Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy: Departmental Website Component of the 2012-2013 Report on Plans and Priorities

Description of Environment Canada’s Activities Supporting FSDS Themes I, II and III

 

Theme III: Protecting Nature

Goal 6: Ecosystem / Habitat Conservation and Protection - Maintain productive and resilient ecosystems with the capacity to recover and adapt; and protect areas in ways that leave them unimpaired for present and future generations.
Target 6.3: Marine Ecosystems - Improve the conservation of ocean areas and marine ecosystems by 2012.
 
FSDS Implementation StrategiesFurther Details on this Implementation StrategyAlignment to the 2012-2013 Program Activity Architecture (PAA)
6.3.4
Undertake research to improve understanding of marine ecosystems and support initiatives to identify and characterize vulnerable marine ecosystems. (DFO, EC)

The responsibility for establishing and managing the national system of Marine Protected Areas is shared among Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Marine Protected Areas), Parks Canada (National Marine Conservation Areas), and Environment Canada (National Wildlife Areas, Migratory Bird Sanctuaries).

Identification of vulnerable and priority marine ecosystems is being conducted through Federal Marine Protected Areas Strategy partners (Parks Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada).

Performance expectations:

  • Efforts to identify key marine habitats for migratory birds in Northern Canada will be completed in 2012.
  • Efforts to designate Scott Islands as a marine National Wildlife Area are underway with a view to being ready to designate the area as early as 2012.
  • Total area that is under legally-binding protection as National Wildlife Areas, Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and Marine Wildlife Areas. The target is yet to be determined.
Program Activity 1.1: Biodiversity – Wildlife and Habitat
6.3.5
Provide advice to decision-makers on potential impacts on migratory birds and species at risk and ecological risks associated with specific high-priority ocean activities. (DFO, EC, NRCan)

Environment Canada continues to provide advice to federal decision makers through the Federal Marine Protected Areas Strategy and participation in inter-departmental mineral and non-renewable resource assessment policy groups.

This initiative crosswalks to CARTS (6.1.9) which is providing marine information and data in support to this multi partner initiative.

Performance expectations:

  • Work with Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the issue of fisheries by-catch and marine aquaculture to minimize adverse effects on marine birds, by developing Best Operating Procedures for use by commercial fisheries and aquaculture operators.
  • Work with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, state and provincial governments to identify threats and mitigating actions related to conservation of marine waterfowl (For example, a study to locate, identify and describe important habitat for sea ducks in the marine nearshore environment on the east coast of North America will be completed by 2013. This will inform advice on location of offshore wind farms, shipping oil spills, and other similar threats.)
Program Activity 1.1: Biodiversity – Wildlife and Habitat