Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are one among a number of spatial management tools, and are defined as areas that are established for the long-term, and managed through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values.
Currently, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has a number of MPAs designated under the Oceans Act and Areas of Interest for new MPAs at various stages of progress towards designation. These areas are ecologically significant, with species and/or features that require special management consideration. 

An Oceans Act MPA can be established for any of the six conservation purposes outlined in the Act:

• The conservation and protection of commercial and non-commercial fishery resources, including marine mammals, and their habitats; 
• The conservation and protection of endangered or threatened marine species, and their habitats; 
• The conservation and protection of unique habitats; 
• The conservation and protection of marine areas of high biodiversity or biological productivity;
• The conservation and protection of any other marine resource or habitat as is necessary to fulfill the mandate of the Minister; and
• The conservation and protection of marine areas for the purposes of maintaining ecological integrity