Tab B7 - Marine planning and conservation

On this page

• Purpose
• Background
• Marine conservation
• Oceans Act MPA establishment and management process
• Project finance for permanence
• Marine environmental quality
• Marine spatial planning
• Decision making is informed by
• Annex A: Conserved areas

Purpose​

To provide an introductory overview of ministerial powers and responsibilities in four areas:​

1. Marine conservation​
2. Project Finance for Permanence
3. Marine environmental quality​
4. Marine spatial planning​

Background

The Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Guard is the lead federal authority for ocean-related matters with a mandate to ensure the health, sustainability, and economic viability of Canada’s three oceans.

• This involves balancing conservation efforts with economic opportunities for coastal and Indigenous communities.
• Working with provinces, territories, and other federal departments (e.g., Transport Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada) that have authorities and share responsibilities in the ocean and marine environment.

Domestic and International Commitments

• Domestically, Canada has committed to conserving 30% of our marine and coastal areas by 2030.
• Internationally these actions support efforts to meet Canada’s commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to conserve 30 per cent of marine and coastal areas globally by 2030.

1. Marine Conservation​

The Minister has the power to establish marine protected areas (under the Oceans Act) and marine refuges (under the Fisheries Act)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) creates long-term spatial protection for marine biodiversity through two primary mechanisms.

1. Under the Oceans Act, the Minister recommends that the Governor-in-Council (GiC) establish marine protected areas (MPAs) through regulations.
   • The Minister may also establish MPAs for up to five years through Ministerial Order (MO) regulations.
2. Under the Fisheries Act, the Minister may establish:
   • Marine refuges, which qualify as Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) and contribute to Canada’s marine conservation targets.

​ To date, Canada has protected 15.54% of its oceans.

Oceans Act MPA establishment and management process

2. Project Finance for Permanence (PFP)

Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) is a conservation financing and implementation model that can be used to secure large-scale, long-term protection in the marine environment.

Supports Indigenous leadership in conservation

• Indigenous-led project model based on partnership between Indigenous organizations, governments & the philanthropic community.

Supports sustainable conservation

• Based on a unified vision for a conservation plan.
• Single deal moment ensures everything is in place for successful implementation.

Innovative financial model that

• Provides long-term funding for conservation projects, including marine areas.
• Disburses funds as conservation milestones are met.
• Incorporates private funds within the funding model. 

Recent investments by the Government are supporting four PFP initiatives, in key areas across Canada, including the Great Bear Sea (Northern Shelf Bioregion) and Qikiqiktani Region (Nunanvut) led by DFO.

3. Marine Environmental Quality​

• Under the Oceans Act, the Minister may establish marine environmental quality (MEQ) guidelines, objectives, criteria, standards and requirements respecting estuaries, coastal waters and marine waters.​
• These MEQ management measures are to be established in collaboration with partners, including provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, and coastal communities.​
• The non-regulatory tools (e.g., objectives, guidelines) may be established by the Minister and regulatory measures (e.g., standards, requirements) are implemented by the GiC, on the recommendation of the Minister. ​
• These integrated and evidenced-based tools and strategies can be developed to understand environmental stressors; evaluate existing management measures or strategies; and adjust existing measures and/or develop new ones.​

Key priorities include:

• Minimizing the impacts of marine stressors such as ocean noise, marine debris, and nutrient enrichment on marine life.
• Supporting marine planning by developing management measures and providing advice.
• Supporting effective management of MPAs and marine refuges through acoustic monitoring, vessel slowdowns, and other initiatives.

4. Marine Spatial Planning​

• Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is a collaborative process that helps us better understand and coordinate where, when, and how we use and manage the ocean and its resources to achieve ecological, economic, social, and cultural objectives.
• MSP enables Integrated Ocean Management (IOM) under s.31 of the Oceans Act as an important tool in supporting oceans-related priorities, including:
  • Providing a mechanism to support Canada's ocean economy and sustainability priorities;
  • Advancing collaborative relationships and governance structures with other federal organizations, provinces, territories and Indigenous Peoples; and,
  • Enabling Canada to meet domestic and international commitments to marine conservation and protection.

Decision making is informed by

Science & Knowledge

Improve the collective understanding of oceans using integrated science and knowledge to support all processes (i.e., ecological and socio-economic data, Indigenous Knowledge, local stakeholder and community knowledge).

Standards

Protection standards for federal MPAs and OECMs.

Socio-economic and cultural considerations

Analysis of impacts of conservation decisions on marine resource users, stakeholders, and coastal communities. Analysis of data on diverse ocean topics for MSP processes.

Partner collaboration and stakeholder engagement

Collaborative governance with OGDs, Provinces/Territories and Indigenous Peoples.

Active participation of stakeholders (industry, environmental groups, and coastal communities).

Annex A: Conserved Areas​