United Nations 2030 Agenda and the sustainable development goals

Ghost Gear Fund
The Ghost Gear Fund encourages Canadians to take actions to reduce plastic in the marine environment. Each year, more than eight million metric tons of plastic end up in the world's oceans. Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), known as ghost gear, as well as plastic waste from aquaculture, are major contributors to the plastic debris problem. Recent studies indicate that ghost fishing gear may make up to 70% of all macro-plastics in the ocean by weight.

This initiative contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Global Indicator Framework 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”

Marine spatial planning

Marine spatial planning (MSP) is a process for managing ocean spaces to achieve ecological, economic, cultural and social objectives. We advance marine spatial planning in Canada in collaboration with other federal departments, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments as well as relevant stakeholders.

This initiative contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Canadian Indicator Framework target 14.1.1: “Proportion of marine and coastal areas conserved”
• Global Indicator Framework 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”

Laboratories Canada

The Laboratories Canada strategy is creating world class, innovative and collaborative science research centres across the nation and will position Canada at the forefront of new discoveries, spark innovative ways of doing research and deliver on research priorities for Canadians.

This initiative contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Global Indicator Framework target 14.3: “Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels”

Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative

In recent years, climate change, habitat loss and fishing pressures have negatively affected Pacific salmon at every stage of their lifecycle. The Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) will guide a strategic and coordinated long term response to these issues, rooted in collaborative action, to stabilize and restore Pacific salmon and salmon habitat for the people, communities and ecosystems that depend upon their sustainability.

This initiative contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Canadian Indicator Framework target 14.2.1: “Proportion of fish stocks that are sustainably harvested”
• Global Indicator Framework 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”

Reaching Canada’s marine conservation targets

Canada has made considerable progress protecting our oceans and meeting our marine conservation targets. Canada is also a vocal advocate for advancing the protection of our global ocean.

This initiative contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Canadian Indicator Framework target 14.1.1: “Proportion of marine and coastal areas conserved”
• Global Indicator Framework target 14.5: “By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

Elimination of harmful fisheries subsidies

DFO continued its work to eliminate harmful fisheries subsidies, which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, through ongoing negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

This initiative contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Global Indicator Framework target 14.6: “By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation”

United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030)

Canada is a proud supporter of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (Ocean Decade).
We’re working with domestic and international partners for a sustainable and healthy ocean by:

• advancing ocean science
• developing and sharing knowledge
• building infrastructure
• fostering relationships

This initiative contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Global Indicator Framework 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”

Canada’s Fisheries Funds

DFO programming supports innovation, sustainability, and the ability to meet the growing demands of a worldwide market in the fish and seafood sector through the delivery of three specific, cost-shared funds: the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF); the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF); and, the Quebec Fisheries Fund (QFF).

This initiative contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Global Indicator Framework target 14.b: “Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets”

Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a major contributor to declining fish stocks and marine habitat destruction. Globally, IUU fishing takes many forms both within nationally-controlled waters and on the high seas. DFO works with its international partners to support the rules-based international order that ensure sustainable international fisheries and oceans management.

This initiative contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 14: “Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks”
• Global Indicator Framework target 14.c: “Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of “The future we want”

Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk

The Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk (CNFASAR) aims to support the recovery and protection of aquatic species at risk. The fund supports multi-species, place-based and threat-based stewardship actions that recover and protect aquatic species at risk.

This initiative contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 15: “Canada ensures all species have healthy and viable populations”
• Canadian Indicator Framework target 15.1.1: “Proportion of native wild species ranked secure or apparently secure according to the national extinction risk level”
• Canadian Indicator Framework target 15.2.1: “Proportion of species at risk showing progress towards their population and distribution objectives”
• Global Indicator Framework target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species”

Aquatic Invasive Species

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are fish, aquatic plants, and other organisms that can displace native species by competing for food, degrading habitats, and/or introducing diseases. The Department works to prevent their introduction into Canadian habitats, respond to new species detected, and manage the spread of established AIS.

This initiative contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition for SDG 15: “Canada ensures all species have healthy and viable populations”
• Global Indicator Framework target 15.8: “By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species”