Canada Reaches 5% Marine Conservation Milestone
In a news release Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced that Canada hit its first major milestone to increase the protection of marine and coastal areas to 5% by the end of 2017. Data from DFO and Environment& Climate Change Canada shows that British Columbia continues to lead the country in marine protection, with approximately 22% of the marine and coastal areas on the Pacific coast of Canada now protected.
The Government of Canada committed to increase the protection of marine and coastal areas to 5% by the end of 2017, and to 10% by 2020, to ensure a healthy and sustainable marine environment now and for future generations. Today, Canada is proud to celebrate the achievement of that first major milestone.
The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced that Canada has now surpassed our target to protect 5% of our oceans and coastlines by 2017.