The National Framework for Establishing and Managing Marine Protected Areas presents the general approach that Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) will take to establish and manage MPAs across Canada.  The program will be implemented at the DFO Regional level. Regions, therefore, may develop specific guides for implementing the National Framework to suit local marine conservation and protection needs.  Regional guides will be consistent with the National Framework and may provide additional details on aspects of the process.

The Oceans Act defines a marine protected area as an area of the sea that forms part of the internal waters of Canada, the territorial sea of Canada (12 nautical miles) or the exclusive economic zone of Canada (to 200 nautical miles); and that has been designated for special protection under the Oceans Act for one or more of the following reasons as set out ins Section 35 (1):

1. the conservation and protection of commercial and non-commercial fishery resources, including marine mammals, and their habitats;

2. the conservation and protection of endangered or threatened marine species, and their habitats;

3. the conservation and protection of unique habitats;

4. the conservation and protection of marine areas of high biodiversity or biological productivity; and

5. the conservation and protection of any other marine resource or habitat as is necessary to fulfill the mandate of the Minister (of Fisheries and Oceans).

The PowerPoint presentation National Framework for Establishing and Managing Marine Protected Areas can be accessed from this site.

If you don't have Microsoft PowerPoint on your computer, you can download PowerPoint Viewer 97 (2002 Release) from the Microsoft Site.