Goal 14: Conserve and protect Canada's oceans

14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
14.5: By 2020, conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

Climate change is increasing water levels and temperatures and the loss of marine habitat. With rising sea levels, ocean acidification and thinning sea ice, life is becoming more vulnerable in many coastal, northern and Indigenous communities.

Growing pressure on fish stocks poses challenges for fisheries management. A shortfall in wild-caught fish and seafood is projected for the coming decade. As the world's fastest-growing food production sector, increasing sustainable aquaculture production could potentially relieve harvesting pressure on wild fish stocks. Aquaculture already represents nearly 20% of total seafood production in Canada, and about a third of the total economic value of fisheries. Sound management of aquaculture is also important for protecting ocean ecosystems, such as by preventing the escape of farmed fish into the ocean.

Oceans are not only home to an immense web of marine life, they also generate half of the oxygen we breathe, act as thermostats to regulate the Earth's temperature, and support most of our planet's biodiversity. Dependence on ocean resources and services will increase as populations grow. Other issues affecting our oceans include increased physical and noise disturbances from marine shipping, human use and development, oil spills and other contaminants, and the introduction and spread of invasive alien species.

As plastics have become part of everyday lives around the world, managing their life cycle becomes critical. Each year, 8 million tonnes of plastic pollution enter the oceans from land, globally. It is found on shorelines, in the water, and even in wildlife. For example, between 2001 and 2018, 69% of Arctic-nesting Northern Fulmars that were examined had plastic particles in their stomach. Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear, also known as ghost gear, are major contributors to the plastic debris problem and mortality of non-target species. Recent studies indicate that ghost gear may make up to 70% of all macro-plastics in the ocean by weight.

Canada is an ocean-rich country, with the world's longest coastline linking 3 different oceans—Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific. Canada's oceans are home to many species of marine life, including many at-risk species such as 42 distinct populations of whales. These whales and other marine species at risk, such as seabirds and shorebirds, are vital to marine and coastal ecosystems, and central to ecotourism in coastal communities. They include iconic but endangered species such as the Southern Resident killer whale, North Atlantic right whale, St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga, as well as Pink-footed Shearwater, Ivory Gull, and Red Knot.

Conserving coastal and marine areas helps address these environmental challenges, as do actions Canadians are taking to ensure healthy, resilient, sustainably managed and productive fisheries and ecosystems over the long term. One in five Canadians live in coastal communities and today's ocean industries generate more than $30 billion a year and more than 300,000 jobs, which reveals the potential of a blue economy.

How the Government of Canada contributes

Protecting Canada's marine ecosystems from the threats of pollution, climate change and overfishing is critical to their long-term health. For the Government of Canada, one of the most important initiatives is the establishment of marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, including marine refuges. Marine protected areas are defined geographical spaces in the water that are dedicated and managed in an effort to conserve and protect unique areas, ecologically significant species and their habitats, and representative marine environments. Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECM) are area-based measures that provide long-term biodiversity outcomes, regardless of their original intended objective.

In addition, the Government of Canada in April 2019 announced new protection standards for federal MPAs and federal marine OECMs, including marine refuges. All future federal MPAs are subject to a new federal standard that prohibits oil and gas activities, mining, dumping as well as commercial and recreational bottom trawling.

The Government of Canada has adopted Marine Spatial Planning, an internationally recognized approach to integrated ocean planning and management. By working with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners in a collaborative and transparent way, Marine Spatial Planning supports the protection of healthy marine ecosystems while fostering sustainable economic growth.

As part of its marine conservation efforts, the Government of Canada has committed to modernizing the Oceans Act to explicitly consider climate change impacts on marine ecosystems and species in regional ocean management, ensuring the Act provides for measurable progress indicators and objectives, and to create a national, interdisciplinary working group focused on climate-resilient ocean conservation planning.

The Fisheries Act provides the legislative basis for the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture in Canada. Modernized in 2019, the Fisheries Act now provides stronger protections and modern safeguards for fish and their habitat. The Sustainable Fisheries Framework also supports sustainable fisheries, establishing a precautionary approach to fisheries management. The federal government also has plans to introduce Canada's first-ever Aquaculture Act to support responsible aquaculture production.

The Government of Canada has also made important investments for protecting the biodiversity of marine species, including the Oceans Protection Plan, the Whales Initiative, and the Enhanced Nature Legacy Initiative. These initiatives support the recovery and protection of marine species, including endangered whales, from anthropogenic threats such as physical and acoustic disturbances, vessel strikes, lack of prey, and contaminants. The next phase of the Oceans Protection Plan will invest $2 billion over 9 years to improve the safe movement and navigation of large and small vessels, keep Canada's supply chains healthy, strong and resilient, expand Canada's marine emergency prevention, preparedness and response, and strengthen marine traffic management. It will also involve amendments to the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, including to enable the proactive management of marine emergencies and to address a broader range of pollution from vessels.

The Government of Canada is developing a forward-looking Blue Economy Strategy. It seeks to grow Canada's ocean and freshwater economy, and supports the long-term sustainable growth of Canada's fish and seafood sector. It will ensure Canada is positioned to succeed in the fast-growing global ocean sectors of the blue economy and advance reconciliation, conservation and climate objectives.

Reducing plastic waste, marine litter, plastic pollution and marine spills is a priority for the Government of Canada. Canada plays an active role in international efforts to address marine plastic pollution, including through the Ocean Plastics Charter, the Global Ghost Gear Initiative, as well as legally binding international agreements that prevent marine waste and litter and ensure that marine wastes are disposed of in an environmentally sound way. The Government of Canada has committed to promoting Canadian technologies for reducing ocean plastics.

Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area

On August 1, 2019, Tuvaijuittuq, meaning “the place where ice never melts,” became the first marine protected area established via Ministerial Order under the Oceans Act. By limiting human activities in the area for up to 5 years, this measure protects more than 300,000 square kilometres of Arctic water off the coast of Ellesmere Island, Nunavut. Tuvaijuittuq is a testament to a successful collaboration among the Government of Canada, the Government of Nunavut and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association. Future assessment of the region to support longer-term protection will include science and traditional and local knowledge such as Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, a source of information passed down from generation to generation.

Stakeholder perspective: Birds Canada

Birds Canada is a nationwide non-profit, charitable organization built on the contributions of thousands of supporters and volunteer Citizen Scientists. Their mission is to drive action to increase the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of birds in Canada. Data collected by Citizen Scientists, alongside targeted research and outreach projects, are used to identify changes in bird populations and help direct conservation actions. Birds Canada is working with Indigenous communities on both the east and west coasts to help inform and improve the conservation status of several seabird and shorebird species. This work has involved close collaborations with Indigenous communities to find and remove invasive species from remote seabird colonies on Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, as well as partnering with Coastal First Nations to train and equip their Guardian programs to deploy trail cameras on isolated islands to detect threats on coastal, burrow-nesting seabirds.

Source: Birds Canada