Publications

In this section

• Federal Legislation and Strategies
• Protecting our coasts: Oceans Protection Plan
• Coastal Restoration Fund
• Policies and Governance
• Planning and Management Reports
  • Conservation Measures – Marine Protected Areas
  • Marine spatial planning
  • Other DFO Conservation Measures
  • Protection of Deep-Water Corals
• Backgrounders
• Marine Education and Results
• Scientific Reports on Marine Issues
• Socio-Economic Reports
• Maritimes Regional Oceans Plan
• National Advisory Panel on Marine Protected Area Standards
• Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM)
• Canada's State of the Oceans Report
• State of the Atlantic Ocean
• State of the Arctic Ocean
• State of the Pacific Ocean
• Ocean Noise Strategy for Canada
• Infographics

Federal Legislation and Strategies

• Federal ocean planning and reports

Protecting our coasts: Oceans Protection Plan

• Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan: Pan-Atlantic Report 2020

Coastal Restoration Fund

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada Coastal Restoration Fund Wrap-Up Report

Policies and Governance

• Policy and Operational Framework for Integrated Management of Estuarine, Coastal and Marine Environments in Canada
• National Framework for Canada's Network of Marine Protected Areas
• Federal Marine Protected Areas Strategy
• National Framework for Establishing and Managing Marine Protected Areas
• Marine Protected Areas Policy
• Guidance and Lessons Learned for Canada's Marine Protected Area Networks
• Pathways of Effects - National Guidelines (PDF, 1.9 MB)
• Marine Protected Area Network Strategy for the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence Bioregion

Planning and Management Reports

Conservation Measures – Marine Protected Areas

• MPA Network BC Northern Shelf Initiative (2023) Network Action Plan – a summary
• The Current – managing Oceans Act MPAs now, for the future
• Operational Guidance for Identifying ‘Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures' in Canada's Marine Environment
• Federal Marine Protected Areas Strategy
• National Framework for Establishing and Managing Marine Protected Areas
• Canada's National Network of Marine Protected Areas – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
• Canada-British Columbia Marine Protected Area Network Strategy
• SG̲áan K̲ínghlas–Bowie Seamount Gin siigee tl'a damaan kinggangs gin k'aalaagangs Marine Protected Area Management Plan 2019
• Basin Head Marine Protected Area Operational Management Plan 2021 to 2026
• Eastport Marine Protected Areas Management Plan 2023 - 2028

Marine spatial planning

• First-generation Marine Spatial Plan Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy
• Southern British Columbia Marine Spatial Planning Framework

Other DFO Conservation Measures

• Guidance for recognizing marine Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures 2022
• Oceans Program Overview Pamphlet (PDF, 418 KB)
• Integrated Management Planning Placentia Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
• Pacific north coast integrated management area plan
• Pacific north coast integrated management area - An ecosystem approach
• Regional Oceans Plan - Scotian Shelf, Atlantic Coast, Bay of Fundy - Implementation Priorities: 2014-2017

Protection of Deep-Water Corals

• Corals of the Atlantic (PDF, 1.9 MB)
• Corals of Nova Scotia
• Test your coral and sponge knowledge with our quiz!
• Oasis of the deep : cold water corals of Atlantic Canada (Video)
• Maritimes Region Coral Conservation Plan
• Status Report on Coral and Sponge Conservation in Canada (2009) (PDF, 6.0 MB)
• Pacific Region Cold-Water Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy 2010-2015 (PDF, 2.8 MB)
• Ecological Risk Assessment Framework (ERAF) for Coldwater Corals and Sponge Dominated Communities
• Coral & Sponge Conservation Strategy for Eastern Canada 2015
• Delineating Coral and Sponge Concentrations in the Biogeographic Regions of the East Coast of Canada Using Spatial Analyses (CSAS Res Docs - 2010/041)
• Occurrence, sensitivity to fishing, and ecological function of corals, sponges, and hydrothermal vents in the Canadian (CSAS SAR - 2010/041)
• Impacts of Trawl Gears and Scallop Dredges on Benthic Habitats, Populations and Communities (CSAS SAR - 2006/025)
• Potential impacts of fishing gears (excluding mobile bottom-contacting gears) on marine habitats and communities (CSAS SAR - 2010/003)

Backgrounders

• Closures to Protect Sensitive Benthic Areas: Corsair/Georges Canyons and Eastern Jordan Basin
• Marine Spatial Planning
• Marine Protected Area Networks: Northern Shelf
• Marine Protected Area Networks: Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

Marine Education and Results

• Building Networks of MPAs: IMPAC 4 bringing people and the ocean together
• Spotlight on Marine Protected Areas in Canada
• Summary: DRAFT Eastern Shore Islands Area of Interest (AOI) Ecological Risk Assessment Results (August 2019)
• Report on the designation of the Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area

Scientific Reports on Marine Issues

Mandated under the Oceans Act, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) explores the complexities of our Canadian Oceans for improved understanding of our oceans’ living resources and ecosystems. At DFO, science is the basis for sound decision making regarding sustainable, viable longer-term management of our Oceans’ intertwined economy and ecology. The Department takes great pride in the scientific rigor of its studies and investigations which are lead or conducted by its internationally-recognized scientists. Based on areas and issues of marine science interests, DFO’s well-seasoned experts are called upon by several other federal departments and agencies as well as a growing number of other national and international organizations regarding key marine concerns. Every year, DFO’s scientists who form the Department’s Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) produce scientific reports ranging from studies on species at risk of depletion or extinction to environmental and ecosystem impact assessments of seismic sound. Here are some of CSAS’ Reports particularly focused on protecting our Oceans’ living resources:

Science Advice and Guidelines on Conservation of Marine Ecosystems

• Proceedings of the National Workshop on Objectives and Indicators for Ecosystem-Based Management (2001) (PDF, 1.5 MB)
• Proceedings of the Canadian Marine Ecoregions Workshop (2004) (CSAS Pro - 2004/016)
• Habitat Status Report on Ecosystem Objectives (2004) (PDF, 161 KB)
• Identification of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (2004) (CSAS ESR - 2004/006)
• Guidelines on Evaluating Ecosystem Overviews and Assessments: Necessary Documentation (2005) (PDF, 102 KB)
• Identification of Ecologically Significant Species and Community Properties (2006) (CSAS SAR - 2006/041)
• Guidance Document on Identifying Conservation Properties and Phrasing Conservation Objectives for Large Ocean Management Areas (2007) (PDF, 97 KB)
• Development of a Framework and Principles for the Biogeographic Classification of Canadian Marine Areas (2009) (CSAS SAR - 2009/056)
• Science Guidance on the Development of Networks of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) (2009) (CSAS SAR - 2009/061)
• Guidance on the Formulation of Conservation Objectives and Identification of Indicators, Monitoring Protocols and Strategies for Bioregional Marine Protected Area Networks (2012) (CSAS SAR - 2012/081)
• Science Guidance on how to Achieve Representativity in the Design of Marine Protected Area Networks (2012) (CSAS SAR - 2012/083)

Science Advice and Guidelines on Sector Specific Issues

• Review of Scientific Information on Impacts of Seismic Sound on Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Turtles and Marine Mammals (2004) (PDF, 193 KB)
• Potential Impacts of Seismic Energy on Snow Crab (2004) (PDF, 57 KB)
• Alternative Ballast Water Exchange Zones (2004) (PDF, 442 KB)
• Impacts of Trawl Gears and Scallop Dredges on Benthic Habitats, Populations and Communities (2006) (CSAS SAR - 2006/025)
• Statement of Canadian Practice with respect to the Mitigation of Seismic Sound in the Marine Environment (2005)
• Aquaculture Science Environmental Risk Assessment Initiative

Socio-Economic Reports

• Economic Impact of Marine Related Activities in Canada
• Other related economic reports
  • Guidance on incorporating economic use information into marine protected area network design, July 2017
  • Framework for integrating socio-economic analysis in the marine protected areas designation process, January 2016
• The Grand Banks of Newfoundland: Atlas of Human Activities
• The Scotian Shelf: An Atlas of Human Activities

Maritimes Regional Oceans Plan

• Introduction
• Background and Program Description
• Implementation Priorities: 2014-2017
• Progress Report 2014-2016

National Advisory Panel on Marine Protected Area Standards

• Final Report of the National Advisory Panel on Marine Protected Area Standards
• Interim report of the National Advisory Panel on Marine Protected Area Standards

Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM)

• Report on Canada's Network of Marine Protected Areas, December 2018
• Report on Canada's Network of Marine Protected Areas, June 2017

Ocean Noise Strategy for Canada

• What We Heard Report: Ocean Noise Strategy for Canada Discussion Document
• Canada's Ocean Noise Strategy

Infographics

Graphics with marine conservation targets, bioregions and protected areas, network planning, oceans management.