Goal: Catalyze new or upgraded ocean conservation areas spanning 13% of Canada’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by 2025

The Blue Nature Alliance is working with Oceans North, a Canadian charity that supports marine conservation in partnership with Indigenous and coastal communities. They directly engage with Inuit, First Nation, and Métis organizations and coastal communities to build campaigns, create conservation jobs, and advance joint research and stewardship projects that bring community-driven conservation to life. 

Canada is a maritime nation with deep and longstanding social, cultural, and economic ties to the sea. At 5.75 million km², Canada’s marine territory spans three oceans — the Artic, Atlantic, and the Pacific. Protecting Canada’s marine wilderness and biodiversity offers a unique opportunity to advance conservation on a large-scale while helping the communities that rely on the ocean’s natural wealth. 

Today, approximately 14% of Canada’s coastal and ocean ecosystems are protected through a combination of federally declared Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs). The Canadian Government remains committed to both improving the implementation and management of its existing MPAs and has an interim goal of protecting 25% of its waters by 2025. Canada has also joined the Global Ocean Alliance and High Ambition Coalition, further committing to protect 30% of its waters by 2030. 

Canada will not meet its environmental commitment without cooperation and leadership from Indigenous governments. As part of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and in accordance to negotiated land-based agreements and treaties, all conservation in Canada must be done in partnership. Any new protections must be designed in a way that creates jobs, provides economic incentives, and promotes Indigenous culture and language.   

In partnership with Oceans North, and with support from SeaBlue, the Ocean Collaborative, and Inuit, First Nations and Métis organizations, the Blue Nature Alliance will catalyze both new and improved protections of ocean area. This engagement will support the designation of new MPAs and Indigenous Protected Areas, along with work to upgrade protections within two of Canada’s existing ocean conservation areas in the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans – all while sharing the lessons and benefits of Indigenous-led conservation to the global ocean conservation community. 

“The Blue Nature Alliance’s commitment to support Indigenous-driven ocean management will set a powerful example for others to follow. Oceans North is proud to partner with the Alliance to work with communities to safeguard a healthy, abundant ocean for future generations.”

– Louie Porta, Executive Director of Oceans North