Ontario's Natural Heritage Areas - Ministry of Natural Resources

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5.7 Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas Introduction The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has developed a national framework for the establishment and management of Marine Protected Areas 1 , which serve to protect species, habitats, and ecosystems in marine, estuarine, and coastal waters (DFO, 1999). Marine Protected Areas are established to “conserve and protect unique habitats, endangered or threatened marine species and their habitats, commercial and non-commercial fishery resources (including marine mammals) and their habitats, marine areas of high biodiversity or biological productivity, and any other marine resource or habitat requiring special protection.” Seven Marine Protected Areas have been established in Canada, and a number of areas of interest have been identified. To date no Marine Protected Areas have been established in Ontario (DFO, 2007). Legislation and Policy Basis Marine Protected Areas are established by DFO under the Oceans Act (DFO, 2005; Statutes of Canada, 1996). They can be established in internal waters, a territorial sea, or an exclusive economic zone of Canada (DFO, 2007). The DFO also uses the Fisheries Act and the Species at Risk Act to manage assets in Marine Protected Areas. The DFO has a leadership role in coordinating the development and implementation of a national system of marine protected areas. In addition to the DFO Marine Protected Areas Program, two other federal agencies collaborate with DFO to establish and manage federal marine protected areas: Parks Canada manages National Marine Conservation Areas (see Section 5.2 on page 120) and Environment Canada manages Marine Wildlife Areas (see Section 5.8 on page 140). Environment Canada also manages Migratory Bird Sanctuaries (see section 5.5 on page 132) and National Wildlife Areas (see Section 5.6 on page 135), some of which have marine components 1 All references to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are to those established under the Oceans Act, unless specifically identified in the context of the Federal MPA Strategy or Canada’s network of MPAs, where the term “marine protected area” is a generic reference. Ontario’s Natural Heritage Areas 138 Image by M. Wester that are considered part of the federal marine protected area network (DFO, 2005). A Federal Marine Protected Areas Strategy has been developed to clarify the roles and responsibilities of each federal government agency, establish a more systematic approach to planning and designation of marine protected areas, enhance collaboration, increase awareness, and link to continental and global marine networks (DFO, 2005). Protection Goal and/or Objectives Marine Protected Areas are one among other management tools that contribute to the improved health, integrity, and productivity of marine ecosystems. Marine Protected Areas can be established for the conservation and protection of: • Commercial and non-commercial fishery resources, including marine mammals, and their habitats. • Endangered or threatened marine species and their habitats. • Unique habitats. • Marine areas of high biodiversity or biological productivity. • Any other marine resource or habitat as is necessary to fulfill the mandate of the Minister (Oceans Act, Section 35(1)) (Statutes of Canada, 1996).
Selection Criteria The Government of Canada has adopted an ecosystem-based approach to integrated oceans management (IOM), a component of which involves the establishment of Marine Protected Areas under the Oceans Act. DFO’s candidate Marine Protected Area sites are typically located within one of the five Large Ocean Management Areas (LOMAs) delineated as a basis for ecosystem-based management. These areas include the Eastern Scotian Shelf, Placentia Bay/Grand Banks, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Pacific North Coast, and Beaufort Sea LOMAs. Ecological components within a LOMA, such as identified ecologically and biologically significant areas, and ecologically significant species and community properties inform selection of the candidate sites. Priority areas of ecological significance outside the LOMAs may also be considered. Candidate sites are then prioritized according to their ecological importance and the level of threat from human activities or influences. Feasibility/practicality considerations are also taken into account (P. Doherty, personal communication). Management Objectives and/or Guidelines A management plan is developed for each Marine Protected Area and includes background information, goals and objectives, and priorities for management, monitoring, and enforcement. The plan also describes the boundaries and zones of the Marine Protected Area that define the levels of site protection. Zoning provisions include boundaries for specific activities, and use and restriction prescriptions for activities in each of the zones (DFO, 2007). The Degree of Protection for Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas and the Corresponding IUCN Protected Area Management Category: A Preliminary Assessment For Marine Protected Areas, protection is the primary objective and is year-round, the commitment is legislated, and activities and large-scale developments that are inconsistent with conservation objectives of the area are excluded. Each Marine Protected Area may include different levels of Image by P. Kor protection through a series of zones within which activities are permitted or prohibited depending on the management objectives. Each Marine Protected Area may also include a range of management objectives and associated permitted or restricted activities at differing depths. While Oceans Act Marine Protected may generally qualify as IUCN Category II protected areas, other IUCN categories may apply depending on the zone and depth. The regulations and management plan for each Marine Protected Area should be evaluated to determine the appropriate IUCN category. Key Contact(s) Fisheries and Oceans Canada Oceans Directorate 200 Kent Street Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0E6 Telephone: 613-990-1279 Fax: 613-990-4810 Website: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ marineareas-zonesmarines/mpa-zpm/index-eng.htm 139 Ontario’s Natural Heritage Areas
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Part II Ontario’s Natural Heritag
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4. International Designations and M
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The Ontario IBP/CT work helped defi
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Figure 4-1. The Site Regions and Si
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Ontario's Natural Heritage Areas - Ministry of Natural Resources

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