Coral & Sponge Conservation Strategy for Eastern Canada 2015

Table of Contents

• Complete Text
• Executive Summary
• Acronyms
• Introduction
• Purpose of the Strategy
• Why Protect Corals and Sponges?
• Geographic Scope
• International Context
• Canadian Context
• Status of Coral and Sponge Conservation in Eastern Canada
• Research on Corals and Sponges in Eastern Canada
• Objectives
• Targets and Actions
• Development and Implementation
• References
• Appendix A: Biology of Corals and Sponges in Eastern Canada
• Appendix B: Challenges for Coral and Sponge Conservation
• Appendix C: Management Measures
• Appendix D: Ecological Risk Assessment Framework
• Appendix E: Relevant Publications
• Contact Information

Objectives

The Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy for Eastern Canada focuses on three primary objectives: conservation, management, and research (Table 6). Conservation and management objectives are closely related and are linked for the purpose of the Strategy.

The objectives and associated regional targets and actions that follow are part of a broader Departmental mission to provide Canadians with economically prosperous maritime sectors and fisheries, safe and secure waters, and sustainable aquatic ecosystems. These objectives, which are consistent with those found in both the Maritime Region’s Coral Conservation Plan and the Pacific Region’s Cold-water Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy, are the foundation that will guide future direction concerning corals and sponges. In this Strategy, the conservation objective provides the basis for management and research objectives. Together, these objectives guide the targets and actions to be implemented by DFO regional authorities (Table 7 and 8).

This table is made up of two columns listing the three primary objectives of this strategy and the details of each objective.