The House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans met to study the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development’s report on establishing marine protected areas, hearing from Commissioner Jerry V. DeMarco and officials from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Parks Canada Agency.
Commissioner Jerry V. DeMarco stated that Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada were not on track to meet the 2025 target of protecting 25% of marine and coastal areas, having increased coverage from 12.5% to 15.5% during the audit period, and had not developed a plan to meet the 2030 target of 30%, including a lack of updated collaborative frameworks and clear guidance for the federal marine protection standard. He recommended improving public information on the size of no-take zones and the portion of sites open to activities, and noted that completing the map of protected areas would provide certainty for decision-making on major projects.
Kathy Graham, Director General at DFO, acknowledged the audit findings and agreed with the recommendations, emphasizing DFO’s commitment to partnerships with Indigenous peoples and stakeholders, and highlighting that Canada has advanced from 1% to over 15% marine conservation since 2015. She noted that 10 of 14 marine protected areas had little to no measurable economic impact on existing fisheries under final boundaries, and that fishing activities continue in all Canadian MPAs, which are not no-take zones, with boundaries often adjusted through consultation to minimize impacts.
Tara Shannon, Assistant Deputy Minister at Environment and Climate Change Canada, stated that the Canadian Wildlife Service manages 55 marine sites, including the Scott Islands national wildlife area, and is exploring a new protected area in Haida Gwaii in partnership with the Haida Nation. She confirmed that her department is working with DFO and Parks Canada to respond to the audit and improve application of federal protection standards and information sharing.
David Millar, Vice-President at Parks Canada, agreed with the audit recommendations and stressed that creating national marine conservation areas requires meaningful collaboration with Indigenous peoples, provinces, territories, industry, and communities to ensure ecological and social viability. He noted that the consultation process for the south coast fjords NMCA in Newfoundland included 14 community meetings and 10 dedicated meetings with the fishing industry, and that the agency has removed about 30% of the study area to accommodate aquaculture and fishing interests.
Lori Macadam, Director at Parks Canada, added that for the south coast fjords NMCA, less than 5% of the area is proposed for fishing restrictions, with longline and lobster fisheries allowed elsewhere, and that any future expansion would require a thorough consultation process similar to establishment. She explained that the proposal originated from the town of Burgeo about 20 years ago, and that Parks Canada is focused on completing feasibility for current sites before considering expansion to other regions like New Brunswick.
Tracey Sandgathe, Regional Director at DFO for the Pacific Region, stated that on the west coast, existing marine protected areas allow some level of fishing tailored to conservation objectives, and that future sites will similarly work with harvesters to reduce impacts while meeting conservation goals. She did not provide specific information on worst-case scenarios for the salmon fishing industry.
During the meeting, Conservative members questioned the economic impact of MPAs on fishing communities and the basis for the 30% target, with Mr. Gunn arguing it was political rather than scientific and citing a study showing no biodiversity benefit. Liberal members defended the process, with Mr. Morrissey noting that existing laws do not provide the same level of protection as MPAs and that fishers in areas like Eastport support them. The Bloc Québécois’s Mr. Deschênes pressed on the lack of legal consequences for missing the 2025 target and questioned Parks Canada’s transparency, while Mr. Cormier clarified that MPAs are not no-take zones and that the department works to minimize economic impacts. No procedural debate, motions, or votes occurred during the meeting.
AI-generated summary — may contain errors; verify against the official evidence.