Canada is privileged to have the world’s largest coastlines, but this also means that we have an immense responsibility to protect it. Accordingly, our government has made an unprecedented investment of over a billion dollars to ensure that the ambitious frameworks we have put forward successfully put us on track to continue being international leaders in marine protection.
These frameworks include:
- $1.5 billion to the far-reaching Oceans Protection Plan (OPP) which consists of over 50 initiatives to protect our coasts - including specific provisions for sustainable fishing practices and an emphasis on collaboration with indigenous communities.
- $61.5 million added to the existing $167.4 million invested to the Whales Initiative, which will improve efforts to protect the Southern Resident Killer Whale population that has faced significant threats in recent years. This includes a plan to expand already successful measures to reduce underwater noise and a provision for protecting their main food supply, the Chinook salmon, by reducing their removal by 25-35%.
- $5 million annually to research through a Partnership Fund established by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which further promotes collaboration with indigenous communities as well as environmental organizations and other stakeholders who hold valuable knowledge in this field.
- $81 million over five years as a part of our plan to increase our Marine Protected Areas to 25% by 2025, which so far has increased our MPAs to 13.81%, therefore exceeding our 2020 goal of 10%.
This is just part of our government's formidable efforts to protect our shorelines. I recommend that you explore this Transport Canada page which goes further into detail on the many areas of focus covered by the OPP and offers additional links leading to the other parts of our comprehensive approach to marine conservation.