Marine Ecological Areas In Canada

Provides a framework for the conservation and management of arctic marine ecosystems in the Canadian north, both to preserve and conserve.

As climate change, resource overexploitation, and pollution leave ever more visible marks, ocean ecosystems, economies, and people are all affected. With coasts on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic, Canada faces a formidable challenge in building resilient, sustainable oceans and supporting the communities that rely on them. Sea Change reports on the OceanCanada Partnership, a multidisciplinary project to take stock of what we know about Canada’s oceans, construct possible scenarios for coastal regions, and create a national dialogue and vision. Three themes emerge from this impressive synthesis of social, cultural, economic, and environmental research: ocean change, access to ocean resources, and ocean governance. Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars and practitioners focus on finding solutions to rapid environmental and social transformation, outlining the implications for legislation and offering policy recommendations. Increasingly, civil society will have to advocate for oceans, and Sea Change will empower the voices of those who take up that task.

This policy statement begins with an overview of the Canadian commitment to protection of marine resources and some legislated initiatives in marine protection. It then presents an excerpt from the Oceans Act that defines marine protected areas, reviews the government's Marine Protected Areas Program, and sets out the objective, goals, and code of practice for the Program. The final part outlines the roles of the federal departments involved in developing a national system of marine protected areas.