Renewing the Oceans Protection Plan
Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan plays a critical role in improving our marine safety system so that Canadians can be confident marine shipping is happening without increased harm to the environment. Improvements to our marine safety system—through the Oceans Protection Plan—are the result of valuable collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, coastal communities, the marine industry, environmental organizations, and academia. Each are committed to protecting Canada’s greatest resource—our coasts and waterways—for future generations. Since the Oceans Protection Plan started, over 50 initiatives are being delivered to strengthen marine safety, advance scientific research, and protect coastal ecosystems from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Check out the results so far in our Report to Canadians 2021.
As we look towards renewing the Oceans Protection Plan, we will continue working collaboratively to ensure Canada’s oceans are protected for generations to come.
Tell us what you think using the idea board below.
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkView All Ideas8 months ago
Have and enforce a speed limit in Desolation Sound and adjacent areas for all vessels, including commercial ones.
Hi there, I am a sailor that is on B.C. waters approximately 75% of the calendar year. I spent 5 to 9 months in the Desolation sound and adjacent areas per year. Many times a year I witness excessive speeds in very close proximity to grey whales, Orca whales but especially the 8 to 12 humpback whales with their calves that have begun to enhance our "inside waters". In addition to excessive speeds by jet skies and up to 120 foot vessels in very close proximity, many 30 to 50 foot boats follow the whales around especially in the whale passage area, between Cortes Island and Read island , approaching within several feet causing stress behaviors such as breaching and tail flapping. It's outright whale harassment, one foggy day we watched a 20 foot vessel chase and repeatedly approach the same whale for 3 to 4 hours often touching its back with the bow of the boat. It's time to do something, there needs to be a speed limit of 6 knots maximum in the entire area, for all vessels including commercial vessels. All of the time, not just when whales are visible. And in addition enforcement! There needs to be consequences for this egregious behavior.
almost 2 years ago
Visualize for the public
1% to 14% Canadian oceans protection from 2015 to 2021 is amazing, however given the size of our country's borders and ocean territory this may be hard to visualize. Can we get a map? Some easy-to-understand statistics? For example, "Canada's protected oceans cover an area the size of X" or "in the last year Canada has added X km squared to our protected oceans, that's an area bigger than ____!" It would also help to highlight some of the protected areas with snapshots of some kind, focusing on key protected species and perhaps a photograph of the area. Looking on our government's own website is a nightmare. While all the information may be there, finding it is a pain, and it's almost entirely told through words and data. People will be hard-pressed to care about something they can't comprehend the significance of. For an excellent example of what clear, impactful messaging looks like check out WWF's page dedicated to the "Coral Triangle" about marine protection efforts in the Philippines: https://wwf.panda.org/discover/knowledge_hub/where_we_work/coraltriangle/ I've also attached one of their key infographics showing at a glance where, what, and why they're protecting areas.
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkView All Ideas
Signup Banner
