Help Design Marine Protected Areas for Nova Scotia and Bay of Fundy
Official title: Marine Conservation Network Plan
Why This Matters
Fish off Nova Scotia or New Brunswick? These protected areas could change where and how you fish. Live in a coastal community? Your local economy depends on healthy oceans. Even if you're just someone who eats Atlantic seafood, protecting these waters helps keep fish stocks sustainable for the long term.
What Could Change
New marine protected areas will be designated across the Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy. Oil and gas exploration, mining, dumping, and bottom trawling will be banned in these zones. Some fishing and eco-tourism can continue, but specific rules will vary by site. The network plan will guide which areas get protected over the coming years.
Key Issues
- Which ocean areas should be protected and at what level?
- How can fishing communities continue to operate while meeting conservation goals?
- What activities should be allowed in different protected zones?
How to Participate
- Review the interactive map of existing and potential network sites to see which areas are being considered for protection.
- Learn about the approach used to create the marine conservation network and the national protection standards.
- Contact the Marine Planning and Conservation Program at maritimesmpas@dfo-mpo.gc.ca with questions or feedback.
What Happened
DFO completed targeted engagement on March 31, 2022 and received feedback from federal agencies, provinces, First Nations, Indigenous organizations, and stakeholders including fishing, aquaculture, oil and gas, shipping industries, environmental NGOs, and academia. The department reviewed this feedback and shared a summary with partners. Revisions were made to the network plan based on consultation feedback and recent science guidance. Broader public engagement was planned for early 2024 to finalize the plan.