Tab C4 - International landscape and key events

On this page

• Purpose
• International context
• Canadian international priorities
• Engagement mechanisms
• Objectives of international engagement
• International fora

Purpose

• International context
• Canada’s international priorities and our engagement mechanisms
• Key international fora of interest on the horizon

International context

Global context

Effective governance

• Multilateral and bilateral collaboration to develop solutions for fisheries and ocean health
• Sustainable Development Goal 14 - Life below water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources

Conservation

• Protect, conserve and restore the marine environment

Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing

• Working with partners on technology, enforcement operations, and policy in the fight against IUU fishing

Sustainable ocean wealth

• Development of blue/sustainable ocean economies guided by sustainable ocean plans
• Efforts to enhance transboundary, straddling and high seas fish stock sustainability

Climate change

• Significant role of the oceans in climate change mitigation
• Additional science required to underpin important decision-making
• Increasing focus on ensuring management is adaptive and robust to a changing climate

Safe and secure marine environment

• International standards and practices that promote safety at sea
• Increased environmental response coordination

Legal context

UNCLOS

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982)

UN Fish Stocks

United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (1995)

Regional fisheries

Regional Conventions and Agreements to regulate fishing (various)

Trade obligations

E.g., World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (2022), Free Trade Agreements

Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)

E.g., Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)

Canadian international priorities

The Department works with international partners to advance Canada’s interests in the sphere of fisheries and oceans as well as in marine safety and security, through multilateral and bilateral engagements.

Sovereignty and Rule of Law

• Influence multilateral conservation efforts in support of domestic objectives
• Ensure new industries, such as seabed mining, are effectively regulated to mitigate impact on ocean ecosystems

Nature and Climate Change

• Ensure new industries are environmentally sustainable
• Incorporating climate change considerations in ocean governance
• Work to address marine plastic pollution
• Advance progress on global marine conservation targets, including through ratification and implementation of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) treaty

Increased Knowledge

• Engage with international partners in scientific initiatives and research activities to support domestic and global policy making

Marine Safety and Security

• Work within global organizations, e.g., International Maritime Organization (IMO)
• Operational bilateral and regional engagements, e.g., Coast Guard Global Summit
• Inform and influence efforts of multilateral bodies, e.g., Arctic Council
• Enforce international rules, e.g. through Operation North Pacific Guard

Sustainable Use/Fisheries

• Maintain access to international fish stocks
• Combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing
• Ensure trade does not undermine environmental objectives, while supporting global markets
• Sustainable aquaculture collaboration
• Uphold the international rules-based order to protect the economic and environmental viability of fisheries and oceans

Engagement mechanisms

Multilateral international organizations

• United Nations and associated bodies (e.g., UN Food and Agriculture organization)
• World Trade Organization (e.g., fish subsidies)
• International Union for Conservation of Nature and CITES
• Ocean science focused (e.g., ICES/PICES)

Regional

• Legally-binding fisheries agreements and management measures through Regional Fisheries Management Organizations
• Non-binding fisheries arrangements (e.g. Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement)
• Regional Coast Guard Fora (e.g., North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum)

Bilateral

• Canada-US Fisheries Treaties and Agreements (e.g. Pacific Salmon Treaty)
• International counterparts
• Domestic stakeholders
• Environmental Non-governmental Organizations (ENGOs)
• Cooperation arrangements with Norway and Denmark
• CCG mechanisms:
  • CAN-US Coast Guard Summit
  • CCG MOU with UK
  • CCG MOU with Korea on personal exchange

Multilateral/plurilateral collaboration

• Commonwealth​
• G7/G20​
• High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy​
• Arctic Council​
• Global Ocean Alliance (GOA)​
• Americas for the Protection of the Ocean​
• High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC)​

Intra-governmental

• Advancing international relations (e.g. through Canada’s Indo Pacific Strategy)
• Working with other government departments on cross-cutting issues, (e.g. climate change; safety and security; and to encourage rules-based order)

Objectives of international engagement

Sustainable ocean/Blue economies

Food security and socio-economic opportunities through sustainable ocean use, including management of fish stocks and environmentally responsible trade and market access rules.

Marine safety and security

Enhancing Canada’s ability and efficiency in responding to incidents in areas of joint responsibilities (Arctic, North Atlantic, North Pacific, Great Lakes), and influencing and abiding to international standards and practices in marine safety (International Maritime Organization).

Marine conservation and restoration

Champion conservation measures that conserve and restore biodiversity while also delivering climate, food, socioeconomic and cultural benefits.

Increase ocean science

Working with global partners to increase innovative, solution-based science to build our collective understanding of the ocean and to inform policy and decision-making.

International fora

Key international fora of interest on the horizon:

Canada’s G7 Presidency

• Possible opportunity to advance ocean-related outcomes at Ministerial level

Canada-US Coast Guard Summit

Anchorage, Alaska – May 6-7, 2025

• Exchange information and coordination planning with the US on Coast Guard activities.

Barcelona Seafood Trade Show

Barcelona, Spain  –  May 6-8, 2025

• Share our ocean's bounty with buyers, suppliers, media, and other seafood professionals from more than 160 countries.

North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum Experts Meeting

Denmark – May 12-15, 2025

• >Facilitate and promote exchange of information with other agencies and coast guard missions.

North Pacific Anadromous Fisheries Commission (NPAFC)

Vancouver, May 12-16, 2025

• Canada hosting the NPAFC to continue efforts to protect the conservation of anadromous stocks (Pacific salmon and steelhead trout) in the north Pacific

European Union Bilateral engagement

Ottawa, Ontario – May 20-23, 2025

• Annual bilateral meeting with the European Union, on fisheries and oceans issues, will be held May 22-23.
• The Ocean Partnership Forum, which will bring together subject matter experts from government, academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and industry, will be held May 20-21.

Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement

Meeting of the Conference of the Parties - Tromso, Norway – June 3 – 5, 2025

• Primary objective will be to establish and approve an exploratory fishing conservation and management measure.

North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO) Annual Meeting

Cardiff, Wales, June 3-6, 2025

• The focus will be to finalize a ten-year strategic plan, agree on changes to the process for reporting on implementation of resolution and strengthen management of the West Greenland salmon fishery.

United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC)

Nice, France – June 9-13, 2025

• 3rd edition of the Conference, which is focused on ensuring progress to achieve targets under Sustainable Development Goal 14.
• Separate events on Ocean Science, Blue Economy and Finance, and Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience will be held immediately prior to the UNOC.

Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue

Bonn, Germany – June 17-18, 2025

• Discussions under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change that focus on enhancing ocean-based climate action.

International Seabed Authority 30th Council Session Part II

Kingston, Jamaica – July 7-18, 2025

• To advance work on regulations for deep seabed mining.

BBNJ Preparatory Commission Session 2

UN Headquarters, New York – August 18-29, 2025

• To prepare for the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement