Canada
Protecting 25% of Canada’s marine and coastal environment
Lead Partner: Oceans North Conservation Society
The world’s longest shoreline with an exclusive economic zone larger than that of the entire European Union.
With a substantial exclusive economic zone (EEZ) spanning three oceans, the Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic, Canada will play an important role in reaching the ambitious goal of protecting at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030. The country, which has already placed 14% of its EEZ under protection, has stated its commitment to both improving the implementation and management of its existing marine protected areas (MPAs) and has committed to 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.
The Blue Nature Alliance is seizing the opportunity to support Canada in this laudable scope of work, acknowledging that Canada’s expansive marine environment offers a unique opportunity to advance large-scale conservation while also supporting communities that rely on the ocean’s natural wealth. Further, through Canada’s commitment to working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, there exists an opportunity to develop and support new marine conservation strategies that create economic opportunities and support Indigenous languages and cultures.
The Blue Nature Alliance is working with Oceans North Conservation Society, with support from SeaBlue, the Ocean Collaborative, and Inuit, First Nations and Métis organizations to catalyze the new and improved protections of ocean area. This engagement will support the designation of new MPAs and Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs), along with work to upgrade protections within Canada’s two 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.