Conserved Areas in Marine and Great Lakes Waters

Canada has approximately 59 900 km² of federal, provincial, and territorial protected areas covering about 1% of its oceans (from the shoreline out to the limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone) and Great Lakes. Almost 49 100 km² of this protected area is marine and 10 800 km² is in the Great Lakes. To qualify as a marine protected area (MPA), a conservation area must meet the internationally accepted definition of a protected area.^[1]

Canada is establishing a national network of MPAs, with the primary goal of protecting marine biodiversity, ecosystem function and special natural features.^[2] There are other conservation areas in the marine environment, known as "contributory sites," which contribute to achieving the objectives of the MPA network even though they do not meet the definition of an MPA. Contributory sites include, for example, some areas where critical habitat is protected under the provisions of the Species at Risk Act, and some areas where fishing activities are restricted under the Fisheries Act. As assessed to date, contributory sites conserve an additional 0.7% (38 400 km²) of Canada’s oceans. They will need to be reassessed once MPA network objectives have been identified.

Marine protected areas and contributory sites, Canada, 2012

Note: Geographic boundaries of MPAs and contributory sites, along with values calculated from them, are approximate. Contributory sites will need to be reassessed once MPA network objectives have been identified.
Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2012).

Conserved Areas in Marine and Great Lakes Waters, by Bioregion

There are 13 planning areas, called bioregions, in Canada’s MPA network: 12 marine and one covering the Great Lakes. The bioregions vary in size and in their level of protection. Only 0.02% of marine space in the large and remote Arctic Basin is protected, compared to 13.9% in the relatively small and accessible Strait of Georgia.

Percentage of bioregions covered by MPAs and contributory sites, Canada, 2012 estimates

Note: Geographic boundaries of MPAs and contributory sites, along with values calculated from them, are approximate. Contributory sites will need to be reassessed once MPA network objectives have been identified.
Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2012).

Establishment of the MPA network continues under the coordination of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in collaboration with federal, provincial and territorial government partners. MPA network planning is underway in five bioregions of Canada’s Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. A 2011 National Framework for Canada’s Network of Marine Protected Areas provides overarching direction for the establishment of Canada’s national MPA network, including an eight–step process to guide bioregional MPA network planners through the planning and establishment process. 

Related indicators

• Canada’s Protected Areas
• Shellfish Growing Area Quality Indicator

Other information

• Canada’s Network of Marine Protected Areas
• Convention on Biological Diversity, Marine and Coastal Biodiversity

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[1] Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2011) National Framework for Canada's Network of Marine Protected Areas, Section 4, What is a Marine Protected Area? Retrieved on 16 July, 2012.

[2] Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2011) National Framework for Canada's Network of Marine Protected Areas. Retrieved on 16 July, 2012.