National Programme of Action in Place to Protect Canada's Oceans

OTTAWA - June 8, 2000 - Environment Minister David Anderson and Fisheries and Oceans Minister Herb Dhaliwal today released Canada's National Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (NPA). The initiative is co-led by the two federal departments and has been prepared through the collaborative effort of the federal, provincial and territorial governments.

The protection of the marine environment in Canada is a responsibility shared by all levels of government and numerous initiatives for its protection are either in place or are being developed across the country. The National Programme of Action offers a mechanism for bringing different levels of government together to find cooperative solutions.

The major threats to the health, productivity and biodiversity of the marine environment result from land based human activities in coastal areas as well as further inland. Some 80% of the pollution load in the oceans originates from land-based and the following source categories: heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, sewage, radioactive substances, oils / hydrocarbons, litter, nutrients, sediment and habitat destruction.

The National Programme of Action will complement federal, provincial and territorial initiatives, such as those dealing with integrated management in the coastal zone, coastal marine protected areas and pollution prevention. Key NPA activities include:

• promoting coastal zone management
• collaborating on community-based actions
• establishing an information clearing house
• promoting improved sewage treatment
• developing guidelines and codes of practice
• preparing annual progress reports

"Through methods of conservation, sustainable use and economic diversification, the National Programme of Action will further the protection of healthy and productive marine waters, thus offering greater opportunities for all users of our oceans and waterways," said Minister Dhaliwal. "The NPA is an excellent example of what can be accomplished through collaborative partnerships and is a proactive step towards protecting human health and the Canadian marine environment."

"The National Programme of Action is part of a critical path that brings Canada one step closer to addressing domestic commitments and fulfilling international obligations for pollution prevention and marine environmental protection," said Minister Anderson. "The NPA builds on our Ecosystem Initiatives in the Georgia Basin, Great Lakes, St. Lawrence, Atlantic and Northern Canada to better integrate our marine environment with land-based activities. These partnerships mean healthier Canadians and healthier oceans and waterways."

Canada is the first country to develop a National Programme of Action. This Canadian contribution to ocean governance is based on the Global Programme of Action, a non-legally binding instrument signed by Canada and 108 other nations in 1995. Countries were encouraged to develop regional and national programmes to prevent, reduce and control land-based activities that degrade the marine environment.

Canadian leadership was also instrumental in encouraging the first Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council to adopt an Arctic Regional Programme of Action with seven other Arctic nations in September, 1998. As part of the implementation of this initiative, Arctic nations are developing national programs and collaborating to address priority pollution sources within the Russian Federation.

National consultations on the National Programme of Action were held in June, 1996 and in March, 1999 to seek the views of Canadians for the purpose of finding cooperative solutions to protect our oceans. All comments were addressed in the final version of the National Programme of Action.

The new Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA, 1999) includes marine protection provisions to complement existing regulatory measures. CEPA, 1999 gives the Minister of the Environment, after consultation with any other affected Minister, the authority to issue environmental objectives and to release guidelines and codes of practice to prevent and reduce marine pollution from land-based sources. There are also provisions for pollution prevention plans to better control pollution earlier.

Related documents:

• Canada's National Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (NPA) [backgrounder, 2000-06-08]
• Canada's National Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (NPA) Website [information collection]
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans Website [information collection]