National Advisory Panel on Marine Protected Area Standards

Members of the National Advisory Panel on Marine Protected Area Standards

David Anderson

David Anderson

David Anderson is a former British Columbian and Canadian cabinet minister. He received a law degree from the University of British Columbia. At UBC he won silver medals in rowing at the Rome Olympics and the Chicago Pan-American Games. Mr. Anderson did two years of post-graduate studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies at the University of Hong Kong, and served six years with the Department of External Affairs before entering politics. He was a Member of the BC Legislative Assembly from 1968 until 1975, serving as leader of the provincial Liberal Party from 1972-1975.

From 1979-1993, he worked as an environmental consultant and adjunct professor at the University of Victoria’s School of Public Administration. He served as an advisor to the Premier of British Columbia on tanker traffic and oil spills (1989) and as the sole commissioner of the British Columbia Commission of Inquiry into Fraser Valley Petroleum Exploration (1990). In the 1993 federal general election Anderson was elected MP for Victoria and retained this position for three subsequent elections, ending when he retired from politics in January 2006. During this period, he served in the cabinet of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien as Minister of National Revenue (1993–95), Minister of Transport (1995–97), Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (1997–99), and Minister of the Environment (1999-2004). From January 2007 to June 2009 he was director of the Guelph Institute for the Environment.

Anderson has received a number of environmental awards, including the Legislative Stewardship Award from Wildlife Habitat Canada (2006), the John Fraser Award for Environmental Achievement from the Sierra Club of Canada (2005), the Dr. Andrew Thompson Award from West Coast Environmental Law for his lifetime contributions to the environment and sustainability in British Columbia (2004), the President’s Conservation Award from the American Fisheries Society for his work on climate change (2003) and the 50th anniversary International Conservation Award (1997) from the Atlantic Salmon Federation.

Mr. Anderson has received a Doctorate of Laws (honoris causa) from the University of Victoria (2007), and a Doctorate of Science (honoris causa) from Wilfred Laurier University (2009). In November of 2010 Mr. Anderson was invested as an Officer in the Order of Canada.

Mr. Anderson lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with his wife Sandra.

Rémi Bujold (co-chair)

Rémi Bujold (co-chair)

Born in Saint-Jules de Cascapédia, Me Rémi Bujold has gained, over the years, extensive experience of government machinery both at the federal and provincial political levels. A graduate in law from Laval University, he was successively, from 1972 to 1975, Chief of Staff of Ms. Lise Bacon, Minister of State for Social Affairs, and Assistant Private Secretary of Mr. William Tetley, Minister of Financial Institutions.

In 1975, Mr. Bujold left Quebec City for Ottawa on his appointment as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Pierre E. Trudeau, assuming responsibility for the Quebec and New-Brunswick regions. In 1979, he was elected for the first time as member for the federal riding of Bonaventure – Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Re-elected in 1980, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Immigration of Canada. Three years later, he was elected Chairman of the National Liberal Caucus. Finally, in June 1984, he became Minister of State for Regional Development.

In 1985, he held the position of Chief of Staff of Mr. Robert Bourassa, first as the Leader of the Opposition and then as the Prime Minister of Quebec. Given his experience, he was tasked with the administrative transition and restructuring of the new government. One year later, the Prime Minister appointed Mr. Bujold Associate Secretary General, Executive Council Department, assigning him the responsibility for the implementation of Phase II of the James Bay hydro-electric development project.

In 1991, Mr. Bujold founded Consilium, one of the first government relations firms to operate in Quebec City. In 1994, upon the merger of Consilium and Government Policy Consultants, GPC became the most important Canadian consulting firm in public policy, strategic communications and government relations. Mr. Bujold is presently general counsel and Chairman of the Board of Ryan affaires publiques.

Rémi Bujold is a member of the Barreau du Québec, Chairman of the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation. He is Chairman of the Grand Cascapedia River Museum and Chairman of the Foundation Camp Odyssée. From 1996 to 1999, he was also the Chairman of the Board of the Cégep François-Xavier Garneau, past Chaiman of the Council for Canadian Unity, past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Foundation on Anti-Personnel Mines, and Member of the Order of Canada.

Mr. Bujold has also been a member on several boards of directors, including the boards of the Fondation du Théâtre du Trident from 1986 to 1997, of which he was Chairman from 1991 to 1997, the Fondation du Centre Robert-Giffard from 1989 to 1993, the Fondation de Lauberivière from 1987 to 1990, the Fondation de la Maison Michel Sarrazin from 1991 to 1994, the Théâtre la Mollusque, in Carleton, that he chaired from 1985 to 1990, and Operation Red Nose, in 1988 and 1989.

Darcy Dobell

Darcy Dobell

Darcy’s longstanding interest in community and ecosystem health has fuelled a professional career that encompasses public service, non-profit leadership, and consulting. She has worked with federal, provincial, and local governments, Indigenous groups, NGOs, community associations, academic institutions, and businesses, bringing expertise in strategic planning, negotiations, communications, and facilitation to help multi-party ventures define and achieve shared sustainability goals. In recent years, much of Darcy’s work has been directed at advancing collaborative marine planning and ocean ecosystem management on Canada’s west coast. Darcy currently manages the Wabe Consulting, and also serves on the Boards of Directors of Coast Opportunity Funds and of Ocean Networks Canada. Her academic background combines science and literature, and she has put both into practice as author and editor of a number of science textbooks and other publications. Darcy lives in Vancouver with her family.

Thomas J. Hayes ICD.D

Thomas J. Hayes ICD.D

Mr. Hayes brings over 45 years of managerial and senior executive experience to the private, public and volunteer sectors. He is currently the Managing Director of Pelorus Venture Capital Ltd., a regional venture capital fund focused on Atlantic Canada.

As President & CEO of Atlantic Fish Specialties Ltd., from 1987 to 1997, Mr. Hayes led that organization through a major restructuring resulting in the company being recognized as a top small business in Canada and winning the prestigious Canada Award for Business Excellence. He was recognized as a winner in the Atlantic Canada Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. Mr. Hayes also served as Chief of Staff in the Office of Premier for Nova Scotia.

An active community volunteer, Mr. Hayes is the current Vice Chair of the Halifax Port Authority and a member of the Board of the Lunenburg Academy Foundation. He has served as Chair of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC), a Director of the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, a Governor of St. Francis Xavier University, Chair of the 2017 World Sonar Championships and Vice-Chair for Tall Ships 2000. He is also a past member of the NS Provincial Council, the Boy Scouts of Canada, the Board of Junior Achievement of PEI and a member of Big Brothers of Moncton, NB.

Earlier in his career he worked with National Sea Products Ltd and the federal government (DREE and DFO).

Marc Léger

Marc Léger

Marc’s expertise relates to the machinery and process of government. His career in the New Brunswick public service extended over 26 years. He served as Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet from 2013 to 2015. Prior to that he served as Deputy Minister in the Departments of Health; Post Secondary Education, Training and Labour; and Public Safety. Marc works as a consultant in public policy for a variety of government and non-government organizations. He resides in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

In May 2015, Marc was one of three commissioners appointed to the New Brunswick Commission on Hydraulic Fracturing. In May of this year, he was appointed to a three-year term on the New Brunswick Police Commission. An active member of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC), Marc is currently on the board of the Fredericton chapter and serves on the National Board. He is chair of the NB Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration and the NB Donald G. Dennison Award for Public Administration created in 2016 for public servants both under the patronage of the Lieutenant Governor.

Mary Simon (co-chair)

Mary Simon (co-chair)

Mary Simon, OC, QC, comes from Kuujjuaq, Nunavik and was born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik (Arctic Quebec).

She is the past president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the National Inuit Organization. (2006-20012) She has just completed her term as Chairperson of the National Committee on Inuit Education with a mandate to implement a comprehensive national strategy, aimed at improving Inuit educational standards and achievements (2012-2014).

She has advanced critical social, economic and human rights issues for Canadian Inuit regionally, nationally and internationally. Over four decades she has held senior leadership positions including, President of Makivik Corporation (the Land Claims Organization for Inuit of Nunavik), President of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, Canadian Ambassador For Circumpolar Affairs as well as to the Kingdom of Denmark. She is the Founding Chair of the Arctic Children and Youth Foundation.

Ms. Simon led Canada’s negotiations during the creation of the eight Nation, Arctic Council in the mid 1990’s. The Arctic Council includes the Indigenous Peoples of the Circumpolar Region as Permanent Participants.

She is an Officer of the Order of Canada, Recipient of the National Order of Quebec, the Gold Order of Greenland, The National Aboriginal Achievement Award, the Gold Order of the Canadian Geographic Society, The Symons Medal, the Governor General’s Northern Award. She has been inducted into the International Women’s Hall of Fame. She is a Fellow of the Arctic Institute of North America and of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society.

Mary Simon has also received many other distinctions including eleven honorary doctorates of Laws from Canadian Universities (McGill, Guelf, Trent, University of Alberta, Memorial, Carleton, Queens, Loyalist College, Mount Saint Vincent, Western and University of Calgary.) She also served as Chancellor of Trent University.

In 2013 Ms. Simon received recognition as a nation builder from the Famous Five. She was recently honoured by the Public Policy Forum for her contributions to public life, public policy and governance in Canada.

She is also an Honorary Witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. She is a recent recipient of the CCAB/SODEXO Award for “Excellence in Aboriginal Relations”.

Chief Maureen Thomas

Chief Maureen Thomas

Chief Maureen Thomas is the elected chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN). Chief Thomas’ ancestral name is Si’lhe-Ma’elWut and she has served as both a Councillor and Chief since 2003. She is also Manager, Records and Information Management, at the First Nations Financial Management Board (FNFMB). Chief Thomas has worked with numerous First Nations communities and organizations throughout her career, where she has gained a wealth of knowledge to integrate into her leadership at the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. Some projects she has initiated on Council include TWN attaining FNFMB certification; taking legal action to prevent the twinning of Kinder Morgan’s pipeline expansion to protect sacred waters and land in our territory; developing the TWN Land Code; as well as playing an integral role in our participation with the Four Host First Nations during the 2010 Olympics. Chief Thomas aims to combine the business practices of today with the cultural teachings of our people to advance Tsleil-Waututh in modern society and leave a legacy for generations to come. Her goals for the future are to create more opportunities for our youth to be successful, listen to our elders as the knowledge keepers of our history, and generate economic wealth for future TWN generations.

Panel Meetings

Panel meetings have taken place or are currently anticipated to take place:

• March 3-4, 2018 in Ottawa
• April 6-8, 2018 in Vancouver
  • view April 6-8 agenda [PDF]
• May 4-6, 2018 in Moncton
  • view May 4-6 agenda [PDF]
• May 7-8, 2018 in St.John’s
  • view May 7-8 agenda [PDF]
• May 31 - June 2, 2018 in Inuvik
  • view May 31 - June 2 agenda [PDF]
• June 8-10, 2018 in Iqaluit
  • view June 8 - June 10 agenda [PDF]
• July 6-8, 2018 in Ottawa
  • view July 6 - July 8 agenda [PDF]
• July 9-10, 2018 in Mont-Joli
  • view July 9 - July 10 agenda [PDF]

Submissions

The information on this page has been provided by external sources. The Government of Canada is not responsible for the accuracy, reliability or currency of the information supplied by these sources. Users wishing to rely upon this information should consult directly with the source of the information.

Third party submissions have been posted in the language in which they were submitted. They will not be translated.

View submissions

Terms of Reference

The National Advisory Panel on Marine Protected Area Standards will offer guidance to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard on the development of protection standards for federal marine protected areas (MPAs) using the guidelines outlined by the International Union on the Conservation Nature (IUCN) on protected area categories as a baseline.

Within Canada, some parties have called for ‘minimum protection standards’ to improve consistency in MPA establishment and ensure that the marine environment is being afforded appropriate levels of protection. Examples offered include the designation of no-take and buffer zones, in which large-scale habitat disturbances by type of industrial activity or by type of technology are uniformly prohibited. While these views are to be considered, the Panel is to weigh this stance against other approaches that are based on the best available science, and traditional and local knowledge.

In reflection of the Government of Canada’s Reconciliation Agenda and the movement toward improved joint decision-making, the Panel will include Indigenous representation. In addition, the Panel may consider relevant recommendations of the Indigenous Circle of Experts (ICE) and its recommendations on the concept of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) in terrestrial and inland waters.

Mandate

The mandate of the Panel is to gather perspectives and offer recommendations to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard on categories and associated protection standards for federal MPAs (i.e. Oceans Act MPAs, National Wildlife Areas, marine Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and National Marine Conservation Areas), using IUCN guidance as a baseline.

Scope

The Panel will:

• Provide practical and innovative recommendations and advice that reflect a broad spectrum of perspectives and that are based on the best available science, the ecosystem approach, a precautionary approach, and Indigenous knowledge;
• Consider Indigenous approaches and governance with respect to marine conservation, including the evolving concept of IPCAs;
• Consider how MPA categories and associated standards can be established and defined to meet the needs of the existing spectrum of federal MPA programs (i.e. Oceans Act MPAs, National Wildlife Areas, marine Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and National Marine Conservation Areas);
• Consider the impact of such a system on the achievement of Canada’s Marine Conservation Target of 10% marine and coastal protection by 2020 and beyond;
• Seek advice from other experts and stakeholders outside of the Panel.
• Produce interim and final reports with recommendations on MPA protection standards.

Methodology

1. In pursuing its mandate, the Panel is expected to consider and provide recommendations on management and/or regulatory standards that would be expected for MPAs, including specific permitted and prohibited activities.
2. In providing recommendations on the above, the Panel will review:
   • Current federal context for MPA establishment;
   • Indigenous approaches and governance with respect to marine conservation, including the evolving concept of IPCAs;
   • The significance of regional differences including marine activities, biological diversity and protection needs, as well as involved and interested parties;
   • Agreements, accords and legislation to ensure proposed categories and associated standards can be applied to existing programs.
3. The Panel will not undertake research, but will instead rely on:
   • existing documentation provided by the Department and external experts;
   • oral discussions and written submissions from experts and stakeholders;
   • specific expertise of individual Panel members; and,
   • input and perspectives of specialists, as deemed appropriate by the Panel.
4. The Panel will consult other interests as required to ensure a full and inclusive understanding of the issues, to validate points, or to offer opposing perspectives.
5. The Panel will have access, as required and subject to Access to Information and Privacy Acts, to DFO documentation and to federal government personnel when seeking information.
6. The Panel may request that the federal government provide information / presentations on potential approaches as a starting point for discussions.

Considerations

1. The need to obtain the most relevant information available to validate the issues and concerns raised by all parties.
2. The need to ensure that all information upon which decisions are based is factual and defensible.
3. The need to provide a strong rationale to support each of the recommendations and decisions of the Panel.

Members

The Panel will consist of up to 7 individuals and will include Indigenous representation. Members will be broadly representative of Canadians.

The Minister will select two Co-Chairs to guide the Panel’s work. One of the Co-Chairs will be an Indigenous person.

Engagement

The Panel may seek advice from provinces and territories, Indigenous peoples, other experts and stakeholders, and the Canadian public.

Commitments and Timelines

Panel members must be available to travel to and attend approximately a minimum of five in-person meetings, with at least one meeting in each region of Canada with an ocean interest. Each meeting will include a half- day dedicated to Indigenous approaches and governance. These meetings are currently anticipated to take place monthly. The Panel may choose to schedule additional meetings, if required.

• Panel members may choose to have teleconference calls between in-person meetings, and will participate in electronic communication on a regular basis throughout the duration of the Panel’s work.
• The Panel will make an interim presentation to the Minister by mid-August, 2018.
• The Panel will provide its recommendations in a final report to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard by mid-September, 2018.

Deliverables

1. The Panel will make an interim presentation to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard that will include preliminary recommendations for discussion by mid-August, 2018.
2. The Panel will prepare and submit a written final report, in French and English, to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. The final report will reflect the Panel’s recommendations regarding a suite of MPA protection standards. The final report is to be provided to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Aquatic Ecosystems, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, by mid-September, 2018.

Interim Report

Around the world, concerns are mounting about the declining health of our oceans. Canada has joined other countries in making clear commitments to strengthen ocean management and conservation, including through the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs).

The National Advisory Panel on Marine Protected Area Standards was created in March, 2018 to offer guidance to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard on the development of protection standards for federal MPAs. The Panel’s work has included eight meetings on Canada’s three coasts, in which it heard from intervenors and deliberated extensively, and consideration of online submissions from across Canada. The Panel is now at a point where it can offer an interim report based on what it has learned.

In offering guidance, the Panel was invited to consider the framework of categories and protection standards developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Panel has been asked to offer advice on Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) drawing on the “relevant recommendations of the Indigenous Circle of Experts.”

In Canada, there are two federal departments and one agency that have the mandate to establish MPAs: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), and Parks Canada (PC). These agencies have sometimes worked in partnership with Indigenous peoples and provinces to jointly establish or co-manage MPAs. The Panel’s recommendations should apply consistently to MPAs created through each of these processes, which will lead to consistent protections across Canada and therefore more effective MPAs.

This report begins with an introduction to the IUCN framework and a discussion of Indigenous Protected Areas. Then, it reports on what Panelists have heard in their broad consultations across the country with diverse intervenors. The report next introduces a series of principles which will serve as a basis for the final report. It concludes with a section on the IUCN standards and how they may shape the Panel’s final recommendations.

Read interim report

News release: National Advisory Panel on Marine Protected Area Standards releases final report.

Final Report

September 26, 2018

Letter to Minister

Dear Minister Wilkinson:

Please find attached the final report of the National Advisory Panel on Marine Protected Area Standards.

It has been an honour to work with fellow Panelists and hear from intervenors across the country including Indigenous peoples, those in industry, environmental groups, academics, and government. Over the course of the last five months we have learned a lot and we hope our recommendations will support your work to revive our oceans’ health.

On behalf our colleagues on the Panel, we thank you and your predecessor, the Honourable Dominic Leblanc, for the opportunity to serve.

Sincerely,

Read final report

Government of Canada's Response to the National Advisory Panel's Final Report

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, has responded to the National Advisory Panel's Final Report on Marine Protected Area Standards and outlined how the Government of Canada intends to implement the Panel's thirteen recommendations.

"I would like to thank all members of the National Advisory Panel on Marine Protected Area Standards for their advice and their dedication to enhancing marine conservation in Canada. The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that our marine protected areas and marine refuges meet international standards and are established in a transparent and collaborative way with provinces and territories, Indigenous peoples, industry and environmental stakeholders, and all Canadians. I am pleased to provide the following response to your thoughtful recommendations, and have used them as a basis for Canada’s new standards for marine protection.

Collaborative Planning and Design

The Panel’s five recommendations regarding how conserved areas are planned and designed emphasize the importance of good governance practices, openness and transparency, and meaningful engagement with all Canadians. While these are guiding principles of this Government, there is always more that can be done. The Government continues to support governance that responds to regional and local needs, improves transparency and availability of information to the public, reduces complexity in developing marine conservation networks, and expands opportunities for public engagement in marine protected area and marine refuge establishment and management. Going forward we acknowledge and value the fact that work with provinces and territories will be collaborative - consistent with cooperative federalism and with existing agreements such as the Atlantic Accord.

Crown-Indigenous Relations

In its five recommendations on Crown-Indigenous Relations, the Panel has offered many important suggestions on how Indigenous knowledge could be better integrated into decision-making, and how partnerships with local communities and Indigenous peoples could be enhanced and strengthened. The importance of establishing a renewed relationship with Canada’s Indigenous peoples is at the heart of this Government’s commitment to Canadians; this includes enabling Indigenous peoples to become partners in the cooperative establishment and management of marine protected areas and collaborating on how marine Indigenous protected areas can contribute to meeting Canada’s marine conservation target. These are complex topics that require an ongoing dialogue with Indigenous peoples across Canada. The Government will continue discussions with Indigenous peoples and organizations and seek their assistance in understanding how to best address the Panel’s five Crown-Indigenous Relations recommendations.

Protection Standards

The Panel’s two recommendations on protection standards provide greater consistency and clarity on marine protected areas and marine refuges.

Consistent with the recommendations, the Government will implement protection standards in our new marine protected areas. These standards will help safeguard areas of our oceans that need protection from the potentially harmful effects of industrial activities. This includes prohibiting oil and gas exploration and exploitation, mining, dumping, and bottom trawling in all new marine protected areas. The use of bottom trawling for food, social and ceremonial or scientific research purposes would be allowed where it does not pose a risk to meeting the marine protected area’s conservation objectives.

Existing marine protected areas will be reviewed, as part of the ongoing management cycle, to determine the compatibility of bottom trawling with each marine protected area’s conservation objectives. Where these activities are determined to be incompatible, the marine protected area’s regulations would be amended to prohibit use of this gear. We will also review marine protected areas to seek the voluntary relinquishment of any existing oil and gas licences, where they exist. Should licences not be relinquished in these areas, the portion of the marine protected area that overlaps with the licence area would no longer contribute to meeting Canada’s international target.

The Government has also clarified its approach on other conservation measures, including marine refuges, based on the Panel’s recommendations. This establishes a clear distinction between marine refuges and marine protected areas and allows for more flexibility for marine refuges, which are meant to offer long-term, targeted protection to fish, mammals and their habitat. All activities in marine refuges will continue to be assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure that in my role as the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, I am satisfied that the risks to the conservation objectives of the area have been avoided or mitigated effectively. Oil and gas activities will continue to be subject to Canada’s environmental assessment process for their impacts, including those to fish and fish habitat, based on best the best available science; however, if extraction under a production licence were to be undertaken in a marine refuge, that portion of the marine refuge would no longer contribute to meeting Canada’s international target.

Marine Spatial Planning

The Panel recommended that the federal government consult with Canadians on potential approaches to marine spatial planning in each of Canada’s ocean regions. Marine spatial planning is a process that brings together all relevant parties to better coordinate how we use and manage marine spaces to achieve ecological, economic and social objectives. The Government recognizes the value of marine spatial planning and is committed to expanding this approach in collaboration with key partners on the Pacific North Coast as highlighted by the Prime Minister on National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, 2018. Future expansions of marine spatial planning beyond the Pacific North Coast are being explored and would be initiated in partnership with provinces, territories, and Indigenous peoples. This is one way the Government of Canada intends to meet its mandate commitment to better co-manage Canada’s three oceans.

In closing, I want to once again express my gratitude to all the members of the Panel – Mary Simon, Rémi Bujold, David Anderson, Darcy Dobell, Thomas J. Hayes, Marc Léger, and Maureen Thomas – as well as thank everyone who provided submissions and presentations to the Panel to ensure a comprehensive and informed dialogue. Hundreds of representatives from Indigenous communities, provincial governments, fishing organizations and environmental organizations participated in the Panel’s review, which brought home to me the vital importance of having a clear, consistent and collaborative approach to achieve meaningful marine conservation in Canada. All of these diverse views were considered and I appreciate everyone who contributed their valuable insights.

The Government of Canada remains committed to protecting 10 percent of Canada’s oceans by 2020 through the best available science and in meaningful consultation with Canadians. We will continue to work with our partners to protect our oceans and support a sustainable ocean economy. Together, we can find a place for both conservation and economic development, ensuring the health and prosperity of our oceans for generations to come."

Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard