Challenges and Opportunities in Meeting Challenges and Opportunities in Meeting Canada’s 2012 Commitment on a Canada’s 2012 Commitment on a

National Network of MPAsNational Network of MPAsInitial FindingsInitial Findings

Sabine JessenSabine Jessen, CPAWS, CPAWSJulie GardnerJulie Gardner, Dovetail Consulting, Dovetail Consulting

Sandra BicegoSandra Bicego, PacificaBlue , PacificaBlue ConsultingConsulting

OutlineOutline

Information sourcesInformation sources Overall diagnosisOverall diagnosis Network issuesNetwork issues Designation process issuesDesignation process issues Roles of key players: Challenges and Roles of key players: Challenges and

opportunitiesopportunities Federal government roleFederal government role Provinces and territoriesProvinces and territories Non governmental actorsNon governmental actors

Key challenges and some suggestionsKey challenges and some suggestions

Information sourcesInformation sources

52 Interviews 52 Interviews 14 Atlantic, 12 Pacific, 3 North, 3 QC, 5 Ont, 14 Atlantic, 12 Pacific, 3 North, 3 QC, 5 Ont,

14 National Capital Region14 National Capital Region34 Federal: 16 DFO,12 PCA, 6 EC34 Federal: 16 DFO,12 PCA, 6 EC8 Provincial: 5 Atlantic provinces, 2 BC, 1 NWT8 Provincial: 5 Atlantic provinces, 2 BC, 1 NWT10 ENGO: WWF, CPAWS, 3 other, 1 academic10 ENGO: WWF, CPAWS, 3 other, 1 academic

Documents – web and literatureDocuments – web and literature

Overall DiagnosisOverall Diagnosis

Canada made commitment many times to Canada made commitment many times to 2012 completion of national network but did 2012 completion of national network but did not put adequate system and resources in not put adequate system and resources in place to achieve the targetplace to achieve the target

Canada’s progress on a national system of Canada’s progress on a national system of MPAs is too slowMPAs is too slow

Canada’s federal agencies “planning to fail”Canada’s federal agencies “planning to fail” Array of challenges identifiedArray of challenges identified Sweeping changes neededSweeping changes needed

Network issuesNetwork issues

Lack of a Shared Network VisionLack of a Shared Network Vision

Lack of agreement among federal agencies on: Lack of agreement among federal agencies on: RepresentationRepresentation Percentage protectedPercentage protected Significant areasSignificant areas

What ‘counts’?What ‘counts’? Which designations? (fisheries closures,Which designations? (fisheries closures,

anchorages …)anchorages …) Different systems for different coasts?Different systems for different coasts?

What does “complete” look like?What does “complete” look like? Clarifying the shared vision – Guidelines for the Clarifying the shared vision – Guidelines for the

Establishment of a Federal Marine Protected Areas Establishment of a Federal Marine Protected Areas Network??Network??

Challenges with Integrated Challenges with Integrated Management approachManagement approach

Uncertainty regarding extent to which IM Uncertainty regarding extent to which IM and LOMA approach will work for all and LOMA approach will work for all agencies in establishing MPAsagencies in establishing MPAs

Risks identified:Risks identified:Slow progress on IM stalling progress on Slow progress on IM stalling progress on

MPAsMPAsWill not complete IM processes for all of Will not complete IM processes for all of

Canada’s oceans by 2012Canada’s oceans by 2012 Inconsistent and inadequate funding for IMInconsistent and inadequate funding for IM

Addressing the IM issuesAddressing the IM issues

Establish MPAs in key places that are Establish MPAs in key places that are obvious and then fill gaps through IMobvious and then fill gaps through IM

Provide interim protection to sites right Provide interim protection to sites right away, while IM underwayaway, while IM underway

Support coast-wide network initiativesSupport coast-wide network initiatives

Designation process issuesDesignation process issues

Slow pace of designation processSlow pace of designation process

It takes at least 4-5 years to establish an It takes at least 4-5 years to establish an MPA, and can easily take 10 yearsMPA, and can easily take 10 years

ChallengesChallenges Loss of momentum, interest, community supportLoss of momentum, interest, community support Increase in frustration, spread of misinformationIncrease in frustration, spread of misinformation Changes in government personnel and participants Changes in government personnel and participants

leads to discontinuityleads to discontinuity Breakdown of agreement/consensusBreakdown of agreement/consensus Loss of biodiversityLoss of biodiversity

Opportunities to increase the paceOpportunities to increase the paceSet milestones and timelines and stick to Set milestones and timelines and stick to

themthemFast track/streamline designation processFast track/streamline designation processAim for realistic level of stakeholder and Aim for realistic level of stakeholder and

community supportcommunity supportFollow Australian approach: Designate Follow Australian approach: Designate

first; negotiate details laterfirst; negotiate details laterMulti-track processMulti-track processBe ready to move forward when Be ready to move forward when

opportunities ariseopportunities arise

Roles of key playersRoles of key players

Challenges and opportunitiesChallenges and opportunities

Federal political challengesFederal political challenges

Lack of strong political supportLack of strong political supportLack of sustained political pressure to Lack of sustained political pressure to

deliver MPAsdeliver MPAsLack of champions in CabinetLack of champions in CabinetPolitical agendas can work against MPAs Political agendas can work against MPAs Results in:Results in:

insufficient federal fundinginsufficient federal fundingslow decisions (e.g. sign-off)slow decisions (e.g. sign-off)

Federal leadership challengesFederal leadership challenges

Three federal agencies with MPA Three federal agencies with MPA responsibilities not showing strong responsibilities not showing strong leadership to speed progressleadership to speed progress

Lack of champions in agencies; no Lack of champions in agencies; no Directors responsible for MPAsDirectors responsible for MPAs

Competing responsibilities within agencies Competing responsibilities within agencies – i.e., fisheries and aquaculture, terrestrial – i.e., fisheries and aquaculture, terrestrial conservation, existing PAsconservation, existing PAs

Federal Organizational ChallengesFederal Organizational Challenges

Bureaucratic inertia – lack of urgencyBureaucratic inertia – lack of urgencyRegion-headquarters dynamicsRegion-headquarters dynamicsHigh staff turnoverHigh staff turnover Inter-agency challenges: priorities, goals Inter-agency challenges: priorities, goals

and mandates difficult to harmonize; and mandates difficult to harmonize; unilateral traditional approaches (silo)unilateral traditional approaches (silo)

Suggestions later …Suggestions later …

Provinces and Territories - Provinces and Territories - ChallengesChallenges

Levels of support and interest in MPAs varies Levels of support and interest in MPAs varies Provinces have a strong economic development Provinces have a strong economic development

mandatemandate Jurisdictional challenges, e.g. seabed ownershipJurisdictional challenges, e.g. seabed ownership Intergovernmental conflicts at political level can Intergovernmental conflicts at political level can

influence cooperationinfluence cooperation Reaching agreements for cooperation can take Reaching agreements for cooperation can take

yearsyears

Opportunities re. Opportunities re. Provinces/TerritoriesProvinces/Territories

Engage with regions/provinces in coast-Engage with regions/provinces in coast-wide or sub-regional MPA network wide or sub-regional MPA network planningplanning

Clarify the role of provincial MPA Clarify the role of provincial MPA designations in a national networkdesignations in a national network

Resolve areas of shared/disputed Resolve areas of shared/disputed jurisdictionjurisdiction

First NationsFirst Nations

Treaties in progress, unsettled claims Treaties in progress, unsettled claims produce an environment of uncertainty produce an environment of uncertainty

Rights and title are pivotal Rights and title are pivotal Consultation processes are complexConsultation processes are complexLack of support does not indicate lack of Lack of support does not indicate lack of

interest in marine conservation interest in marine conservation Benefits need to be clearBenefits need to be clearEngage with First Nations on their termsEngage with First Nations on their terms

Non-Governmental Actors Non-Governmental Actors – key challenges– key challenges

Includes general public, local communities, Includes general public, local communities, fishing industry, ENGOs, scientistsfishing industry, ENGOs, scientists

Hold significant power to determine success or Hold significant power to determine success or failurefailure

Inadequate public pressure for MPAsInadequate public pressure for MPAs Not enough public champions for MPAsNot enough public champions for MPAs Fear of unknown regarding implications of MPA Fear of unknown regarding implications of MPA

proposals (lack of understanding)proposals (lack of understanding) Fishing industry is powerful political lobby that is Fishing industry is powerful political lobby that is

often against MPAsoften against MPAs

Non governmental actors - Non governmental actors - opportunitiesopportunities

Local champions can be influential and pivotal to Local champions can be influential and pivotal to political supportpolitical support

Increasing support from fishing industry creating Increasing support from fishing industry creating future potential cooperative opportunitiesfuture potential cooperative opportunities

ENGOs complement government efforts and ENGOs complement government efforts and offer partnership opportunitiesoffer partnership opportunities

Science community can help make compelling Science community can help make compelling scientific case for MPAs and contribute scientific case for MPAs and contribute knowledge and expertiseknowledge and expertise

Over-arching suggestionsOver-arching suggestions

Make MPAs a national priorityMake MPAs a national priority

Challenge:Challenge: Lack of political support, leadership at the federal Lack of political support, leadership at the federal

levellevel Lack of public awareness of importance of MPAsLack of public awareness of importance of MPAs

Solution:Solution: Government, ENGOs and science community Government, ENGOs and science community

collaborate on public educationcollaborate on public education Put MPA champions in leadership positionsPut MPA champions in leadership positions Unveil and hold regional discussions on the Unveil and hold regional discussions on the

Guidelines for the Establishment of a Federal Marine Guidelines for the Establishment of a Federal Marine Protected Areas NetworkProtected Areas Network

Build federal governance arrangements Build federal governance arrangements that reflect the importance of MPAsthat reflect the importance of MPAs

Challenge:Challenge: Too difficult to change organizational structure, Too difficult to change organizational structure,

intellectual orientation and culture of DFO to properly intellectual orientation and culture of DFO to properly address MPAs and oceans issues broadlyaddress MPAs and oceans issues broadly

Too difficult to get cooperation among three federal Too difficult to get cooperation among three federal MPA agencies that will actually result in real progress MPA agencies that will actually result in real progress in the waterin the water

Solution:Solution: Make the Oceans agenda a government-wide priority, Make the Oceans agenda a government-wide priority,

not just for DFOnot just for DFO Establish new federal agency to deliver on all MPAs Establish new federal agency to deliver on all MPAs

with dedicated resources … or?with dedicated resources … or?

Empower regional effortsEmpower regional efforts

Challenge:Challenge:Progress on a national network requires Progress on a national network requires

collaboration and approaches that are tailored collaboration and approaches that are tailored to regional circumstances on Canada’s three to regional circumstances on Canada’s three ocean coastsocean coasts

Solution:Solution:Give the regions more autonomyGive the regions more autonomyCreate regional MPA authorities – Pacific, Create regional MPA authorities – Pacific,

Arctic, Atlantic… or?Arctic, Atlantic… or?

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

For their useful and thoughtful information and For their useful and thoughtful information and insights, we would like to thank everyone who insights, we would like to thank everyone who agreed to be interviewed for this studyagreed to be interviewed for this study

For funding and other support we would like to For funding and other support we would like to thank the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundationthank the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

For logistical and other support on this project, For logistical and other support on this project, we thank Megan Baker from CPAWS-BCwe thank Megan Baker from CPAWS-BC