Question Period Note: Marine Spatial Planning

Marine Spatial Planning

With increasing demands on our oceans, it is imperative that we plan our marine spaces in a way that ensures healthy, productive oceans for generations to come.

In 2018, our government adopted marine spatial planning as the way forward in oceans management. Marine spatial planning is a tool that integrates our ambitious marine conservation goals with the desire to grow our blue economy.

We remain committed to working with our provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners to plan our marine spaces in an open and collaborative way.

Together, we will advance the understanding of each unique ocean area and work to collectively meet environmental, economic, and social goals.

Marine Spatial Planning
• Like traditional land use planning, marine spatial planning (MSP) is the process by which plans are developed to better coordinate the use and management of marine spaces to meet ecological, economic, cultural, and social objectives.
• Through governance processes, federal, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners come together to set regionally-specific priorities and identify areas suitable for economic development, conservation or socio-cultural uses.
• MSP does not replace existing legislative and regulatory authorities. Successful delivery of MSP relies on a whole-of-government approach, as developing and implementing marine spatial plans will require all authorities responsible for uses, data, and regulations to participate.
• MSP is advancing in five major coastal areas in collaboration with provinces, territories, and Indigenous peoples. The five areas include: Pacific North Coast; Pacific South Coast; Bay of Fundy/Scotian Shelf; Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence; and, the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves.
• All provincial partners have expressed a willingness to cooperate in planning efforts. Quebec expressed a willingness to leverage the governance in place for The St. Lawrence Action Plan (2011–2026) for the integrated management of the estuary and gulf of St. Lawrence.
• The goal for each of the five planning areas will be the development of a marine plan that sets out the long-term spatial objectives and includes shared accountabilities for implementation. We are committed to developing first generation plans in four of the five regions by 2024.
• Plans will be grounded in science, Indigenous knowledge, and local perspectives and will drive the development of a blue economy strategy.
• Successful MSP will help reduce activity conflicts between ocean users by proactively identifying potential areas for various activities through collaborative governance structures.
• By providing greater predictability and improved clarity over where and when economic, conservation, social, and cultural activities can take place, MSP will help contribute to an overall oceans management approach that aims to protect jobs, natural resources, cultural use, marine life, and the beauty of our coasts.
• The primary legal basis for MSP in Canada is the Oceans Act (1996), which requires the development and implementation of plans (i.e. marine spatial plans) for the integrated management of Canada’s coastal and marine environment.

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