Protecting Canada's oceans by 2030 and beyond

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href="/oceans/index-eng.html">Oceans</a></li> <li><a href="/oceans/protection-conservation/index-eng.html">Protecting and conserving the ocean</a></li> <li><a href="/oceans/conservation/index-eng.html">Targets, Achievements and reports</a></li> </ol> </div> </nav> </header> <main property="mainContentOfPage" class="container" typeof="WebPageElement"> <h1 property="name" id="wb-cont">Protecting Canada's oceans by 2030 and beyond </h1>  <img src="/oceans/images/conservation/plan/mct-ocm-01.jpg" class="img-responsive mrgn-bttm-md" alt="" /> <p>Whether you live next to the ocean or not, it plays a key role in all our lives. The ocean feeds us, creates jobs in our communities, and sustains life itself by producing over half the oxygen we breathe.</p> <p>Healthy oceans are critical to fighting climate change and protecting marine life. That's why Canada has committed to conserving 30% of our marine and coastal areas by 2030.</p> <p>We're not doing it alone. Provinces and territories, Indigenous Peoples, marine industries, environmental organizations and academia are working with us to help reach these ambitious targets.</p> <p>There are plenty of actions you can take too. Our oceans need us. See how you can help.</p> <div class="row col-xs-offset-2"> <div class="col-md-4"> <h2 class="h3"><a href="/oceans/importance/index-eng.html">Get involved</a></h2> <figure> <img class="img-responsive thumbnail" src="/oceans/images/conservation/plan/mct-ocm-02.jpg" alt=""> <figcaption> Get involved in ocean conservation activities across the country. </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="col-md-4"> <h2 class="h3"><a href="/oceans/consultations/index-eng.html">Have your say</a></h2> <figure> <img class="img-responsive thumbnail" src="/oceans/images/conservation/plan/mct-ocm-03.jpg" alt=""> <figcaption>Participate in ocean-related consultations.</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <h2>What we've done</h2> <p>To date, Canada has protected 15.54% of its oceans. We did this through:</p> <ul> <li><a href="/oceans/publications/noise-bruit/strategy-strategie/index-eng.html">Draft Ocean Noise Strategy for Canada</a></li> <li>the <em>Oceans Act</em> <a href="/oceans/mpa-zpm-aoi-si-eng.html">Marine Protected Areas</a> led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada</li> <li><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/national-wildlife-areas/locations.html">National Wildlife Areas</a> led by Environment and Climate Change Canada</li> <li><a href="https://parks.canada.ca/amnc-nmca">National Marine Conservation Areas</a> led by the Parks Canada Agency</li> <li><a href="/oceans/oecm-amcepz/index-eng.html">other effective area-based conservation measures</a></li> </ul> <p>To help us establish these areas and protect the species within them, we use the:</p> <ul> <li><a href="/oceans/mpa-zpm/protection-standard-norme-protection-eng.html">MPA Protection Standard</a> (2023)</li> <li><a href="/oceans/publications/oecm-amcepz/guidance-directives-2022-eng.html">Guidance for Recognizing OECMs</a> (2022)</li> </ul> <div class="row wb-eqht"> <div class="col-md-6"> <figure class="thumbnail hght-inhrt"><a href="/videos/mamalilikulla-first-premiere-nation-eng.html"><img src="/videos/images/mamalilikulla-first-premiere-nation-video.jpg" class="img-responsive" alt="Video: Protecting our Coast Mamalilikulla First Nation" /></a> <figcaption class="caption"> <p>Discover <a href="/oceans/collaboration/impact-stories-histoires-percutantes/index-eng.html">how the Mamalilikulla (Mama-lee-lee-kalla) First Nation and DFO are working together</a> to protect marine life in the Gwa&#818xdlala/Nala&#818xdlala (Lull/Hoeya) marine refuge.</p> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="col-md-6"> <figure class="thumbnail hght-inhrt"><a href="/videos/protection-oceans-eng.html"><img src="/oceans/images/conservation/plan/mct-ocm-05.jpg" class="img-responsive" alt="Video: Protecting 30% of our oceans by 2030" /></a> <figcaption class="caption"> <p>Video: Protecting 30% of our oceans by 2030</p> </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div>  <h2>What we are doing now</h2> <p>Work is ongoing to reach our <a href="/oceans/conservation/plan/index-eng.html">marine conservation targets</a>. Our work remains grounded in science, traditional Indigenous Knowledge and local perspectives.</p> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-8"> <h2>Ongoing efforts</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/oceans/collaboration/indigenous-led-projects-dirigees-par-autochtones-eng.html">Indigenous-led conservation</a></li> <li><a href="/species-especes/sara-lep/index-eng.html">Protecting species at risk</a></li> <li><a href="/campaign-campagne/un-decade-decennie-nu/index-eng.html">United Nations Decade of Ocean Science</a></li> <li><a href="/oceans/conservation/plan/impac5-statement-declaration-eng.html">IMPAC5 Chairs' Statement</a></li> <li><a href="/campaign-campagne/bes-seb/index-eng.html">Blue Economy Strategy</a></li> <li><a href="https://tc.canada.ca/en/campaigns/oceans-protection-plan">Oceans Protection Plan</a></li> <li><a href="/oceans/soto-rceo/index-eng.html">State of Canada's Oceans</a></li> <li><a href="/oceans/noise-bruit/index-eng.html">Minimizing the impacts of ocean noise</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-md-4 mrgn-tp-xl"><img class="img-responsive thumbnail" src="/oceans/images/conservation/plan/mct-ocm-07.jpg" alt=""></div> </div> <h2>Latest news</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2024/06/25/protecting-more-our-marine-ecosystems-together-future-generations">Protecting more of our marine ecosystems together, for future generations</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.qia.ca/qia-signs-aip-to-advance-the-qikiqtani-project-finance-for-permanence-project-2/">Qikiqtani Inuit Association Signs AIP to Advance the Qikiqtani-Project Finance for Permanence Project</a></li> <li><a href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2022/12/07/protecting-more-nature-partnership-indigenous-peoples">Protecting more nature in partnership with Indigenous Peoples</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/fisheries-oceans/news/2023/02/first-marine-refuge-within-the-northern-shelf-bioregion-is-established.html">First marine refuge within the Northern Shelf Bioregion is established</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/fisheries-oceans/news/2023/02/government-of-canada-and-coastal-first-nations-announce-progress-to-protect-a-large-ecologically-unique-ocean-area-off-the-pacific-west-coast.html">Government of Canada and coastal First Nations announce progress to protect a large ecologically unique ocean area off the Pacific West Coast</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/fisheries-oceans/news/2023/02/the-government-of-canada-invests-in-world-class-ocean-monitoring-system-to-enhance-canadas-ocean-protection-for-the-next-generation.html">The Government of Canada invests in world-class ocean monitoring system to enhance Canada's ocean protection for the next generation</a></li> </ul>  <div class="clearfix"></div> <div class="pagedetails">   <dl id="wb-dtmd"> <dt>Date modified: </dt> <dd> <time property="dateModified">2024-10-22</time> </dd> </dl> </div> </main>  <footer id="wb-info"> <h2 class="wb-inv">About this site</h2> 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Protecting Canada's oceans by 2030 and beyond