Canada said Wednesday several government agencies announced a new Area of Interest (AOI) off the coast of British Columbia, with the intention of making it one of Canada’s largest Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by 2020.
This is part of its plan to reach its domestic and international targets of protecting 5 percent of Canada’s marine and coastal areas by 2017 and 10 percent by 2020.
Once the AOI is identified, final boundaries and activity restrictions are established. In March, IntraFishspoke with Ian MacPherson, executive director of Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association, on their collaboration with the DFO regarding these MPAs and their potential impact on commercial fisheries.
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