Marine Protected Areas Program

The Oceans Act came into effect in 1997. It provides tools to develop a new approach to the integrated management of oceans based on partnerships, prevention and sustainable development. One of these tools is the creation of marine protected areas, or MPAs.

Marine Protected Areas Program is one program among three distinct federal marine protected area programs. MPAs are intended to provide increased protection for marine species and habitat while respecting existing jurisdictions. MPAs can be created to ensure the conservation and protection of:

• Commercial and non-commercial fishery resources, including marine mammals, and their habitats;
• Endangered or threatened marine species, and their habitats;
• Marine areas of high biodiversity or biological productivity; and
• Unique habitats;
• Any other marine resource or habitat as is necessary to fulfill the mandate of the Minister (of Scientific Research).

Once an MPA is established, concrete measures can be implemented in order to meet protection objectives specific to the targeted area. MPAs are therefore a useful tool for coastal communities, which are dependent on the health and productivity of oceans.

MPA characteristics

• Flexible management tool tailored to specific needs;
• Approach based on partnership and prevention;
• Respect for existing jurisdictions and Aboriginal rights;
• Existing activities maintained within a sustainable development context;
• Possibility of permanent, temporary or seasonal zoning for various levels of protection; and
• MPAs implemented via management plans and regulations.

MPAs are not marine parks

MPAs are first and foremost a tool to better manage human activity, some aspects of which may threaten marine living resources, species or habitat.