Canada

Country information

Basic facts on marine waters

Territorial sea (12 nm zone): 200 000 km²
Exclusive Economic Zone: 2 900 000 km²

Strategic documents related to MSP

Canada’s Ocean Strategy
National Framework for Canada’s Network of Marine Protected Areas
Canada-British Columbia Marine Protected Area Network Strategy
Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area Plan
Regional Oceans Plan for the Scotian Shelf, Atlantic Coast and the Bay of Fundy: Background / Implementation priorities
Gulf of St. Lawrence Integrated Management Plan
Placentia Bay/Grand Banks Large Ocean Management Area Integrated Management Plan
Integrated Ocean Management Plan for the Beaufort Sea: 2009 and beyond

Technical resources related to MSP

Relevant MSP projects

Regional Framework Agreement for Bioregional Oceans Management and Protection

Overview of MSP related maritime uses

Current main uses:

Offshore renewable energy	Shipping
Ports	Oil and gas
Dumping/Disposal at Sea	Nature conservation
Fisheries	Aquaculture
Military	Scientific research
Coastal protection	Ammunition storage sites
Cables and pipelines	Traditional uses (Indigenous)
Tourism and leisure	Underwater cultural heritage

Which marine spatial plans exist?

Pacific North Coast

Name of the plan (year)	Pacific North Coast
Scale of the plan	Sub-national (regional)
Pre-planning	Status: Complete
Assessments for planning	Status: Underway
Plan development	Status: N/A
Plan completion	Status: N/A
Plan approval	Status: N/A
Plan implementation	Status: N/A
Plan review	Status: N/A

Pacific South Coast

Name of the plan (year)	Pacific South Coast
Scale of the plan	Sub-national (regional)
Pre-planning	Status: Underway
Assessments for planning	Status: N/A
Plan development	Status: N/A
Plan completion	Status: N/A
Plan approval	Status: N/A
Plan implementation	Status: N/A
Plan review	Status: N/A

Bay of Fundy/Scotian Shelf

Name of the plan	Bay of Fundy/Scotian Shelf
Scale of the plan	Sub-national
Pre-planning	Status: Underway
Assessments for planning	Status: N/A
Plan development	Status: N/A
Plan completion	Status: N/A
Plan approval	Status: N/A
Plan Implementation	Status: N/A
Plan review	Status: N/A

Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves

Name of the plan	Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves
Scale of the plan	Sub-national (regional)
Pre-planning	Status: Underway
Assessments for planning	Status: N/A
Plan development	Status: N/A
Plan completion	Status: N/A
Plan approval	Status: N/A
Plan implementation	Status: N/A
Plan revision	Status: N/A

Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

Name of the plan	Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence
Scale of the plan	Sub-national
Pre-planning	Status: Underway
Assessments for planning	Status: Underway
Plan development	Status: N/A
Plan completion	Status: N/A
Plan approval	Status: N/A
Plan implementation	Status: N/A
Plan revision	Status: N/A

Salish Sea

Name of the plan (year)	Salish Sea
Scale of the plan	Sub-national (regional)
Pre-planning	Status: Underway
Assessments for planning	Status: Underway
Plan development	Status: N/A
Plan completion	Status: N/A
Plan approval	Status: N/A
Plan implementation	Status: N/A
Plan review	Status: N/A

National authority in charge of MSP	Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Governmental funding	Approximately 90 million CAD
External funding	N/A
Public-private funding	N/A
Size of planning area	N/A
Time required to complete the plans	Four first-generation marine spatial plans are to be complete by 2024
Main issues that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers):	MSP processes are underway to coordinate how Canada uses and manages marine spaces to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives: Economic/Blue Growth opportunities: making space through MSP for existing and new sustainable use activities. Marine spatial plans will foster greater predictability and improved clarity over where and when economic, conservation, social and cultural activities can take place, supporting a healthy, sustainable ocean economy; Ecological: support advancement towards new marine conservation targets. Canada has committed to conserve 25 percent of our oceans by2025. Additionally, Canada is advocating for a global target of 30 percent marine conservation by 2030 undercurrent United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity negotiations of a post-2020 global biodiversity framework; Reconciliation: There is increasing recognition of the need for Indigenous Peoples to be full partners in marine and coastal planning, conservation, and management in a manner that is consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, and the Principles Respecting the Government of Canada’s Relationship with Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous Peoples have been safeguarding waters for generations and their partnership is a critical element of marine planning, conservation, and management. The Fisheries and Oceans Canada is committed to advancing reconciliation with Indigenous communities and organizations; Social drivers: heightened public awareness around the ecological and economic importance of marine ecosystems and the desire of non-governmental players (e.g., industry, local communities, environmental non-government organizations [ENGOs])for a tool to sustainably manage oceans spaces.
Stakeholder engagement activities:	One of the key features of these MSP processes will be the establishment of governance structures that involve other authorities (i.e., national and sub-national government authorities and Indigenous interests) as partners Opportunities for stakeholder participation (e.g., industry, environmental non-government organizations [ENGOs], local communities) will be provided to inform plan development
Sectors included in planning	Relevant sectors, such as marine industries (fishing; shipping; mining; offshore oil and gas; renewable energy; tourism; etc.) will have the opportunity to be involved throughout these MSP processes
Articulation between MSP and coastal zone management	Canada’s Oceans Act provides the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard with the authority to work with other federal departments and agencies, sub-national governments, Indigenous peoples and stakeholders to lead the development and implementation of plans for the integrated management of all activities or measures in or affecting estuaries, coastal waters, and marine waters that form part of Canada or in which Canada has sovereign rights under international law. Management of the coastal zone in Canada falls under the direct authority of sub-national governments (i.e., provinces and territories). Through the direct involvement of these sub-national governments in MSP processes, there may be opportunities to better integrate MSP and coastal management planning processes for mutually beneficial outcomes.
Articulation between MSP and marine protected areas:	MSP processes will identify areas which need to be avoided and special measures put in place for conservation or protection. Conservation planning (i.e.,location of future marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures) will be included as part of these MSP processes.
Articulation between MSP and sustainable blue economy	Canada is developing a comprehensive blue economy strategy that will seek to grow Canada’s ocean and freshwater economy and support the long-term sustainable growth of Canada’s fish and seafood sector, ensuring Canada is positioned to succeed in the fast-growing global ocean sectors of the blue economy and advancing reconciliation, conservation and climate objectives. Marine Spatial Planning is an important mechanism through which different goals can be achieved, including those for a robust blue economy.
Plan approval process	Approval processes are not defined under policy/legislation at this time and may be developed at a later time
Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding)	Plans themselves do not have legal status though there is a regulatory requirement in Canada which stipulates that plans of this kind must be taken into consideration by the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change to inform federal environmental/impact assessment processes/decisions.
Plan review process	Processes for plan revision are not defined under policy/legislation and may be developed at a later time
Performance monitoring and evaluation	Processes for performance monitoring and evaluation are not defined under policy/legislation and may be developed at a later time

Legal framework

The primary legal basis supporting MSP in Canada is the Oceans Act (1996), which requires the development and implementation of plans for the integrated management of Canada’s coastal and marine environment. Though the Oceans Act does not make specific mention of marine spatial planning, since the time this legislation came into force, spatial plans have become one of the primary vehicles used to advance the implementation of integrated oceans management. In the Canadian legislative context, these integrated management/spatial planning processes and their resulting outputs will not replace existing regulatory processes, but will offer a complementary process to advance cross-sector planning.

Country information

Basic facts on marine waters

Strategic documents related to MSP

Technical resources related to MSP

Relevant MSP projects

Overview of MSP related maritime uses

Which marine spatial plans exist?

Name of the plan (year)

Scale of the plan

Pre-planning

Assessments for planning

Plan development

Plan completion

Plan approval

Plan implementation

Plan review

Name of the plan (year)

Scale of the plan

Pre-planning

Assessments for planning

Plan development

Plan completion

Plan approval

Plan implementation

Plan review

Name of the plan

Scale of the plan

Pre-planning

Assessments for planning

Plan development

Plan completion

Plan approval

Plan Implementation

Plan review

Name of the plan

Scale of the plan

Pre-planning

Assessments for planning

Plan development

Plan completion

Plan approval

Plan implementation

Plan revision

Name of the plan

Scale of the plan

Pre-planning

Assessments for planning

Plan development

Plan completion

Plan approval

Plan implementation

Plan revision

Name of the plan (year)

Scale of the plan

Pre-planning

Assessments for planning

Plan development

Plan completion

Plan approval

Plan implementation

Plan review

National authority in charge of MSP

Governmental funding

External funding

Public-private funding

Size of planning area

Time required to complete the plans

Main issues that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers):

Stakeholder engagement activities:

Sectors included in planning

Articulation between MSP and coastal zone management

Articulation between MSP and marine protected areas:

Articulation between MSP and sustainable blue economy

Plan approval process

Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding)

Plan review process

Performance monitoring and evaluation

Legal framework

Contact