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January 2019
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Report

A Technical Review of Canada’s Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures: Alignment with DFO Guidance, IUCN-WCPA Guidance and CBD SBSTTA Guidance

Published by: David Suzuki Foundation and partners
Authored by: Travis Aten, Susanna D. Fuller
Partners: SeaBlue Canada

Oceans and fresh water, Biodiversity protecting coastal waters, policy and regulation, conservation, marine protected areas (MPAs)

2.1 MB

This report reveals more than half of Canada’s marine refuges, a form of marine protected area in Canada, do not meet international standards.

Since 2015, Canada has designated 7.79 per cent of the ocean as protected areas. However, with more than half of that protected under Fisheries Act measures – areas referred to as marine refuges – many harmful industrial practices can continue. Fisheries Act measures restrict fishing impacts and other harmful activities but cannot protect against many significant threats to the marine environment.

For a summary of these findings, see also Meeting International Standards: Improvements for Canada’s Marine Refuges.

Report cover

Related resources

Oceans and fresh water, Biodiversity
January 2019

Meeting International Standards: Improvements for Canada’s Marine Refuges

More than half of Canada’s marine refuges, a form of marine protected area in Canada, do not meet international standards. Weak standards allow many harmful industrial practices to harm fish, biodiversity and marine habitat.

Read More
Oceans and fresh water
May 2014

Committing to Effective Marine Protected Areas

Anuradha Rao, Karin Bodtker

This report presents opportunities to boost local economies through partnerships with stewardship organizations to monitor marine protected areas.

Read More
Oceans and fresh water
March 2014

Safeguarding B.C.’s Coastal Waters: Marine Protected Areas for Fishing, Tourism and Communities

Marine protected areas safeguard our natural treasures, as well as coastal economies. British Columbians are asking for greater marine protection.

Read More
Oceans and fresh water
March 2014

Marine Protected Areas 101

This report summarizes fundamental design principles to help make marine protected areas most effective.

Read More

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© 2025 David Suzuki Foundation. Website by Briteweb