As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That, when identifying new areas of interest for marine protected areas, the Government of Canada evaluate net economic and social values and responsibilities, including cost of patrol and enforcement in Canada, particularly for remote marine areas.

Recommendation 2

That areas of interest and marine protected areas not be considered in isolation from sustainable fishery management practices.

Recommendation 3

That the Government of Canada acknowledge any negative impacts on people who directly depend on the resources of a marine protected area and the Minister use his or her discretionary powers to consider providing offsetting measures in consultation with the fishing industry where loss or harm is proven.

Recommendation 4

That the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard table an annual report to Parliament that includes the following:

• a list of Oceans Act marine protected areas designated during that year;
• information on whether or not each established marine protected area is meeting its conservation objectives; and
• measures required if conservation objectives were not met.

Recommendation 5

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada include a process to regularly review boundaries of existing and new marine protected areas for efficiency and relevance to optimize the protected area’s performance in achieving its objectives and support the needs of local people who depend on the resources of the marine protected area.

Recommendation 6

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada consider establishing a timeline to designate Oceans Act marine protected areas that takes into consideration other environmental impact assessment processes.

Recommendation 7

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada undertake and prioritize work to clarify what individual marine protected areas are and are not, and ensure that the specific conservation goals of each marine protected area are clearly known to the local community.

Recommendation 8

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada publicize on its website, for each Oceans Act marine protected area process, the time frame, the decisions made at each step, the science and other considerations that went into decision making.

Recommendation 9

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as part of the Oceans Act marine protected areas establishment process, consider instituting mediation and conflict resolution mechanisms conducive to consensus-building.

Recommendation 10

That, in addition to science-based decision-making, Fisheries and Oceans Canada take into consideration the strong importance of having community and stakeholder support throughout the process of establishing a marine protected area.

Recommendation 11

That consultations leading to the creation of a marine protected area be as inclusive as possible for community stakeholders, with efforts made to schedule consultations at times when the maximum number of community members and Indigenous communities can participate, backstopped by an initiative to proactively reach out to those who haven’t participated in scheduled consultation events. These consultations should be a part of an ongoing dialog.

Recommendation 12

That Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Parks Canada Agency collaborate on best community relations/consultation practices and examine alternative process models (e.g., ‘consensus’ versus ‘democratic’ (majority rule) decision-making; ‘incentive’ versus ‘regulatory’ management; goal setting targeting ‘abundance’ versus ‘sustainability’).

Recommendation 13

That, in order for marine protected areas to be truly sustainable, the process used to create them undertake meaningful consultation with all persons holding a direct stake in the marine protected areas’ resources early in the process of establishing them.

Recommendation 14

That consultation related to the establishment of marine protected areas give primary consideration to local stakeholders whose support and contribution are essential to the establishment and sustainability of a marine protected area.

Recommendation 15

That the creation of a marine protected area be founded on clear objectives, the best available science or, in urgent situations, the application of the precautionary principle, all informed by traditional knowledge contributed by the local Indigenous communities and fishers that have traditionally operated in the area.

Recommendation 16

That marine protected areas be established with clearly defined objectives such as biodiversity targets that can be measured and assessed on an ongoing basis to determine the performance of each MPA.

Recommendation 17

That local and Indigenous knowledge be combined with available science in determining the objectives, composition, allowable activities and characteristics of a marine protected area.

Recommendation 18

That, given the potential challenges with interpretation when applying the precautionary principle, the Government of Canada recognize the precautionary principle is no substitute for science and cannot replace Canada’s proven processes of consultation and scientific assessment.

Recommendation 19

That minimum standards for marine protected areas be established on a case-by-case basis and tailored to the needs and interests of the local ecology, biodiversity, people and economies that depend on their resources.

Recommendation 20

That areas covered by “other effective area-based conservation measures” be included in consideration when determining total areas of protection.

Recommendation 21

That, when possible, marine protected areas be situated and designed to complement other marine protected areas, on-shore protected areas and inshore conservation areas, to create a network that promotes biodiversity and habitat protection.

Recommendation 22

That marine protected areas be operated on an adaptive management framework, with a strong ongoing role in data gathering and compliance monitoring for Indigenous communities and fishers in the surrounding areas.

Recommendation 23

That, recognizing the essential role of regulatory enforcement to a marine protected area’s success, the enforcement needs of a marine protected area be paired with a congruent and sustained funding plan to sustain the required enforcement personnel and resources.

Recommendation 24

That the Government of Canada expand the cooperative work of Parks Canada Agency, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and other departments to share best proven practices for establishing marine protected areas in Canada’s Northwest.