Canada’s Ocean Noise Strategy: Legislation and Policy Analysis

Marine spatial planning (“MSP”) is an important tool for managing growing demands and pressures on the ocean and maintaining healthy, productive, and resilient marine ecosystems. MSP can coordinate human activities across marine sectors and marine spaces, and can be used to identify areas for conservation, development, and co-existence. MSP can help reduce conflicts between ocean users, improve regulatory efficiency, and support a sustainable ocean economy.

The purpose of this position paper is to assess the state of marine spatial planning (“MSP”) in Atlantic Canada and to identify opportunities and challenges for developing an effective and legally binding MSP regime in the region, with the objective of contributing to marine ecosystem protection and sustainable ocean development.