Speak Up for Our Ocean!

30x30 is Canada’s ocean protection target. Send the letter now to ensure we hit it.

We cannot survive without the ocean. It produces 50 percent of the planet’s oxygen, puts food on our plates, helps us fight climate change, and supports vibrant coastal communities.

But the vast majority of Canada’s ocean remains legally unprotected, leaving marine species and their habitats vulnerable to destruction and exposed to contaminants. As the country boasting the longest coastline on Earth, Canada isn’t doing enough to conserve it.

Today, we are driving alarming species decline, destroying diverse ecosystems, and damaging our long-term future. Amazing marine animals, like the North Atlantic right whale and Southern Resident Orca, are at risk of extinction. We can choose a better future for ourselves and for the ocean.

Canada has set a goal to protect 30 percent of our ocean by 2030—that involves creating protected areas for marine wildlife where nature can thrive.

Restoring and protecting our ocean is crucial to tackling climate disruption, reversing biodiversity loss, and supporting human wellbeing. To achieve it all, the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) with high-ecological standards is our best bet.

Send the letter now to advocate for the creation of marine protected areas that not only put nature and coastal communities first but also respect Indigenous rights and support Indigenous-led visions for marine conservation.

A strong network of Marine Protected Areas will work to reduce habitat degradation, slow the loss of endangered species, and restore depleted fish stocks. It’s clear that protecting 30 percent of our ocean by 2030 will go a long way to ensure Canada preserves the nature and way of life we know and love.

Your voice for nature has never been more imperative. Let the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard know that meeting 30 percent by 2030 is important to you.

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Minister

Diane

Lebouthillier

Government of Canada

Dear Honourable Joyce Murray,

I was thrilled to see the government invest in Budget 2021 to protect 25% of the ocean by 2025, and work toward 30% by 2030. It gives me hope for the future.

At the same time, we know that the ocean is under severe threat from climate change and biodiversity loss. The ocean cannot withstand any more abuse, and that’s why I want to stress the importance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). MPAs contribute to a healthy marine environment and offer a nature-based solution to address the impacts of climate change by protecting marine ecosystems, their habitats, and their species. MPAs also contribute to Canadian culture while supporting the economic prosperity of local economies and coastal communities.

Wherever possible, new MPAs should be Indigenous-led and all MPAs must respect Indigenous rights. Fisheries and Oceans Canada must recognize the authority of Indigenous Peoples to steward their waters and it is important that Indigenous peoples have the opportunity to co-govern MPAs in Canada.

When it comes to ocean protection, both quality and quantity matter. In your effort to advance protections for 30% of the ocean in Canada, high ecological standards must be in place. This is critical to ensuring that conservation efforts effectively recover ocean ecosystems. I am urging you to implement the minimum standards of protection in existing and new MPAs. We urgently need a plan to implement minimum protection standards for all MPAs including no bottom trawling, no oil and gas activities, no deep-sea mining, and no dumping.

A healthy ocean depends on a network of MPAs to help protect species, habitats, and ecosystems. MPA networks allow exponential benefits beyond a single site system. Networks reduce the degradation of coastal and marine habitats, slow the loss of endangered marine species, and restore depleted fish stocks. Investing in a healthy ocean will support good jobs, fight climate change, and reverse biodiversity loss.

I am urging you to develop and implement networks of MPAs with high ecological standards in order to meet our conservation goals.

Sincerely,

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