Question Period Note: CESD Audit: Integrated Oceans Management

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada welcomes the recommendations from the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development and is committed to strengthening the protection of aquatic ecosystems and the sustainability of marine resources.
• Canada has made great strides in using marine spatial planning to manage its oceans in collaboration with other federal and provincial governments, Indigenous partners, and other stakeholders. This collaboration has enabled a better understanding and coordination of where, when and how we use and manage the ocean and its resources to achieve ecological, economic, social and cultural objectives.
• Progress on Canada’s marine conservation targets is being made and marine spatial planning tools, such as the Marine Planning Atlas, remain available to support decision-making.
• My Department will continue to collect and analyze ocean data and information, and will continue to engage with partners and stakeholders in the years to come.

• On June 10, 2025, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD) tabled the 2025 Spring performance audit reports in the House of Commons. The report on Integrated Oceans Management (IOM), which includes Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), is critical of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for not effectively implementing an IOM approach or identifying concrete actions within its plans.
• The CESD audit concluded that DFO did not effectively lead and facilitate the development and implementation of an IOM approach for conservation of ecosystems, sustainable use of marine resources, and shared use of ocean spaces. Specifically, the audit found that IOM plans were not effectively implemented, that first generation marine spatial plans were not designed ready for implementation, and that Canada is currently not on track to manage all marine areas in an integrated way. The audit also highlighted challenges with respect to tracking MSP funding expenditures.
• The report makes two key recommendations: (1) DFO to enhance the value of its plans by providing more details on concrete actions and establishing accountabilities; (2) better monitoring and reporting regarding the implementation of plans.
• Section 31 of the Oceans Act mandates the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, in collaboration with other federal departments, provincial and territorial governments, and Indigenous groups and stakeholders, to lead and facilitate the development and implementation of plans for the integrated management of all activities or measures in or affecting estuaries, coastal waters, and marine waters of Canada. In Canada, Integrated Oceans Management Plans and Marine Spatial Plans do not replace existing management, regulations and policies but rather brings together existing processes and those responsible for them to advance.
• Publication of the first generation marine spatial plans represented an important milestone in Canada’s commitment to MSP but was intended to be further advanced in a future implementation phase. DFO remains committed to advancing IOM, building on past progress.

If pressed on financial accountabilities
• A number of key deliverables and important progress was made as a result of the funding received to advance marine spatial planning. This includes the Marine Planning Atlas, an interactive mapping tool for decision-makers and other end users to access information about the ecology and human activities in Canada's marine spatial planning areas.
• However, in some cases, activities funded for marine spatial planning were captured under complementary programs due to the integrated nature of the Department’s work.