ARCHIVED - Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Lead department Strategic Outcome: Healthy and Productive Aquatic Ecosystems

Lead department Program Activity: Oceans Management

Start date: April 1, 2007

End date: March 31, 2012

Total federal funding allocation: $61.5 million

Description: The Health of the Oceans (HOTO) initiative provides funds, as part of the National Water Strategy, over a five year period to support 22 initiatives across five departments and agencies. HOTO reflects at Budget 2007 commitment and contributes to meeting domestic obligations under the Oceans Act, as well as international obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the World Summitt on Sustainable Development. The goal of the initiative is to achieve progress on the health of the oceans through establishing new marine protected areas, increasing the capacity of government to enforce pollution prevention rules and to respond to environmental emergencies; and through strengthening collaborative oceans arrangements with our partners in the Arctic and in the Gulf of Maine.

Shared outcomes: The initiative is targeted to achieve three shared outcomes, as defined by the RMAF, namely:

• Protecting sensitive areas, mainly through the establishment of Marine Protected Areas;
• Pollution Control; and
• Collaborative Oceans Management.

Governance structure: This initiative is subject to interdepartmental governance through the Assistant Deputy Ministers Interdepartmental Committee on Oceans (ICO), supported by a shadow Directors' General Committee. This Governance structure aligns oceans policy and program planning. The ICOs review the initiatives on a regular basis including the annual reports on the progress of this initiative.

Planning Highlights: The Oceans Directorate at DFO monitors the HOTO initiative biannually and develops tools and processes to capture and report performance information. The monitoring and reporting process assesses progress against work plans and thus provides an opportunity for adaptive functions during the projects life cycle. The collaborative governance structure contributes to facilitated information access and exchange and leads to better informed decisions relating to program planning and management. An annual performance summary is prepared for submission to TBS.

 

($ Thousands)

Federal Partner/Program Activity	Names of Program for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending 2010-11	Expected Results for 2010-11
Fisheries and Oceans
Oceans Management	Federal Marine Protected Areas Strategy Implementation in DFO	1250.0	250.0	Advance the creation by 2012 of a Federal Network of Marine Protected Areas that contributes to the health of Canada's oceans, established and managed within an integrated oceans management framework.
	Development of a Federal-Provincial-Territorial MPA Network	2,500.0	650.0	Significant progress in planning and advancement of a National (federal-provincial-territorial) Marine Protected Area Network in Canada's three oceans. For 2010-11, further alignment with the Federal Network, and considerable engagement/consultation with other jurisdictions and oceans stakeholders.
	Arctic Council — Ecosystem Projects	1,000.0	225.0	Continued work towards the development of a State of the Arctic Basin Report and use of common ecosystem monitoring strategies in shared and boundary waters by 2012. Canada's continued participation in expert workshops and major conferences on ecosystem approach for advancing EBM concepts and approaches, promoting Canada's leadership in EBM applied to the Arctic, and sharing information and practices with other circumpolar countries, including the US. A suite of indicators for monitoring and assessing ecosystem status and trends, socio-economic aspects and governance structures in place in Arctic.
	Oceans Centres of Expertise (Coastal, Corals, Data Integration, Traditional Ecological Knowledge)	3,000.0	600.0	Four national centres of expertise have been established within the regions of DFO. Through 2010-11, development and implementation of common tools and approaches in the five LOMAs will continue to protect deep sea corals and sponge reefs, incorporate traditional knowledge, develop state of the oceans reports and accelerate progress in addressing coastal management issues.
	Collaboration with World Wildlife Fund (WWF)	213.0	42.6	Greater contribution by environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs), such as the WWF, to the Health of the Oceans, with an emphasis on joint initiatives between WWF-Canada and DFO in the Newfoundland and Labrador region. Activities in 2010-11 will be targeted towards advancing ecosystem-based management in the Placentia Bay/Grand Banks LOMA, the development of a Cold Water Coral Conservation Strategy for the Newfoundland and Labrador region, and the identification/pursuit of collaborative projects with provincial government, aboriginal groups, stakeholders and other ENGOs.
	Gulf of Maine (at DFO)	750.0	147.5	This initiative builds on the existing successful trans-boundary collaboration and management of Groundfish stocks through the CA-US Steering Committee, and the excellent cooperation between states and provinces through the Gulf of Maine Council. Based on DFO's national standard, a literature review and project work plan for a joint CA-US Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine Ecosystem Overview and Assessment Report was developed as part of the 2005 Oceans Action Plan. Through 2010-11, transboundary, multi-jurisdicational governance structures will be advanced. Further discussions regarding the possible mechanisms/structure for developing a collaborative Canada/US management model for the Gulf of Maine.
	Marine Protected Areas Establishment	5,250.0	937.5	Six new MPAs will be designated by 2012 and a national monitoring and reporting system will be implemented for all Oceans Act MPAs. Through 2010-11, public and stakeholder consultation will continue to advance six proposed areas of interest toward designation in 2011-12.
Habitat Management	Integrated Management and Canadian Environmental Assessment Act Assessment Tools Linkages	1,450.0	425.0	Integrated management carried out under the Health of the Oceans initiative will be bridged with other tools, such as project environmental assessment conducted under the authority of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Work on the Regional Strategic Environmental Assessment Pilot Projects as well as training and education on pathways of effect models will continue.
Science for Healthy and Productive Aquatic Ecosystems	Ecosystem Science Support and Advice on Health of the Oceans	5,500.0	1,100.0	Science advice on Marine Protected Areas and on priority sector-specific impacts and mitigation, as outlined by the Oceans programs, will be provided. Specific projects will be developed through the Canadian Science Advisory process.
Canadian Coast Guard	Spill Capacity and Emergency Response Strategy	2,260.0	134.11	Canada's spill response capacity in the Arctic assessed, and equipment and systems to respond to the unique risks prepared. The procurement of remaining systems and equipment required to complete the project will take place in 2010-11.
Environment Canada
Biodiversity and Corporate services	Federal Marine Protected Areas Strategy - Implementation in EC	1,250.0	250.0	Advance the creation by 2012 of a Federal Network of Marine Protected Areas that contributes to the health of Canada's oceans, established and managed within an integrated oceans management framework.
	Marine Wildlife Areas Establishment	2,000.0	507.0	Both the National Wildlife Area at Sable Island and Marine Wildlife Area at Scott Islands will be ready for designation by 2012, and a contribution will have been made to the Federal Marine Protected Area Network building process.
Improved knowledge and information on weather and environmental conditions influence decision making and Corporate services	Sable Island Weather Station	4,000.0	800.0	The risk of loss of life or property due to weather events is reduced for mariners, Canadian citizens and the international community, by producing more accurate weather forecasts and warnings using data from the Sable Island Weather Station. The understanding of upper atmospheric conditions and the flow of airborne pollutants and greenhouse gases is improved, by enabling scientific research through the continued existence of the Sable Island weather Station infrastructure. The unique and fragile ecosystem of Sable Island is conserved by protecting it from human degradation.
Canadians adopt approaches that ensure the sustainable use and management of natural capital and working landscapes and Corporate services	Gulf of Maine (at EC)	751.0	148.0	Increased support for the Gulf of Maine Council and implementation of the joint Canada-US five-year action plan that includes implementation of regional strategies for adaptation to climate change, indicators development, education and engagement and joint monitoring for toxic contaminants in the trans-boundary ecosystem.
Parks Canada Agency
Heritage Places Establishment	Federal Marine Protected Area Strategy Implementation in Parks Canada	1,250.0	361.0	Advance the creation by 2012 of a Federal Network of Marine Protected Areas that contributes to the health of Canada's oceans, established and managed within an integrated oceans management framework. By 2010-11, the Education and Outreach Strategy will be finalized. Developmnet of communications products will continue.
	National Marine Conservation Area in Lancaster Sound	5,000.0	1,250.0	By 2012, achieve a full understanding of the feasibility of establishing a National Marine Conservation Area in Lancaster Sound with the support of Inuit, Nunavut and key sectoral stakeholders, leading to the conservation of a significant representative component of Canada's marine environment and a clear demonstration of Arctic sovereignty in the Northwest Passage.
Transport Canada
Transportation Safety and Security and Internal Services	Enforcement of Ballast Water Regulations	4,500.0	966.5	Enforcement of regulations that minimize the risk of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens from being introduced through ship ballast water to waters under Canadian jurisdiction.
	Pollution Prevention - Surveillance	13,000.0	3,180.6	Enforcement of Canada's pollution prevention regulations in the Pacific, Arctic, East Coast Waters, the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the St. Lawrence Estuary.
	Pollution Prevention - Dash 7 Outfitting	5,000.0	0	Project completed in 2009-10. Enforcement of Canada's pollution prevention regulations in the Pacific, Arctic, East Coast Waters, the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the St. Lawrence Estuary. Modernization of the current Dash 7 surveillance aircraft to a standard equal to the Dash 8 surveillance aircraft dedicated for use on the East and West Coast.
	Arctic International Marine Shipping Assessment	550.0	0	Project completed in 2009-10. An assessment of projected shipping activities and the associated environmental, social and economic impacts and risks as reduced sea ice may lead to increased marine transport in the Arctic.
	Pollution Prevention — Ship Waste Reduction Strategy	800.0	200.0	Adequate reception facilities for wastes; appropriate legislation and standards.
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Northern land Resources	Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment/ Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment from land-based sources of pollution	175.0	0	Project completed in 2008-09. An expanded arctic regional program of action on land-based sources of pollution; a greater understanding of Aboriginal Arctic marine resource use; and a greater understanding of the social, economic and environmental impacts from changing shipping patterns on northern and aboriginal communities.
Total		61,449.0	12,174.8

¹Funds from previous fiscal year transferred to 2010-11.

 

Contact information:

Wayne Moore

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

200 Kent Street

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0E6

Telephone: (613) 990-0001

Email: Wayne.Moore@dfo-mpo.gc.ca