Question Period Note: Northern Shelf Bioregion Marine Protected Area Network Action Plan

How is this government advancing the Northern Shelf Bioregion Marine Protected Area Network Action Plan?

• On February 5, 2023, the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, and 15 First Nations jointly endorsed the Marine Protected Area Network Action Plan for the Northern Shelf Bioregion.
• This Plan provides a blueprint that can be used by Canada, Indigenous governments, and the Province of British Columbia to advance designation of Marine Protected Areas.
We are proceeding with site designation processes in the Northern Shelf Bioregion, in partnership with Indigenous governments and the Province of British Columbia.

Northern Shelf Bioregion Network Action Plan
• The Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, and 17 First Nations have been working collaboratively since 2014 to develop a Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network Action Plan (NAP) to guide the implementation of a MPA network in the Northern Shelf Bioregion. Indigenous and public consultation on the NAP was scheduled for January 2022, but progress was delayed [protected in accordance with the Access to Information Act]
• A revised draft of the NAP was released for Indigenous consultation on August 15, 2022, and for public and stakeholder engagement on September 12, 2022.
• 15 of the 17 partner First Nations confirmed support for endorsement of the NAP. Two First Nations (K’ómoks First Nation and Da’naxda’xw Awaetlala First Nation) abstained from providing endorsement..
• Partners endorsed the NAP at the 5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress on February 5, 2023.

None