Question Period Note: Marine Conservation Targets in the Maritimes Region

Marine Conservation Targets in the Maritimes Region

We anticipate announcing designation of the Eastern Canyons Marine Refuge under the Fisheries Act as early as December 2021, to protect important and sensitive corals and benthic areas, including a vast deep-water ‘frontier area’, off eastern Nova Scotia.

We are also continuing to work with partners and stakeholders on the Fundian Channel-Browns Bank and Eastern Shore Islands Areas of Interest for potential designation as Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas by 2025.

• The Maritimes Region has three Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and six Fisheries Act Marine Refuges in place, and has developed a draft Marine Conservation Network to guide long-term spatial conservation in the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy Bioregion (which aligns geographically with the Maritimes Region).
• In March 2018, the Department announced the Fundian Channel-Browns Bank and Eastern Shore Islands Areas of Interest (AOI) for potential Oceans Act designation, along with a proposed Fisheries Act Marine Refuge for the Eastern Canyons area. These areas are featured in the department’s plan to conserve 25 per cent of Canada’s oceans by 2025.
• Marine spatial planning is being advanced in coordination with the draft Marine Conservation Network to ensure a balanced and participatory approach to marine planning and conservation in the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy Bioregion.
• The proposed Eastern Canyons Marine Refuge is being advanced for site designation by December 2021 or January 2022 under the Sensitive Benthic Areas Policy, in order to address risks to corals and other vulnerable benthic areas from bottom-tending fisheries. Site designation will also protect a vast ‘frontier area’ in deep water off the shelf break; a ‘frontier area’ is an area without history of fishing in Canadian waters, interpreted to be waters deeper than 2000 m, and little if any information on the benthic features and any fishing impacts on such features.
• Engagement and consultation is underway with regional Indigenous Communities, Indigenous Organizations, Province of Nova Scotia, affected bottom contact, communal commercial and commercial fishing industry groups, representatives of Environmental Non-Government Organizations (ENGO), and other potential non-fishing interests that may utilize the area. A Technical Advisory Group comprising key groundfish industry representatives, and representatives from the rights holders and other stakeholders groups listed above, is being used to support and inform the process.
• The Marine Refuge will be established using a fisheries closure (Conditions of Licence and/or Variation Orders) to restrict relevant harvesting, with additional management and monitoring measures to be implemented, as required. The primary fisheries likely to be impacted are Redfish and Atlantic Halibut, and the Region is working with industry to design the site to minimize impacts while upholding the conservation objective for the site. While it is not anticipated that the measure will affect regional Food, Social and Ceremonial harvesting, the Department may need to address other Indigenous fishing activities pending results of the consultation.
• The first meeting of the multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee for the Fundian Channel-Browns Bank Area of Interest was held in June 2021. The second meeting is planned for December 2021, and will focus on the draft ecological risk assessment for the site. The Advisory Committee includes representation from the Province of Nova Scotia, the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia and other regional First Nations, the fishing industry, and a range of other interests.
• The Eastern Shore Islands Area of Interest process is currently paused while awaiting a departmental decision regarding the commitment made by Minister Wilkinson in 2019 for an independent community liaison process to address the polarized nature of community concerns. In the interim, the Region is engaging with the local fishing industry on a broader range of management topics, including collaborative science and research opportunities, fisheries management and marine conservation. A draft ecological risk assessment is ready for external expert review once the department signals that it is ready to proceed.
• The Maritimes Region has developed a draft bioregional Marine Conservation Network based on more than a decade of science research and analysis, socio-economic data collection and analysis and engagement with a broad range of experts and interests. The first draft Network design was completed in 2017 and is currently undergoing targeted engagement with partners and stakeholders until March 31, 2021. The aim is to complete the Marine Conservation Network, in alignment with the broader Marine Spatial Plan by 2024, to support long-term spatial conservation and Canada’s marine protection commitments for 2030.

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