Canada’s Ocean Strategy. The Oceans Act In 1997, Canada entrenched its commitment to our oceans by...

Canada’s Ocean StrategyCanada’s Ocean Strategy

The The Oceans ActOceans Act

• In 1997, Canada entrenched its In 1997, Canada entrenched its commitment to our oceans by adopting commitment to our oceans by adopting the the Oceans ActOceans Act..

• The The Oceans ActOceans Act confirms Canada’s role confirms Canada’s role with respect to oceans management, with respect to oceans management, specifying the need to integrate marine specifying the need to integrate marine conservation with development activities conservation with development activities to maintain healthy ecosystems.to maintain healthy ecosystems.

The The Oceans ActOceans Act

• The The Oceans ActOceans Act identifies three identifies three complimentary initiatives for the complimentary initiatives for the conservation and protection of the oceans. conservation and protection of the oceans. These legislated initiatives are: These legislated initiatives are:– Marine Protected Areas program.Marine Protected Areas program.– Integrated Management program.Integrated Management program.– Marine Ecosystem Health program.Marine Ecosystem Health program.

Initiatives Under the Initiatives Under the Oceans ActOceans Act

• Marine Protected Areas Program:Marine Protected Areas Program:– Entails leading and coordinating the Entails leading and coordinating the

development and implementation of a national development and implementation of a national system of marine protected areas, including system of marine protected areas, including designating areas for special protection for designating areas for special protection for reasons specified in the reasons specified in the Oceans ActOceans Act..


• Integrated Management Program:Integrated Management Program:– Involves leading, facilitating and implementing Involves leading, facilitating and implementing

plans for the integrated management of all plans for the integrated management of all activities or measures in or affecting estuaries, activities or measures in or affecting estuaries, coastal and marine waters.coastal and marine waters.


• Marine Ecosystem Health Program:Marine Ecosystem Health Program:– Involves establishing marine environmental Involves establishing marine environmental

quality guidelines to support the quality guidelines to support the implementation of these plans.implementation of these plans.

Canada’s Oceans StrategyCanada’s Oceans Strategy

• To ensure healthy, safe, and prosperous To ensure healthy, safe, and prosperous oceans for the benefit of current and oceans for the benefit of current and future generations of Canadians.future generations of Canadians.

Oceans Strategy: Main PrinciplesOceans Strategy: Main Principles

• The The Oceans ActOceans Act provides Canadians with provides Canadians with the tools they need to develop a Canadian the tools they need to develop a Canadian Oceans Strategy that is based on three Oceans Strategy that is based on three main principles:main principles:– Sustainable development.Sustainable development.– Integrated Management.Integrated Management.– Precautionary Approach.Precautionary Approach.

Oceans Strategy: Oceans Strategy: Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

• Development that meets the needs of the Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.of future generations to meet their needs.

Oceans Strategy: Oceans Strategy: Integrated ManagementIntegrated Management

• An ongoing and collaborative approach, An ongoing and collaborative approach, which brings together interested parties to which brings together interested parties to incorporate social, cultural, environmental incorporate social, cultural, environmental and economic values.and economic values.

Oceans Strategy: Oceans Strategy: Precautionary ApproachPrecautionary Approach

• A recognition that caution must be A recognition that caution must be exercised to safeguard our oceans. This exercised to safeguard our oceans. This means taking action to conserve and means taking action to conserve and protect the oceans when scientific protect the oceans when scientific information is lacking or incomplete.information is lacking or incomplete.

Who Develops Canada’s Oceans Who Develops Canada’s Oceans Strategy?Strategy?

• Various groups must be involved to develop Various groups must be involved to develop integrated management plans to ensure integrated management plans to ensure healthy, safe, and prosperous oceans:healthy, safe, and prosperous oceans:– Coastal communities;Coastal communities;– Social, cultural, environmental and economic Social, cultural, environmental and economic

organizations;organizations;– Aboriginal groups;Aboriginal groups;– Governments;Governments;– Others.Others.

What is the Purpose of Integrated What is the Purpose of Integrated Management Plans?Management Plans?

• Through collaboration, integrated Through collaboration, integrated management plans will:management plans will:– Balance social, cultural, environmental, and Balance social, cultural, environmental, and

economic values to ensure sustainable economic values to ensure sustainable development.development.

– Manage the increasingly complex and diverse Manage the increasingly complex and diverse socio-economic uses of Canada’s oceans.socio-economic uses of Canada’s oceans.

– Engage communities and stakeholders in Engage communities and stakeholders in making decisions that affect them and their making decisions that affect them and their environment.environment.

Oceans Strategy: Program AreasOceans Strategy: Program Areas

Marine Protected Areas

Marine Environmental

Quality

Integrated Management

EngageCitizens & Build

Consensus

ProvideScientific

Assessment

ProvideSpecial

Protection

Marine Environmental QualityMarine Environmental Quality

• The objective of the Marine Environmental The objective of the Marine Environmental Quality Program is to provide scientific Quality Program is to provide scientific assessment of marine ecosystem health:assessment of marine ecosystem health:– Understanding marine ecosystems.Understanding marine ecosystems.– Providing scientific assessment.Providing scientific assessment.– Developing ecosystem objectives.Developing ecosystem objectives.


• Understanding Marine EcosystemsUnderstanding Marine Ecosystems– In the marine ecosystem, everything is related.In the marine ecosystem, everything is related.– The abundance of living marine resources The abundance of living marine resources

depends on their food, their habitat for depends on their food, their habitat for reproduction, their predators, and the quality reproduction, their predators, and the quality of the water they depend on.of the water they depend on.

– Natural and human activities, including climate Natural and human activities, including climate change, man-made pollution, and the use of change, man-made pollution, and the use of marine resources, affect the health of marine marine resources, affect the health of marine ecosystems.ecosystems.


• Providing Scientific AssessmentProviding Scientific Assessment– The scientific assessment of ecosystem health, The scientific assessment of ecosystem health,

including traditional ecosystem knowledge, is including traditional ecosystem knowledge, is critical to ensuring the sustainable critical to ensuring the sustainable development of marine resources.development of marine resources.

– Such an assessment forms the basis of sound Such an assessment forms the basis of sound decision making in developing integrated decision making in developing integrated management plans.management plans.

– It also identifies areas or resources in need of It also identifies areas or resources in need of special protection.special protection.


• Providing Scientific AssessmentProviding Scientific Assessment– To provide this assessment, we need indicators To provide this assessment, we need indicators

that take into consideration a number of that take into consideration a number of ecosystem conditions, including:ecosystem conditions, including:• Temperature (climate change).Temperature (climate change).

• Water quality.Water quality.

• Contaminant levels.Contaminant levels.

• Abundance of plants and animals.Abundance of plants and animals.

• Interactions among these elements.Interactions among these elements.


• Providing Scientific AssessmentProviding Scientific Assessment– These indicators will provide evidence of These indicators will provide evidence of

whether ecosystem health is improving or whether ecosystem health is improving or deteriorating.deteriorating.


• Developing Ecosystem ObjectivesDeveloping Ecosystem Objectives– Ecosystem objectives identify environmental Ecosystem objectives identify environmental

conditions needed to sustain living marine conditions needed to sustain living marine resources and their supporting habitat.resources and their supporting habitat.

– These objectives must be included in These objectives must be included in integrated management plans if sustainable integrated management plans if sustainable development is to be achieved.development is to be achieved.

Integrated ManagementIntegrated Management

• The objective of the Integrated The objective of the Integrated Management Program is to engage and Management Program is to engage and work collaboratively with citizens and work collaboratively with citizens and stakeholders in developing and stakeholders in developing and implementing integrated management implementing integrated management plans:plans:– Involving citizens and building consensus.Involving citizens and building consensus.– Practicing knowledge-based planning.Practicing knowledge-based planning.– Providing socio-economic assessment.Providing socio-economic assessment.


• Involving CitizensInvolving Citizens– All stakeholders – including coastal All stakeholders – including coastal

communities; social, cultural, environmental communities; social, cultural, environmental and economic organizations; aboriginal groups; and economic organizations; aboriginal groups; governments, and others – must be involved in governments, and others – must be involved in determining the best mix of conservation, determining the best mix of conservation, sustainable use, and economic development.sustainable use, and economic development.


• Practicing Knowledge-based PlanningPracticing Knowledge-based Planning– It is essential that all stakeholders be informed It is essential that all stakeholders be informed

of current and potential uses of marine of current and potential uses of marine resources and associated socio-economic resources and associated socio-economic benefits and environmental impacts.benefits and environmental impacts.

– Information about ecosystem health, Information about ecosystem health, resources, and/or areas in need of special resources, and/or areas in need of special protection must also be made readily available.protection must also be made readily available.


• Providing Socio-economic AssessmentProviding Socio-economic Assessment– The assessment of the potential costs and The assessment of the potential costs and

benefits of conservation, social, cultural, and benefits of conservation, social, cultural, and economic activities is an essential component economic activities is an essential component in the development of integrated management in the development of integrated management plans.plans.


• Providing Socio-economic AssessmentProviding Socio-economic Assessment– This socio-economic assessment, along with This socio-economic assessment, along with

the marine environmental quality assessment, the marine environmental quality assessment, provides everyone involved with the provides everyone involved with the information required to develop plans that information required to develop plans that meet the needs of stakeholders while meet the needs of stakeholders while maintaining the health of our oceans.maintaining the health of our oceans.

Marine Protected AreasMarine Protected Areas

• The objective of the Marine Protected The objective of the Marine Protected Areas Program is to conserve and protect Areas Program is to conserve and protect areas and resources of special interest:areas and resources of special interest:– Providing special protection.Providing special protection.– Establishing areas of special interest.Establishing areas of special interest.


• Providing Special ProtectionProviding Special Protection– In marine protected areas, activities impacting In marine protected areas, activities impacting

on living marine resources and their supporting on living marine resources and their supporting ecosystem can be regulated.ecosystem can be regulated.


• Providing Special ProtectionProviding Special Protection– Areas or resources requiring special protection Areas or resources requiring special protection

can be proposed by:can be proposed by:• Coastal communities;Coastal communities;

• Environmental, social, or economic organizations;Environmental, social, or economic organizations;

• Aboriginal organizations;Aboriginal organizations;

• Governments; orGovernments; or

• Any other individual or group.Any other individual or group.


• Establishing Areas of Special InterestEstablishing Areas of Special Interest– MPAs may be created to conserve and protect:MPAs may be created to conserve and protect:

• Commercial and non-commercial fishery resources Commercial and non-commercial fishery resources (including marine mammals) and their habitats;(including marine mammals) and their habitats;

• Endangered and threatened marine species and their Endangered and threatened marine species and their habitats;habitats;

• Unique habitats;Unique habitats;


• Establishing Areas of Special InterestEstablishing Areas of Special Interest– MPAs may be created to conserve and protect MPAs may be created to conserve and protect

(continued):(continued):• Marine areas of high biodiversity or biological Marine areas of high biodiversity or biological

productivity; andproductivity; and

• Any other marine resource or habitat requiring Any other marine resource or habitat requiring special protection.special protection.

SummarySummary

• Implementation of the Implementation of the Oceans ActOceans Act and the and the development of Canada’s Oceans Strategy development of Canada’s Oceans Strategy requires:requires:– Strong community involvement;Strong community involvement;– Shared efforts to conserve and protect Shared efforts to conserve and protect

ecologically sensitive oceans and resources;ecologically sensitive oceans and resources;

Summary (continued)Summary (continued)

• Implementation of the Implementation of the Oceans ActOceans Act and the and the development of Canada’s Oceans Strategy development of Canada’s Oceans Strategy requires:requires:– A willingness and commitment to manage the A willingness and commitment to manage the

multiple uses of our oceans;multiple uses of our oceans;– Development of a strong oceans knowledge Development of a strong oceans knowledge

base, andbase, and– An increased awareness of the importance of An increased awareness of the importance of

sustaining marine ecosystems for present and sustaining marine ecosystems for present and future generations.future generations.

Canada’s Ocean Strategy. The Oceans Act In 1997, Canada entrenched its commitment to our oceans by...

Documents

Transcript of Canada’s Ocean Strategy. The Oceans Act In 1997, Canada entrenched its commitment to our oceans by...