Presentation on Canada’s National Programme of Action: Development Process and Lessons Learned

2. First Intergovernmental Review Meeting on the Implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA/IGR) Presentation on Canada’s National Programme of Action: Development Process and Lessons Learned November 26, 2001

3. Development of Canada’s NPA • Canada and over 100 nations adopted the GPA at UNEP Washington Conference in 1995 • Canada’s NPA was released on June 8, 2000 - Oceans Day

4. Goals under the NPA • Protect human health • Reduce the degradation of the marine environment • Remediate damaged areas • Promote the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources • Maintain the productive capacity and biodiversity of the marine environment

5. NPA Strategies • Two primary strategies for protecting the marine environment from land-based activities are: • pollution prevention • integrated management of activities within coastal and marine waters

6. NPA Implementation • Principles of: • Sustainable Development • Integrated Management • Precautionary Approach • Harmonization of: • Integrated coastal management • River-basin management • Land-use planning

7. NPA Actions • Monitoring existing actions deemed adequate • Strengthen existing actions deemed inadequate • Undertake proposed new initiatives for immediate preventive and remedial action • Institute national framework and support mechanisms for coastal zone management • Conduct applied research assessment to obtain knowledge needed

8. NPA Actions (continued) • Develop reporting requirements and progress reports • Keep priorities current • Use Ecosystem and Integrated Management initiatives to pursue actions • Expand NPA coverage • Promote regional and global controls on POPs and heavy metals

9. Canada’s NPA Experience: Lessons Learned • Follow GPA methodology • Be inclusive • Get involved • Do not re-invent the wheel • Build capacity

10. Canada’s NPA Experience: Lessons Learned • Ensure sustainable financing • Be flexible • Consider a phased approach • Assign roles

11. First NPA Country Report • Implementation: Actions Supporting NPA Priorities • Two primary strategies: Pollution Prevention and Integrated Management • Local- and community-level Initiatives • Habitat Protection and Restoration Programs • Marine Protected Areas • Fish Habitat Protection • Outreach and education • NPA Information Clearing-house • Oceans Program Activity Tracking (OPAT) system

12. Next Steps • Concrete actions at the source • Leveraging existing programs • Better outreach - More partnerships • NGO • Industry • Communities • Regular Reporting

13. Summary of closures

14. Number of Federally Registered Food Processing Plants in Atlantic Canada

15. Nutrient loading over time in three Prince Edward Island estuaries

16. Distribution of HAB in Atlantic Canada (adapted with permission from Bates, 1997)

17. Sewage Persistent Organic Pollutants Radionuclides Heavy Metals Oils/Hydrocarbons Nutrients Contaminated Sediments Litter High Medium Low Medium to High Medium Medium Medium High Ranking in Atlantic Canada

18. Shoreline construction/alteration Inter/subtidal alterations Mineral/Sediment extraction/altration Wetland & salt marsh alteration Marine Water and Coastal Watershed alterations Biological alterations Medium Low Low Medium Medium Medium-High Ranking in Atlantic Canada

19. Action Plan

20. Thank you - Merci Summerside P.E.I. Land-use patterns Pictures: NASA earth observatory Coastal erosion - Mississipi River