Coasts and Ocean

Protection Standards for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Canada

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society | 2018

There is a large and growing body of evidence showing that ocean ecosystems within Canada are in trouble. The rapid decline of North Atlantic right whale or the southern resident killer whale populations are only two, of many, recent examples of the large and growing body of evidence that from coast to coast to coast, that enhanced protection for the ocean is needed.

Without meaningful marine protection, these trends will become increasingly common. A network of protected areas is critical to ensuring that ocean species and habitats are adequately protected, and healthy, resilient coastal and marine ecosystems continue to function and provide the many ecosystems services upon which we all depend.