Recommendations for Budget 2005
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Oceans Action Plan

Recommendation: That the federal government fund its Speech from the Throne commitment to “move forward on its Oceans Action Plan…establishing a network of marine protected areas”. The next step is to provide funding and measurable targets and timelines to implement this commitment. Our proposal will establish eight Oceans Act marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2006, and an additional 30 marine protected areas by 2011, as well as implement integrated management plans, and enhance enforcement of rules governing oceans and fisheries, also committed to in the Speech.

Investment
$500 million over five years to implement an Oceans Action Plan with strong science-based conservation measures, including, as a priority, establishment of a network of marine protected areas.

Benefits for Canadians

• the opportunity to regain global leadership on oceans management
• conservation of commercial and non-
  commercial fisheries resources and resultant support for coastal communities
• protection of marine wildlife habitat, contributing to Canada’s commitments to protect biodiversity and species at risk
• additional economic benefits for coastal communities from ecotourism

Background and Rationale
The world’s oceans are in crisis. In recent years the signs have become unmistakeable in Canada — the disappearance of cod on the east coast, and of rockfish and some salmon stocks on the west coast, the decline in west coast orca populations, the closing of beaches due to sewage contamination, and trawling destruction of many important benthic habitats including thousands of year old sponge reefs on the west coast and coral forests on the east and west coasts.

Canada’s marine ecosystems are under increasing stress from over-fishing, transportation, invasive species, physical damage caused by trawlers, oil and gas development and physical infrastructure, land-based sources of pollution, and climate change.

With the passage of the Oceans Act in 1997, Canada became the first country with legislation that explicitly addressed the need for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to oceans management. The Oceans Act is in keeping with Canada’s past leadership on oceans issues, such as during the negotiations on the United Nations Law of the Sea. Seven years later Canada is only marginally closer to achieving the vision of the Oceans Act. Canada’s Oceans Act and Oceans Strategy define the vision, principles and policy objectives of oceans management in Canada including scientific research that supports ecosystem-based management and the establishment of marine protected areas. Unfortunately the Oceans Strategy is currently an un-funded mandate and the Oceans Act has no regulatory framework to give it teeth. To date, despite commitments dating back to 1998 to establish 10 proposed marine protected areas under the Oceans Act, only two have been designated — the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents off the coast of Vancouver Island and The Gully on the Scotian Shelf.

Together with funding allocated to the Parks Canada Agency in 2003, the proposed investment of $500 million over five years would result in the establishment of: eight new Oceans Act MPAs by 2006 and an additional ten sites by 2011, including as a high priority the Hecate Strait sponge reefs in BC; five new national marine conservation areas by 2007, and ten additional sites by 2011; and five new marine wildlife areas by 2007, for a total of 38 new marine protected areas.

Recommendations

• $20 million over two years (2005-06) to establish eight priority Marine Protected Areas under the Oceans Act
• $480 million over five years (2007-2011) to implement Canada’s Oceans Action Plan, with a focus on establishing 30 additional marine protected areas under the Oceans Act (Fisheries and Oceans Canada); National Marine Conservation Areas Act (Parks Canada Agency); and Canada Wildlife Act (Environment Canada)

Contact
Sabine Jessen
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, BC
604-685-7445 or cell 604-657-2813

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