NR-HQ-01-12E

Dhaliwal announces New Action Plan for Sustainable Development of Canada’s Fisheries and Oceans Resources

February 16, 2001

OTTAWA -- The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced today the tabling in Parliament of the new Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Sustainable Development Strategy for 2001-2003.

"The commitment my department is undertaking today reflects the increasing priority that Canadians and the Government of Canada place on preserving a safe and clean natural environment," Mr. Dhaliwal said. "Sustainable development means working with Canadians and finding ways to strike the right balance between protecting our fragile aquatic resources while developing economic opportunities based on their use."

The activities that DFO will pursue over the next three years in response to this priority are set out in the action plan that forms the centrepiece of the department’s new Sustainable Development Strategy. Some of DFO’s commitments include plans to:

• establish Marine Protected Areas to preserve Canada’s aquatic and seabed heritage;
• develop integrated management plans that enable DFO to work effectively with stakeholders to protect Canada’s oceans and ensure that the economic and social benefits they provide are sustainable over the long term;
• increase research to promote the development of a sustainable aquaculture industry;
• work with Aboriginal communities and other participants in the fishing industry to bring more fisheries under co-management arrangements;
• improve scientific research in order to increase our understanding of aquatic ecosystems and thereby support more informed fisheries and oceans management decisions;
• increase the effectiveness of Canada’s marine safety system by creating new partnerships between the Canadian Coast Guard and private and public sector stakeholders;
• develop baseline data and standards against which to measure DFO’s performance in reducing the environmental impact of its operations, including greenhouse gas emissions; and
• integrate sustainable development commitments into DFO’s regular business planning and reporting processes.

These and all the commitments DFO is undertaking today will help to improve Canada’s performance in conserving fisheries resources, harmonizing the multiple interests of oceans users, protecting and enhancing fish habitat, understanding our aquatic environments, and reducing risks to lives and the environment in Canadian waterways.

"Whatever their individual interests, Canadians clearly understand how important it is to protect our aquatic resources and ecosystems," Minister Dhaliwal stated. "My department shares that priority and is committed to making the most of the social and economic benefits that these resources can bring to present and future generations of Canadians."

In implementing its action commitments, DFO will continue to work in collaboration with other federal departments, other levels of government, First Nations and other Aboriginal groups, other stakeholders, volunteers, ENGOs, the general public and our international partners.

DFO will also continue to promote international cooperation to protect and sustain globally shared fisheries and oceans resources.

DFO’s new Sustainable Development Strategy for 2001-2003 is available on the departmental web site at http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sds-sdd/index_e.htm.