Oceans and Habitat

The Regional Oceans and Habitat Branch (ROHB) comprises two areas of activities, the Fish Habitat Management Branch and the Oceans Management Branch.

These two broad orientations ensure fish habitat protection, both in inland waters and in the marine environment, and contribute to the sustainable management of all human activities in coastal areas.

In its mandate, the Regional Oceans and Habitat Branch is responsible, on the one hand, for implementation of Canada’s Oceans Strategy, which includes an integrated management program, the establishment of marine protected areas and the development of quality criteria for the marine environment in order to ensure sound management of the marine environment and maintain the biological diversity, health and productivity of ecosystems. On the other hand, it is responsible for fish habitat management in inland waters and the marine environment, with an emphasis on conservation and the protection of aquatic habitats. It performs the environmental review of major projects as hydroelectric development or offshore oil & gas exploration and production projects. The Branch is charged with enforcing the fish habitat protection provisions of the Fisheries Act. It can grant authorization, under certain conditions, for projects that run the risk of harming, destroying or disturbing fish habitat.

The Regional Oceans and Habitat Branch enforces, in particular, the provisions of the Fisheries Act, the Oceans Act, and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. These legislative tools are intended to maintain biological production capacity in support of fisheries, to conserve the marine environment through new management tools, and to evaluate the environmental impacts of projects affecting fish habitat.