Climate change is already impacting Canada’s three oceans. Reducing the pressure of climate change by mitigating greenhouse gas emissions is crucial but there is no doubt that future impacts are inevitable.



The immediate threats caused by human activities such as fishing, shipping and energy development need to be managed. Failure to actively deal with and adapt to these impacts could jeopardize existing conservation efforts and create a greater risk to biodiversity.

WWF-Canada and RSA, are working to help conserve Canada’s oceans by creating a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) to protect biologically important areas building ecosystems that are more resilient to climate change. Our aim is to ultimately provide a healthy, productive marine environment which supports the economy in Canada. RSA insures all sectors of the economy and society and is working to improve knowledge of those stakeholders while helping to reduce risk to them and the environment.

• We will strive for Government action through more robust marine policies, effective integrated management and scientific research such as spatial planning and mapping of sensitive areas
• We are pushing for the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to preserve biologically important areas. There are ecological and economic benefits to doing this. MPAs will not only help maintain a wide range of species, they’ll also help surrounding communities thrive by providing larger fish stocks and opportunities for eco-tourism.
• Growth of fish stocks will be a good indicator of the health of Canada’s oceans and the recovery of Atlantic cod will be concrete proof of success. Cod stocks severely declined in the 1990s, so their revival would be a major indicator of success.
• We will continue to build support among local communities and stakeholders for MPA networks in order to create a more sustainable balance between conservation and industry.

Management of human activities in the Arctic will become increasingly important as sea-ice continues to melt making it more accessible. The potential for lucrative industrial opportunities such as virgin fishing grounds; a shorter shipping route between the Pacific Ocean and Europe; and major new drilling fields for petroleum, will result in increased pressure and risk within the Arctic environment.

We will work to secure a transboundary agreement across the Beaufort Sea, and advocate for spatial planning tools to ensure that healthy functioning marine ecosystems can adapt to the impacts of climate change and human activity. 



We plan to achieve our aims in three steps:

• Produce spatial maps that will inform MPA strategies
• Promote a network of representative MPAs
• Develop and promote awareness to industry, communities and government, and encourage more sustainable management practices, in the context of risk mitigation