The Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents were designated as the first Marine Protected Area of Canada in 2003.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) (French: zones de protection marine) are zones within Canadian waters where the marine environment enjoys a high level of environmental protection. Marine Protected Areas are governed by the Oceans Act of 1996 and administered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.[1] The federal government has committed to protecting 25% of its oceans as Marine Protected Areas by the year 2025, and a further 5% (30% of the ocean area of the Exclusive Economic Zone) by 2030.[2]

Scope of protection

Designation as a Marine Protected Area does not automatically prohibit fishing and other activities. Activities within these areas are assessed on a case-by-case basis and will be allowed if they are consistent with the conservation objectives of the specific area.[1]

On 25 April 2019, new standards were adopted for marine protected areas that prohibit four industrial activities: oil and gas activities, mining, dumping, and bottom trawling. These standards do not retroactively void existing oil and gas licenses, or void previously approved bottom trawling activities. Instead, the department will assess each issue of these now prohibited activities on a case-by-case basis to ensure they're in line with the conservation objectives of the specific area.[3]

Adding to the system

Fisheries and Oceans Canada collaborates with interested and affected parties to provide input into the establishment of a marine protected area. When an area is under consideration to become a marine protected area, it is identified as an Area of Interest. If further study is required to develop an appropriate long-term conservation approach, it is identified as a Study Area.[4]

The department determines the viability of a proposal based upon the ecological, biophysical, social, cultural, and economic aspects of the area. Based on the overview and assessment reports, the conservation objectives of the proposed MPA are elaborated upon and the regulatory measures are developed. The proposal is then published in Canada Gazette, Part I for public comment, at which point regulations may be modified to reflect comments received. Once finalized, official MPA designation occurs when its regulations are published in Canada Gazette, Part II.[4]

List of Marine Protected Areas

As of June 2023, there were 14 Marine Protected Areas covering an area of approximately 351,514 km2 (135,720 sq mi), or about 6% of Canada’s marine and coastal areas.[5]

Name Location Established Area (km2)[5] Natural region[5] Description
Anguniaqvia niqiqyuam  Northwest Territories 2016 2,358 Western Arctic Protects ecologically important habitats for Arctic char, cod, beluga and bowhead whales, ringed and bearded seals, polar bears, and numerous sea birds.[6]
Banc-des-Américains  Quebec 2019 1,000 Estuary and Gulf of Saint Lawrence Protects the benthic and pelagic ecosystems of an underwater ridge extending southeast from Cap Gaspé.
Basin Head  Prince Edward Island 2005 9 Estuary and Gulf of Saint Lawrence Protects an underwater ecosystem supporting Irish moss
Eastport  Newfoundland and Labrador 2005 2 Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Protects an area of high biological productivity and the spawning grounds of lobster fish.[7]
Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents  British Columbia 2003 97 Offshore Pacific Protects a collection of hydrothermal vents nestled within the Juan de Fuca Ridge.
Gilbert Bay  Newfoundland and Labrador 2005 60 Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Protects a genetically unique resident population of Atlantic cod known as "Gilbert Bay cod".[8]
The Gully  Nova Scotia 2004 2,363 Scotian Shelf Protects a deep submarine canyon ecosystem and endangered cetacean populations in the area.
Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs  British Columbia 2017 2,410 Northern Shelf Protects four glass sponge reefs that were the first discovered living specimens and are the largest glass sponge reefs in the world.
Laurentian Channel  Newfoundland and Labrador 2019 11,580 Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Protects a variety of endangered species within the channel.
Musquash Estuary  New Brunswick 2006 7 Scotian Shelf Protects the largest ecologically-intact salt marsh in the Bay of Fundy.
Saint Anns Bank  Nova Scotia 2017 4,364 Scotian Shelf Protects a region of high biodiversity and biological productivity off the east coast of Cape Breton Island.
SGaan Kinghlas-Bowie Seamount  British Columbia 2008 6,103 Offshore Pacific Protects a unique, biologically diverse marine community of deep sea, subtidal, and intertidal species.[9]
Tarium Niryutait  Northwest Territories
 Yukon		 2010 1,750 Western Arctic Protects a dynamic, highly productive, and biologically diverse marine ecosystem located within the outer reaches of the Mackenzie River delta.[10]
Tuvaijuittuq  Nunavut 2019 319,411 Arctic Basin and Arctic Archipelago Protects a diverse marine ecosystem dependent on thick, multi-year pack ice created by the circulation of the Beaufort Gyre.[11]

Areas of Interest

Name Location Area (km2)[4] Natural region[4] Description
Eastern Shore Islands  Nova Scotia 2,000 Scotian Shelf A large, highly productive, and ecologically intact stretch of coastline between the villages of Marie Joseph and Jeddore.[12]
Fundian Channel-Browns Bank  Nova Scotia 7,200 Scotian Shelf Area hosting diverse benthic habitats and depleted fish species.[13]
Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence  Quebec TBD[14] Estuary and Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Race Rocks (XwaYeN)  British Columbia 2 Southern Shelf [15]
St. Lawrence Estuary  Quebec 6,000 Estuary and Gulf of Saint Lawrence Currently undergoing additional studies to develop an appropriate long-term conservation approach.
Shediac Valley  New Brunswick
 Prince Edward Island		 1,530 Estuary and Gulf of Saint Lawrence Area of high biological productivity and a key habitat for various fish species.[16]
Southampton Island  Nunavut 93,087 Hudson Complex Area of high biological productivity.[17]
Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxwiqak – Tsig̱is  British Columbia 133,019 Offshore Pacific To protect seamounts and hydrothermal vents. [18]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2018-03-05). "About Marine Protected Areas". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  2. ↑ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2023-05-09). "Canada's Oceans: Protecting and conserving marine and coastal areas". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  3. ↑ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2019-04-25). "Protection Standards to better conserve our oceans". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2019-11-22). "Establishing new Marine Protected Areas". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  5. 1 2 3 Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2019-11-22). "Marine Protected Areas across Canada". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  6. ↑ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2019-09-18). "Anguniaqvia niqiqyuam Marine Protected Area (MPA)". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  7. ↑ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2019-09-18). "Eastport Marine Protected Area (MPA)". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  8. ↑ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2019-09-18). "Gilbert Bay Marine Protected Area (MPA)". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  9. ↑ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2019-09-18). "SGaan Kinghlas-Bowie Seamount Marine Protected Area (SK-B MPA)". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  10. ↑ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2019-09-18). "Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area (TN MPA)". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  11. ↑ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2019-09-18). "Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area (MPA)". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  12. ↑ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2019-08-27). "Eastern Shore Islands: Area of Interest (AOI)". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  13. ↑ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2018-05-07). "Fundian Channel-Browns Bank Area of Interest (AOI)". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  14. ↑ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2019-09-06). "Protection of the marine environment under the Canada-Quebec Collaborative Agreement". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  15. ↑ "Race Rocks Ecological Reserve". B.C. Parks. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  16. ↑ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2017-09-28). "Shediac Valley Area of Interest (AOI)". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  17. ↑ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2019-08-26). "Southampton Island Area of Interest (AOI)". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  18. ↑ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2023-02-18). "Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxwiqak – Tsig̱is Area of Interest (TḥT AOI)". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
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