Book 2, A7 - International landscape and key events

On this page

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

International context

Global context

Effective governance

• Multilateral and bilateral collaboration to develop solutions for 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 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.

Nature

• Influence multilateral conservation efforts in support of domestic objectives​
• Advance progress on global marine conservation targets (30 per cent by 2030), including through ratification and implementation of BBNJ treaty​
• Manage and protect bycatch species and species of interest in the high seas
• Work to address marine plastic pollution​
• Ensure new industries, such as seabed mining, are effectively regulated to mitigate impact on ocean ecosystems​
• Incorporating climate change considerations in ocean governance

Fisheries

• Maintain access for Canadian fishing industry to international waters
• Combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing through organizations, partnerships and initiatives such as the Shared Ocean Fund and the IUU Action Alliance 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

Scientific

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

Climate change

• Ensure new industries, such as seabed mining, are environmentally sustainable
• Incorporating climate change considerations in ocean governance
• Incorporating climate change in sustainable fisheries management and promote adaptation and resiliency

Marine safety and security

• Work within global organizations, e.g., International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA)
• Operational bilateral and regional engagements, e.g., Can-US Coast Guard Summit, North Pacific Coast Guard Forum, Arctic Coast Guard Forum Summit
• Inform and influence efforts of multilateral bodies, e.g., Arctic Council
• Enforce international rules, e.g., through Operation North Pacific Guard

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

North Pacific Fisheries Commission

Osaka, Japan – March 24-27, 2025

• Continued efforts to build strong fisheries management regime for key north Pacific stock

World Ocean Summit

Tokyo, Japan – March 12-13, 2025

• Important for engagement with global partners, both public and private, on issues relating to the sustainable use of the ocean

Our Ocean Conference and APEC Ocean Ministerial

Busan, Korea – April 27-39, and April 30-May 1, 2025

• 10th year of the Our Ocean Conference focused on driving global ambition on ocean governance
• APEC Ministerial meeting will seek to drive political commitments on ocean sustainability

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

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