A portion of Canadas Offshore Pacific Bioregion has been identified as an area of interest (AOI) for possible future protection as a Act Marine Protected Area. The Offshore Pacific AOI is located in the southern portion of the Offshore Pacific Bioregion extending from the continental shelf break, west of Vancouver Island, to the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundary with an area of approximately 140,000 km2.
The interim conservation objective of the Offshore Pacific AOI is to contribute to the protection and conservation of the unique seafloor features (i.e., seamounts and hydrothermal vents) and the ecosystems they support in Canadas Offshore Pacific Bioregion. An Advisory Committee will be established for this AOI. As this process moves forward, Fisheries and Oceans Canada will finalize the conservation objectives, determine the appropriate site boundaries and develop a management approach for a proposed Offshore Pacific MPA in consultation with partners and stakeholders.
Progress reports
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
Type of commitment
- Large Marine Ecosystem approach
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
Type of commitment
- Marine protected area with partial protection
May 2017
Area of Interest in the Offshore Pacific Bioregion is announced
Staff / Technical expertise
Canadian Government scientific and techincal expertise, and financial resources have been invested in the identification of the Area of Interest.
Basic information
Time-frame: May 2017 - Ongoing
Partners
Fisheries and Oceans Canada(Government); Government of British Columbia(sub-national Government); Indigenous groups(other relevant actors); Canadian environmental organizations (NGO); Private Sector
Ocean Basins
Beneficiary countries
Canada
Other beneficaries
Contact information
Alice Cheung, Regional Manager, Community Involvement and Resource Restoration, Alice.Cheung@dfo-mpo.gc.c, 604-666-1079
Vancouver, British Columbia
Other SDGs
