Ottawa/CMEDIA: This year Canada participated in Our Ocean Conference in Panama March 2-3, 2023, under the theme of “Our Ocean, Our Connection.”
Being vital to the livelihoods of communities across Canada and around the world, the importance of management of our oceans cannot be underscored as we face mounting pressures from climate change and human activities.
With the Government of Canada’s commitment to engaging with international partners to preserve the global ocean now, and for generations to come, the global action of protecting our ocean was the focus of the participants by learning ways of managing marine resources in a responsible manner in a sustainable future economic growth.
Through its participation in the Conference, Canada advanced objectives in three strategic areas including Combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; Promoting Canada’s progress towards a global commitment to protect 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030; and Advocating the importance of the ocean to fight climate change.
Combatting IUU fishing being a top priority for Canada, the Canadian participants engaged with partners and advanced international efforts to combat IUU fishing.
Canada welcomed seven new members to the IUU-Action Alliance, which Canada established last year with the United Kingdom and United States.
Continuing to show its commitment to detecting and deterring IUU fishing activity, Canada’s focus was to protecting fish stocks, marine ecosystems, and the livelihoods of those living in coastal communities around the world.
Through the establishment and effective management of marine protected areas (MPAs) and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), including marine refuges Canada has already made tremendous progress in the conservation of its oceans and committed to conserving 25 percent of Canada’s oceans by 2025, and 30 per cent by 2030.
Vital nature-based solutions included MPAs, OECMs, and conservation networks to support global efforts towards climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Global leadership in efforts to advance marine conservation has alreadyn been demonstated by Canada by hosting recently Fifth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) in February 2023.
The Our Ocean Conference provided an opportunity to continue building momentum in promoting global marine conservation.
#Canada; #2023OurOceanConference’ #OurOceanOurConnection
