Partnerships

Overfishing, IUU fishing, and continuing oceans degradation are global problems requiring global solutions.  Building strong and effective multilateral and bilateral relationship is a key element of Canada's strategy.

Multilateral Partners

The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy

The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (the ocean panel) is a unique body composed of 16 heads of state and government, which seeks to build momentum towards a sustainable blue economy.

• Statement by the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy at COP26

Global Ocean Alliance

On July 9, 2020, the Government of Canada joined the United Kingdom and other countries in the Global Ocean Alliance. The goal of the Global Ocean Alliance is to advocate with international partners for ambitious ocean action to protect at least 30% of the world's oceans through the establishment of marine protected areas and other effective area-based marine conservation measures by 2030.

• Canada joins Global Ocean Alliance: Advocates for protecting 30 per cent of the world's ocean by 2030

Global Fishing Watch (GFW)

An international nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the sustainability of our ocean through increased transparency of human activity at sea. By creating and publicly sharing map visualizations, data and analysis tools, GFW enables scientific research and drives a transformation in how we manage our ocean.

• Global Fishing Watch launches new technology to enhance ocean management

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

The OECD Committee on Fisheries provides a forum for members to discuss the economic and policy aspects of fisheries issues. The OECD also provides important research to assist policy makers in ensuring the continued sustainability of fisheries resources worldwide.

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)—Fisheries Division

The FAO Fisheries Division promotes and facilitates the sustainable management of fisheries resources worldwide. It works in partnership with national and international fisheries organizations to monitor and assess fisheries management practices and to develop strategies for ensuring the long-term sustainability of fish stocks and the health of ocean ecosystems.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

The WTO considers fisheries management as it relates to international trade. WTO activities include the negotiation on tariffs and duties on seafood and the provision of fishing subsidies.

North Atlantic Fisheries Ministers Conference (NAFMC)

The annual NAFMC meetings bring together fisheries ministers involved in North Atlantic fisheries. These fisheries are managed in large part through two Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) – the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) and the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). Discussions at NAFMC meetings in recent years have focused on matters such as curbing Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) fishing; and finding new and effective methods by which RFMOs can assert control and enforce regulations.

• Effects of COVID-19 on the industry – March 11th, 2021

International conferences and events

• Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - European Development Days: Working together to build a Sustainable Ocean Economy

Bilateral Partners

Canada works closely with fisheries departments in other coastal nations around the world to address overfishing and international fisheries and oceans governance issues. The following are links to some of these governments.

• Australian Fisheries Management Authority
• British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• European Union Fisheries Page
• French Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
• New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries
• Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries
• Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
• U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service
• Russian Federal Fisheries Agency
• Portuguese Ministry of the Sea