Today, to kick-off the Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress, IMPAC5, in Vancouver, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced a new policy to guide the establishment and management of national marine conservation areas (NMCAs), helping to advance the Government of Canada’s goal to create ten new NMCAs.
Parks Canada is working to expand the network of NMCAs.
Currently, Parks Canada administers five NMCAs like Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site along the northern British Columbia Coast, with active proposals for another seven, including NMCAs in the Magdalen Islands, the Southern Strait of Georgia, the Central Coast of British Columbia, the northern coast of Labrador, and along James and Hudson Bays.
Work continues to confirm at least three additional candidate sites.
The new NMCA Policy Framework emphasizes the importance of collaboration and co-management with Indigenous peoples.
This policy sets direction for all current and future NMCAs.
The Policy will strengthen Canada’s contribution to the qualitative elements of international marine conservation targets, by setting out how NMCAs can be effectively and equitably managed.
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