Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll speak on behalf of the department, but both Marty and I are available for questions, obviously, at the conclusion of this.
Thank you for inviting us to speak here today about the role of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in marine conservation.
What I thought I'd do is provide you with an overview of the department's approach to aquatic conservation in Canada, and also our perspectives on a national conservation plan. I would like to start by summarizing the department's role and views on marine conservation by highlighting three themes that are implicit to all of our work within the department.
First, I think it's fair to say that DFO is the lead federal department in the protection and management of fisheries and in the conservation of aquatic ecosystems nationally, both marine and freshwater. Second, DFO is of the view that conservation and economic prosperity go hand in hand: healthy environments lead to healthy economies. Third, DFO's programs for aquatic conservation and fisheries management are geared towards what we are referring to as an ecosystems approach. I thought I'd elaborate on each of those themes.
The department's role in implementing the Oceans Act, the Species at Risk Act, and the Fisheries Act places the department in a federal leadership role for aquatic conservation and the conservation of aquatic ecosystems. In our capacity as lead federal steward, we advance, conserve, and protect sustainable aquatic ecosystems. We do this through multiple program areas such as fisheries management, aquaculture management, ecosystems and fisheries science, our species at risk and oceans programs, and in our work, for example, with aboriginal groups.
DFO recognizes that conservation of our valuable aquatic resources is a responsibility shared by all Canadians. We can't do it alone. To be effective, conservation activities must engage all responsible authorities as well as affected and interested parties. Engagement is required at all stages of policy and program development, implementation, and coordination, and at all levels: locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
To achieve the support and buy-in for conservation activities that may impact economic activities, we need to ensure that those impacted are part of the decision-making processes, that their needs are well understood, and that alternatives that can achieve conservation objectives while allowing economic activities are properly evaluated.
Freshwater, marine, and fisheries expertise isn't found only within the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. It's found in conservation groups; it's found in provincial agencies, and so forth. We rely more and more on the support and participation of the academic community, environmental non-government organizations, conservation organizations, and other levels of government, to share knowledge, to develop solutions, and to implement conservation activities.
For these reasons, the department takes a shared stewardship approach to its relationships with other levels of government, the users of ocean resources, fish harvesters, aboriginal groups, aquaculture operators, and the Canadian public at large. In our view, we must all work together to conserve and protect aquatic ecosystems and to manage the impacts of activities on our valuable aquatic resources. In summary, the scope, scale, and importance of conservation really demand a collective effort.
I think the efforts required to promote conservation are well illustrated by the establishment of marine protected areas, as one example. The department, on behalf of the Government of Canada, has established eight marine protected areas through participatory and collaborative processes, and a further seven marine protected areas have been identified for future designation through similar processes.
I think it's important to stress that the establishment of marine protected areas is not just a departmental effort, but a collective effort involving industry sectors, conservation organizations, provincial organizations, and others. To some extent, that's our challenge in developing marine protected areas' needs across the board. DFO is also leading the establishment of Canada's network of marine protected areas based on a national framework, which has been developed through federal, provincial, and territorial collaboration. The network will consist of 13 bioregions and will include existing federal, provincial, and territorial marine protected areas and other area-based conservation measures--for example, fisheries closures that can contribute to network objectives.
The overall goals of the network are to provide long-term protection of marine biodiversity, ecosystem function, and special natural features; to support the conservation and management of Canada's living resources in their habitats and the socio-economic values and ecosystem services they provide; finally, to enhance public awareness and appreciation of Canada's marine environments and Canada's rich maritime history and culture.
I've provided committee members with a copy of a report entitled “Spotlight on Marine Protected Areas in Canada”, which is illustrative of some of the work that's happening in this area. Certainly if the committee is interested in further information, we can provide that at your request.
Biodiversity is a fundamental element of conservation, and DFO's contribution to the conservation of aquatic biodiversity is supported, for example, by the Species at Risk Act. Our colleagues in Environment Canada and the Parks Canada Agency have already spoken to you about the Species at Risk Act, I believe. Like Environment Canada and Parks Canada, DFO must propose listing decisions and then produce recovery strategies and action plans for aquatic species listed as endangered or threatened and management plans for species listed as a special concern.
Approximately 103 aquatic species have been listed under the Species at Risk Act. In the Maritimes region, some notable listed species include the Atlantic blue whales, North Atlantic right whales, northern bottlenose dolphins, inner Bay of Fundy salmon, and the leatherback turtle. All of those are protected under the Species at Risk Act.
Recovery strategies have been produced for 68 of the aquatic listed species, with some action plans completed or near completion, and management plans have been produced for 35 species of special concern. Through development of these documents DFO engages affected and interested individuals and groups, generates an understanding of issues associated with these species at risk, and attempts to garner support for recovery actions.
To increase the engagement of Canadians in the protection and recovery of species at risk, DFO and Environment Canada support stewardship through the habitat stewardship program and the aboriginal funds for species at risk. I think these are important aspects of the program. Combined, these two funds will invest $7.3 million this fiscal year while leveraging an additional $15.5 million in more than 150 conservation projects across the country.
The aboriginal fisheries strategy and the aboriginal aquatic resource and oceans management programs are other examples of how DFO makes significant investments annually to engage aboriginal groups in monitoring, reporting, and enforcing efforts to protect ecosystems. As valued partners, aboriginal groups play an important and sometimes critical role in DFO's promotion of sustainable fisheries and the oceans sector.
The department continues its leadership role in aquatic resource conservation through the important work on the conservation and sustainable use of fisheries. In collaboration with the fishing industry, DFO has developed a sustainable fisheries framework. This overarching framework incorporates existing fisheries management measures with new policies and tools. It also includes tools to monitor and assess initiatives geared towards ensuring an environmentally sustainable fishery and identifies areas that may need improvement.
I will go to the conservation plan now.