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Sustainable Development Strategy

Sustainable development is central to DFO's vision and priorities, and the Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) constitutes a core element of departmental planning. It outlines objectives and commitments for incorporating sustainable development into daily work, while offering DFO employees a practical working document that will help them attain results the Department has committed to achieving as part of its regulatory, operational and natural-resource management roles.

DFO clearly links sustainable development commitments to the Department's strategic outcomes and continues to make significant progress in ensuring that environmental, social and economic aspects are systematically considered in planning and policy development documents. DFO's Sustainable Development Strategy for 2007-2009 is an important tool to help the Department deliver on its mandate and guides the Department in terms of what it wants to achieve, what it will do to achieve those goals and how it will measure its results.

DFO's SDS metholodogy is based on the major elements of the Department's policy and program agenda as set out in the Strategic Plan, the results of consultations, and lessons learned from previous strategies. DFO's 2007-2009 SDS is organized according to the Department's three strategic outcomes and a fourth goal related to the impacts of DFO's operations on the environment:

  • Safe and accessible waterways;
  • Healthy and productive aquatic ecosystems;
  • Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture; and
  • Environmentally sustainable operations and management.

SDS Departmental Goal

On behalf of the Government of Canada, DFO is responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs that support Canada's scientific, ecological, social, and economic interests in oceans and fresh waters. As a department committed to sustainable development, DFO works to protect and conserve Canada's aquatic resources, while supporting the development and use of these resources.


 


Federal Sustainable Development Goal (s), including Greening of Government Operations goals, if applicable

The SDS departmental goal contributes to the following federal sustainable development goals:

  • Sustainable Development and Use of Natural Resources;
  • Governance for SD; and
  • Climate Change.

DFO's 2007-2009 Sustainable Development Strategy can be found on the DFO website.

 


Expected Results for 2007-2008 Supporting Performance Measure(s) Results Achieved for 2007-2008
Aquatic species at risk are protected or on the way to recovery
  • A positive evaluation that indicates overall support for the way DFO has developed and implemented the Species at Risk Program
  • The July 2006 Formative Evaluation of Federal Species at Risk (SAR) Program concluded that DFO has established an appropriate and effective management and administrative structure to support delivery of programs and activities related to the Species at Risk Act (SARA).
  • The evaluation also identified challenges for DFO related to recovery strategies; data deficiencies; resources; reliance on other partners and other governments that are dealing with their own internal issues related to lack of capacity, resources or commitment; and delays in the development of a coordinated federal policy and guidance framework to support SARA.
  • DFO has developed and implemented an Action Plan to address the evaluation's recommendations.
  • In 2007-2008, DFO embarked on a transformation initiative to further strengthen the management of the SAR Program to both respond to the 2006 evaluation and to meet the growing demands of SARA.
  • DFO will receive recommendations from stakeholders, and a response proposed to the Minister of Environment will follow
  • In 2007-2008, the government worked on developing its response to the recommendations of the First Round Table on SARA.
  • The Round Table was held in December 2006 (pursuant to section 27 of SARA).
  • DFO's SAR Program contributed to and participated in the development of the response, which is documented in an April 2008 report prepared by the Minister of the Environment.
  • The Round Table recommendations addressed five areas: Improving Efficiency and Accountability; Strengthening the Use of an Ecosystem Approach; Promoting a Conservation Legacy; Improving Consideration of Socio-Economic Factors in SAR Decision Making; and Facilitating the Engagement of Aboriginal Peoples.
  • Completion of recovery strategies that are in development by Recovery Teams
  • The status of aquatic species recovery strategies at the end of 2007-2008 was:
    • Total recovery strategies due: 37 (54 species);
    • Final recovery strategies posted: 26 (43 species);
    • Draft recovery strategies posted: 2 (2 species); and
    • Recovery strategies in development: 9 (9 species).
  • The SAR Program has experienced some delays in the development of recovery strategies because of ongoing consultations with affected stakeholders and complexities associated with the identification and protection of critical habitat.
  • The SAR Program is actively involved in initiatives to strengthen and enhance the development of recovery strategies.
The introduction of aquatic invasive species is minimized, and the impact of existing ones is remediated
  • Progress against activities that support the implementation of Canada's Action Plan to Address the Threat of Aquatic Invasive Species
  • Database, methodologies and tracking system developed
  • Risk assessments completed
  • In support of the implementation of Canada's Action Plan to Address the Threat of Aquatic Invasive Species:
    • Conducted research to address high-priority species, pathways of invasion and geographic locations;
    • Undertook activities associated with the rapid response to newly discovered introductions;
    • Developed a database, methodologies and a tracking system to monitor aquatic invasive species; and
    • Developed a national standard for assessing the risk of aquatic invasive species and completed biological risk assessments for Chinese Mitten Crab, Green Crab, Bloody Red Shrimp and spiny-rayed freshwater fish.
  • Fully operationalized the Centre of Expertise for Aquatic Risk Assessment (CEARA). CEARA has been established to conduct biological risk assessments of high-priority aquatic invasive species.
Marine activities are proactively managed, and the health of Canada's oceans is preserved in collaboration with stakeholders
  • Committees established federally and in each Large Ocean Management Area
  • Regional Implementation Committees (RICs) or equivalents for all Large Ocean Management Areas (LOMAs) have been established. The three national Interdepartmental Committees on Oceans (ICOs) continued to support integrated oceans planning and management among roughly 20 federal departments and agencies. In 2007-2008, Oceans Directorate convened two meetings of the Directors General Interdepartmental Committee on Oceans.
  • Number of sectors represented on committees
  • Each RIC or equivalent has an average of 20 participating federal and provincial/territorial departments and organizations. Committee membership and meaningful relationships will continue to be developed.
  • Integrated Management Plans in place for all LOMAs
  • An Integrated Management Plan has been completed for the Eastern Scotian Shelf LOMA. Plans for the other LOMAs are in various stages of development.
  • Creation of at least three new MPAs
  • One new Marine Protected Area (MPA) was established in 2008 (Bowie Seamount, bringing the total to seven). As announced in Budget 2008, six new MPAs are to be designated within the existing Large Ocean Management Areas, and a national monitoring and reporting system will be implemented for all Oceans Act MPAs by 2012.
  • Management plans in place for designated MPAs
  • Management Plans for three MPAs have been approved, while management plans for another six MPAs are in progress.
A new aquaculture governance regime is developed
  • Percentage of negotiations completed with provinces and percentage of consultations undertaken with all stakeholders
  • The Department has developed and is implementing a new Aquaculture Program initiative that will focus on governance and regulatory reform, regulatory science, innovation, and certification and market access.
  • Ratification of the renewed aquaculture management framework by federal, provincial and territorial ministers
  • Approval of the initiative was delayed a year; no progress has been made on federal/provincial/territorial implementation agreements.
  • Number of federal/provincial/territorial implementation agreements signed
A new fisheries management governance model is developed to meet the needs of an evolving industry, recognizing principles of sustainable development, as well as the precautionary and ecosystem approach
  • Percentage of conservation frameworks that incorporate the precautionary and ecosystem approach
  • The conservation framework has been developed and is being implemented. Included in this framework is a tool that will help the Department monitor the implementation of key initiatives that incorporate an ecosystem and precautionary approach. Regions are developing priorities and targets that we will report on for 2008-2009.
  • Number of fisheries with self-rationalization programs
  • Rationalization, restructuring and combining initiatives flowing from summit and round table fora are under way across Atlantic Canada. Many fisheries are implementing, while others are still considering options. In the Pacific Region, rationalization initiatives are under way for Groundfish, Crab and Salmon fisheries. An inventory of existing initiatives and gaps will be developed in 2008-2009, and where required, self-adjustment programs in other regions will be developed and implemented in the coming three years. All fisheries are to be rationalized/restructured and have self-adjustment mechanisms in place by 2010-2011.
  • Completed guidelines for entering into such arrangements
  • Rules are currently developed on a fishery-by-fishery basis. An inventory of existing rules/guidelines and gaps will be developed in 2008-2009.
  • Completed national co-management policy framework
  • The current work plan foresees finalized and published co-management guidelines in place in 2010.
  • Number of roundtables, task groups and summits that address specific fisheries issues
  • Outside regular resource management sessions, more than 20 sessions have been held nationally to address specific fisheries issues, both conservation and socio-economic. Some of these initiatives began in 2006 and continue to be active.
  • Number of fisheries with stable sharing arrangements
  • Three fisheries had stable sharing arrangements in 2007-2008 (two in the Quebec region and one in the Maritimes region)
  • Number of disputes regarding access and allocation that are settled
  • Three disputes regarding access and allocation were settled in 2007-2008 (two in the Quebec region and one in the Maritimes region)
  • Number of education programs and communication and inter-governmental initiatives; number of partnerships and negotiated enforceable management measures; number of major case investigations
  • Data are not available for 2007-2008.
  • Establishment of administrative sanctioning regime
  • Quota reconciliation is currently implemented in 37 active fisheries for vessels over 65 feet long.
  • Expanded ticketing system
  • Data are not available for 2007-2008.
Strengthened collaboration with Aboriginal groups contributing to sustainable Aboriginal communities
  • Evaluation of trainee performance by service provider
  • Under the At-Sea Mentoring Initiative, 183 of the 220 deckhands and eight of the 43 wheelhouse trainees involved are "ready for work." Of the 35 wheelhouse trainees deemed "not yet ready," 20 were very close to (less than 10% below) the "ready for work" threshold.
  • Development and implementation of software, regional partnership funds and contribution agreements with participating First Nations
  • Nineteen Fisheries Operations Management contributions agreements signed.
  • Number of Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy contribution agreements
  • One hundred and forty-five Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy contribution agreements.
  • Number of groups with signed contribution agreements
  • Two hundred and thirty-three Aboriginal communities participating in the Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy.
  • Number of short-term Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management (AAROM) capacity-building contribution agreements
  • Sixteen short-term AAROM capacity-building contribution agreements.
  • Number of multi-year AAROM collaborative management agreements
  • Twenty-two multi-year AAROM collaborative management agreements.
  • Number of groups who have made the transition from capacity-building to collaborative management
  • Five groups have made the transition from capacity-building to collaborative management.
  • Number of groups with signed Aboriginal Inland Habitat Plan (AIHP) contribution agreements
  • Fourteen groups have signed AIHP contribution agreements.
  • Regional funding distribution (DFO and joint DFO and Environment Canada)
  • There are 25 groups with signed Aboriginal Funds for Species at Risk (AFSAR) contribution agreements.
  • AFSAR regional funding distribution is as follows: Pacific $220,800, Central and Arctic $146,002, Maritimes $157,405, Gulf $64,654 and Quebec $167,591.
Environmental impacts are taken into consideration in DFO's policies, plans and programs through the integration of a Strategic Environmental Assessment approach
  • 10% increase in the number of participants who have completed Strategic Environmental Assessment training and awareness sessions
  • In 2007, there was more than a 20% increase in the number of DFO participants in Strategic Environmental Assessment training and awareness sessions and activities.
DFO staff members understand and are able to respond to environmental concerns as part of their daily work, including environmental compliance requirements, when relevant
  • Module 1 and 2 completed by 2008
  • Module 1, "Environmental Awareness Training," is intranet based and available on the Office of Environmental Coordination website.
  • Module 2, "Greening Your Office," was developed and incorporated into the Environmental Awareness Training module.
A Canadian Coast Guard that better understands the environmental impact of its business and directs the operation and development of all assets in accordance with a set of industry-leading standards and regulations
  • Further integrate climate change, severe weather event and natural disaster considerations into the planning, risk management and operational readiness of Coast Guard response capabilities
  • The establishment of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) National Co-ordination Centre (NCC) was completed in Spring 2007. In the event of a major emergency, centralized co-ordination helps to ensure that CCG senior management has prompt, accurate information upon which to base decisions and support high-level Government of Canada decision-making.
  • As part of its Aids to Navigation of the 21st Century initiative, CCG has converted as many steel buoys to plastic and lighted buoys to light emitting diode (LED) technology as current technology permits, thus completing an SDS commitment that was planned for 2009-2010.
The impact of climate change issues on departmental business is better understood
  • Climate change considerations are integrated in the Report on Plans and Priorities and engage all sectors
  • DFO recognizes climate change affects many aspects of its Science activities and that understanding and predicting climate change and its impacts is important. The Department's Science Program has accordingly established the Climate Change Science Initiative (CCSI) to provide for a focus on national climate-change research priorities. Research under the initiative will start in 2008-2009 and will be aligned with three major themes:
    1. Understanding the role of oceans in regional climate;
    2. Assessing the effects of climate change on ecosystem composition, structure and function; and
    3. Investigating emerging issues that could affect ecosystem health.
  • DFO is leading six Canadian International Polar Year science projects and participating in five others to better understand the Arctic Ocean's role in global climate and the effect of climate variability and change on Arctic marine ecosystems.