Marine Spatial Planning (closed)

Deep water drill rig moored near rocky shore.

Context

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is an internationally recognized process underway in over 70 countries to address increasing demands on ocean space and multiple pressures on marine and coastal resources through an integrated approach. Key drivers of MSP are to sustain and enable blue growth in existing and emerging ocean sectors (e.g., marine renewable energy), protect and conserve areas of importance, address conflicts and trade-offs in crowded ocean areas, and maximize the use of ocean space to achieve sustainable outcomes.

The process of MSP answers three simple questions:

  1. Where are we today?
  2. Where do we want to be?
  3. How do we get there?

International guidance offers a step-by-step approach. Effective MSP is continuous, not a one-time “master plan”. It involves setting goals and specifying measurable objectives, through to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation – and is meant to be cyclical and adaptive. However, this requires good ocean governance directed by policy frameworks that guide effective delivery of MSP. A mature process can help foster resilient, sustainable, and future-oriented ocean spaces.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is advancing MSP in five large geographic areas – the Pacific North Coast, Pacific South Coast, Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy, Newfoundland and Labrador Shelves and Estuary and Gulf of St Lawrence. First generation marine spatial plans in these marine areas will be coordinating with federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners and stakeholder interests.

What we are looking to advance

As part of the engagement for development of the Blue Economy Strategy Canadians identified support for MSP and understood that effective spatial planning processes can support our blue economy. This review will focus on engaging Canadians further on a specific finding from the What We Heard Report – “Canada needs strong legislation and regulations, including the Oceans Act, to enforce marine spatial plans and manage today’s oceans issues using MSP”.

We would like to obtain further feedback from you on this theme to help inform future policy development to strengthen Canada’s MSP regime.

How to participate

We are seeking your feedback using the consultation tools below by March 31, 2023.

Sharing your views using this platform provides an opportunity to engage in conversation with others; however, if you prefer to share your views using email, please email BlueEconomy-EconomieBleue@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

We may follow-up with you to explore your input in more detail and may share your comments with other teams, departments or governments, where relevant. Input received that falls outside of the scope of this consultation will be shared with the relevant regulator(s) for their information.

For assistance

Visit the Let's Talk Federal Regulations 101 Page to learn how:

  • to use the platform
  • to register and provide comments
  • the feedback will be reported back

For technical assistance, visit Technical Support.

Deep water drill rig moored near rocky shore.

Context

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is an internationally recognized process underway in over 70 countries to address increasing demands on ocean space and multiple pressures on marine and coastal resources through an integrated approach. Key drivers of MSP are to sustain and enable blue growth in existing and emerging ocean sectors (e.g., marine renewable energy), protect and conserve areas of importance, address conflicts and trade-offs in crowded ocean areas, and maximize the use of ocean space to achieve sustainable outcomes.

The process of MSP answers three simple questions:

  1. Where are we today?
  2. Where do we want to be?
  3. How do we get there?

International guidance offers a step-by-step approach. Effective MSP is continuous, not a one-time “master plan”. It involves setting goals and specifying measurable objectives, through to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation – and is meant to be cyclical and adaptive. However, this requires good ocean governance directed by policy frameworks that guide effective delivery of MSP. A mature process can help foster resilient, sustainable, and future-oriented ocean spaces.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is advancing MSP in five large geographic areas – the Pacific North Coast, Pacific South Coast, Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy, Newfoundland and Labrador Shelves and Estuary and Gulf of St Lawrence. First generation marine spatial plans in these marine areas will be coordinating with federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners and stakeholder interests.

What we are looking to advance

As part of the engagement for development of the Blue Economy Strategy Canadians identified support for MSP and understood that effective spatial planning processes can support our blue economy. This review will focus on engaging Canadians further on a specific finding from the What We Heard Report – “Canada needs strong legislation and regulations, including the Oceans Act, to enforce marine spatial plans and manage today’s oceans issues using MSP”.

We would like to obtain further feedback from you on this theme to help inform future policy development to strengthen Canada’s MSP regime.

How to participate

We are seeking your feedback using the consultation tools below by March 31, 2023.

Sharing your views using this platform provides an opportunity to engage in conversation with others; however, if you prefer to share your views using email, please email BlueEconomy-EconomieBleue@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

We may follow-up with you to explore your input in more detail and may share your comments with other teams, departments or governments, where relevant. Input received that falls outside of the scope of this consultation will be shared with the relevant regulator(s) for their information.

For assistance

Visit the Let's Talk Federal Regulations 101 Page to learn how:

  • to use the platform
  • to register and provide comments
  • the feedback will be reported back

For technical assistance, visit Technical Support.

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
Page last updated: 11 Apr 2023, 04:49 PM