In June 2016, Canada announced a five-point plan to reach its national and international marine conservation targets. One initiative is to identify existing and establish new other effective area-based conservation measures (OEABCM). Discussions with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Task Group on OEABCMs, the CBDs Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, and the Canadian Council of Ecological Areas informed the definition of OEABCM. Canadas Science Advisory Secretariat Process informed on the characteristics and factors to be used in determining whether an area-based management measure would likely provide biodiversity conservation benefits.
Five broad criteria for identifying marine OEABCM are outlined within an operational guidance document created by Fisheries and Oceans Canada:
1. Clearly defined geographic location;
2. Conservation or stock management objectives;
3. Presence of ecological components of interest;
4. Long-term duration of implementation; and
5. The ecological components of interest are effectively conserved
The defined criteria is to inform the identification of other measures and to guide future management and reporting of OEABCM