and coastal areas by 2030.

We're not doing it alone. Provinces and territories, Indigenous Peoples, communities, marine industries, environmental organizations and academia are working with us to help reach these ambitious targets.

There are plenty of actions you can take too. Our oceans need us. See how you can help.

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Spotlight on MPAs

What we've done

To date, Canada has conserved 15.54% of its oceans. We did this through the establishment of:

• Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• National Wildlife Areas led by Environment and Climate Change Canada
• National Marine Conservation Areas led by the Parks Canada Agency
• other effective area-based conservation measures

To help us establish these areas and protect the species within them, we use the:

• MPA Protection Standard (2023)
• Guidance for Recognizing OECMs (2022)

Partnerships

What we are doing now

Work is ongoing to reach our marine conservation targets. Our work remains grounded in science, Indigenous Knowledge and local perspectives. These conservation efforts go hand in hand with other important initiatives aimed at safeguarding Canada’s ocean and protecting the many species, ecosystems, and habitats within.

Ongoing efforts

• Indigenous-led conservation
• Minimizing the impacts of ocean noise
• Protecting species at risk
• Blue Economy Strategy
• State of Canada's Oceans
• United Nations Decade of Ocean Science
• Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) Chairs' Statement

News

• Investing in the Inuit economy and protecting Canada’s Northern ecosystems
• Government of Canada releases a draft of Canada’s Ocean Noise Strategy for public feedback
• Government of Canada and coastal First Nations announce largest marine protected area in Canada
• Protecting more of our marine ecosystems together, for future generations
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada closes the first and only known live coral reef in Pacific Canada to all commercial and recreational bottom-contact fisheries
• Qikiqtani Inuit Association Signs Agreement in Principle to Advance the Qikiqtani-Project Finance for Permanence Project