Marine Mammal Regulation Consultations

Pacific Community Dialogue Sessions
Marine Mammals Information | Documents | Contact

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is proposing to amend the existing Marine Mammal Regulations (MMR) of the Fisheries Act.

Amending the MMR will ensure that all Canadians clearly understand their responsibilities with regard to protecting marine mammals and that DFO has the tools to fulfill its mandate.

From 2003 to 2004 Fisheries & Oceans Canada (DFO) conducted extensive, Canada wide, consultations asking Canadians what kind of protections are necessary for marine mammals. We heard that there are concerns about activities that have the potential to disturb or disrupt the life processes of marine mammals. In light of growing non-consumptive activities, like marine mammal viewing, there was support for the need to enhance the Marine Mammal Regulations of the Fisheries Act to ensure that marine mammals are protected through adequate, enforceable and explicit laws.

• Summary report: Making Changes - Amending the Marine Mammal Regulations (Consultations Conducted between January and March, 2003) [PDF]
• Draft of Marine Mammal Regulation Amendments [PDF]

Pacific Community Dialogues Sessions

On the Pacific Coast, Community Dialogue Sessions were held in March and April 2005 in Victoria, Port McNeil and Vancouver, B.C. to solicit further feedback on the draft revisions to the Marine Mammal Regulations (above) and the Recovery Strategy for Northern & Southern Resident Killer Whales. The public was also invited to submit written feedback by May 31, 2005 on the draft revisions to the Marine Mammal Regulations. In addition, meetings with commercial eco tourism operators where held in April and May 2005 in Victoria, Tofino and Campbell River to further discuss the draft revisions to the Marine Mammal Regulations.

The following reports provide a summary of the community dialogue sessions and the written feedback received on these two marine mammal consultation initiatives. View summaries of the first three documents below. If you are interested in obtaining a complete copy of these reports, please email Annely Greene.

• Public Consultation Summary: Victoria, Port McNeil, and Vancouver - Summary
• Analysis of Written Submissions on the Draft National Recovery Strategy for Northern & Southern Resident Killer Whales - Summary
• Analysis of Written Submissions on the Proposed Amendments to the Marine Mammal Regulations - Summary
• Records of meetings with eco tourism operators: Tofino, Campbell River, Victoria

Thank you for taking an interest in this important initiative.

Marine Mammals Information

Marine Mammals and Turtles information

Documents

• Making Changes - Amending the Marine Mammal Regulations: Pacific Region 2003 Consultation Summary [PDF]
• Background Bulletin on Regulatory Amendments for Marine Mammals [PDF]
• Report by Dr. Jon Lien on: "The Conservation Basis for the Regulation of Whale Watching in Canada by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans: A Precautionary Approach" [PDF]

DFO Contact

Paul Cottrell
A/Marine Mammal Coordinator
200-401 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3S4

Phone: 604-666-9965
Email: MarineMammals@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca