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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Designation of St. Anns Bank as a Canada Oceans Act Marine Protected Area

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    Description
    Description
    The St. Anns Bank Oceans Act Marine Protected Area (MPA) provides protection from the impacts of human activities, adding an additional 0.08% (4 364 km2) of protection to Canadas oceans. Located to the east of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, St. Anns Bank contains ecologically and biologically significant features including unique habitats, areas of high biodiversity, and areas of high biological productivity. It is an important habitat for several commercial and non-commercial species.

    Within St Anns Bank, any activity that disturbs, damages, destroys or removes a living marine organism or any part of its habitat is prohibited with exception. Four management zones are established including a core protection zone of minimal human activity and three adaptive management zones where current low-impact activities would be permitted, including but not limited to fishing by rod and reel, and pot gear. Together these zones would provide for the conservation and protection of biological diversity, habitat and biological productivity of the St. Anns Bank area.
    Partners
    Fisheries and Oceans Canada(Government); Government of Nova Scotia(Sub-National Government) ; Indigenous peoples(other relevant actor); environmental organizations(NGO); Private Sector

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
    14.5 By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
    St Anns Bank is announced as an Area of Interest
    Proposed regulations for the Oceans Act MPA are published in Canada Gazette Part I.
    Designation of St. Anns Bank as a Canada Oceans Act MPA
    Other, please specify
    Significant financial, technical and expert resources have been committed by the Government of Canada in order to designate the St.Anns Bank area as an MPA
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Timeline
    01 June 2011 (start date)
    01 January 1970 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Canada
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Dartmouth, Canada
    Ocean Basins
    North Atlantic
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Marine and coastal ecosystems management
    Countries
    Canada
    Canada
    Contact Information

    Glen Herbert, Section Head, Integrated Management, Fisheries and Oceans Canada