Thank you. I do not think protecting our oceans is a political issue. Political support is needed to enable scientists and organizations to indicate the areas to be protected. You said it is not like you get to the office one day and draw boxes or circles on a map of the oceans. Our work is based on science, and on what we know about protected areas in particular. That can include coral, sponges, species of fish or species at risk. It can also include regions subject to multiple human and ecological pressures which then become priorities.
Our approach also involves using the science that DFO has and drawing on the science of other organizations if necessary. We also draw on traditional knowledge to determine the priority areas for protection. We give priority to areas where stress factors are the most obvious, such as human or historical factors or climate change. That means we have to designate locations. This approach then leads to the whole designation process. This can include the closure of fishing areas, for instance, or marine protected areas.