On June 7, 2017 the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced existing fisheries management measures in Canadian waters that provide refuge to fish, mammals and their habitat, contributing to Canadas 2017 marine conservation targets. There are five criteria, which Canada has developed, that these conservation measure must meet in order to contribute to Canadas marine conservation targets: the geographic location must be clearly defined; stock management or conservation objectives need to directly relate to an important species or habitat; the area must contain an important species and important habitat; the measures must be long term; and, the measures need to protect the important species and its habitat from both existing and foreseeable pressures.

Based on these criteria, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has evaluated existing fisheries management measures and species at risk critical habitat. Measures that currently meet the criteria represent about 26,600 km2 and an additional 0.46% of protected marine territory in Canada. These marine refuges are intended to be in place for the long-term and therefore, will make a lasting contribution to marine conservation.