Supplementary Information Tables

Canada’s Marine Conservation Targets

Canada has surpassed its international target of 10% protection of marine and coastal areas. With all marine protected areas and marine refuges considered to date, Canada has conserved approximately 793,906 km² or 13.81% of Canada’s marine and coastal areas. Canada is now committed to protecting 25% by 2025 and 30% by 2030.

This contributes to:

Global target 14.5: By 2020, Conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine Areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

Canadian Indicator Framework target “By 2020, 10% of coastal and marine areas are conserved through networks of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures”

The Oceans Protection Plan (OPP)

Canada is protecting marine and coastal ecosystems through the $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan, which is creating new governance arrangements with Indigenous peoples and local communities in marine spatial planning, monitoring and protection activities.

For more information, please see this news release.

This contributes to:

Global target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

Canadian Indicator Framework target “By 2020, 10% of coastal and marine areas are conserved through networks of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures”

Canada has a National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. Canada is investing up to $11.6 million to combat IUU fishing throughout the world by making investments to strengthen detection (e.g. satellites), intelligence sharing, and support for Global Fishing Watch. The Canadian-led Pacific Fisheries Intelligence Group (PACFIG) will increase fisheries intelligence collaboration and capacity building, which will use intelligence and work collaboratively on combatting IUU fishing in the Pacific Ocean. Canada has also ratified the Port State Measures Agreement to prevent illicit products from reaching markets.

For more information, please see the following:

• Government of Canada takes the fight against illegal fishing to outer space
• Government of Canada partners with Global Fishing Watch in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing at the 2019 Collision Conference
• Port State measures

This contributes to:

Global target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

Canadian Indicator Framework target “All major fish and invertebrate stocks are managed and harvested at levels considered to be sustainable, starting at 96% in 2016, by 2020”

Sustainable Fisheries Solutions and Retrieval Support Contribution Program (Ghost Gear Fund)

Canada is now a signatory to the Global Ghost Gear Initiative. Canada will work with stakeholders through the $8.3 million Ghost Gear Fund, which will support industry to acquire new technologies to reduce gear loss, and take actions to support ghost gear retrieval and responsible disposal.

This contributes to:

Global target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

Canadian Indicator Framework target “All major fish and invertebrate stocks are managed and harvested at levels considered to be sustainable, starting at 96% in 2016, by 2020”

Support for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030)

Canada is providing up to $9.5 million to advance activities of the UN Decade of Ocean Science. These funds will be used towards the creation of a project office to contribute to the planning, promotion and coordination of activities related to the UN Decade of Ocean Science.

This contributes to:

Global target 14.A: Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

Canadian Indicator Framework target “By 2020, 10% of coastal and marine areas are conserved through networks of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures”