Conservative members of the House committee on fisheries and oceans are expressing concerns regarding the establishment of marine protected areas by the federal government to achieve its conservation goals by 2030. These members argue that fishermen in their coastal constituencies have not been consulted and fear that the plan could lead to the closure of fishing areas, impacting their livelihoods.
During a recent committee meeting, Aaron Gunn, Conservative MP for North Island-Powell River on Vancouver Island, criticized the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), stating that there is widespread resentment towards the department among fishermen. Officials from various government departments, including DFO, Parks Canada, and the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, defended the establishment of marine protected areas, emphasizing that not all fisheries within these areas will be shut down.
Kathy Graham, director general of marine planning and conservation at DFO, acknowledged the need for improved outreach and communication with the fishing industry. She highlighted efforts to minimize the socioeconomic impacts of these protected areas by adjusting boundaries accordingly.
Conservative MP Clifford Small raised questions about the 30×30 conservation objective, which aims to protect 30 percent of Canada’s land and water by 2030. Small cited an example of limited fishing activities in the St. Anns Bank Marine Protected Area in Nova Scotia, expressing concerns about the level of trust in the process.
The debate also touched on whether the 30×30 goal is based on scientific evidence or driven by political motives. Officials clarified that the target was established following the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreement, adopted in December 2022 at the COP15 United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Montreal.
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Jerry DeMarco explained that while the 30×30 target involves negotiation, it aims to address climate change and biodiversity loss. The committee is set to commence a study on marine protected areas in the coming year as Canada works towards meeting its conservation objectives.