Minister LeBlanc Heads Delegation to UN Ocean Conference in New York to promote sustainable fisheries and marine conservation

NEW YORK, June 6, 2017 /CNW/ - Effective conservation of our oceans contributes to a healthy environment and a sustainable economy for future generations.

Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, is leading a Canadian delegation to the first ever UN Ocean Conference. Canada will be reiterating its commitment to the sustainable harvest of our fisheries and highlighting the leadership role Canada is taking internationally on policies related to marine conservation targets. The Minister will underscore Canada's commitment to protecting 5% of our marine and coastal areas by the end of 2017 as a clear indicator of progress towards our ultimate goal of increasing the amount of protected marine areas to 10% by 2020.

The overarching theme of this UN Conference is "Our oceans, our future: partnering for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14". Sustainable Development Goal 14 contains all targets and indicators to conserve and sustainably use our oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. Canada will also co-chair a partnership dialogue session on making fisheries sustainable and will discuss the role fisheries can play in achieving marine conservation targets.

Minister LeBlanc will be joined by the Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, Ambassador Marc-André Blanchard, as well as federal Members of Parliament, Canadian representatives from a National Indigenous organization, an environmental non-governmental organization and the fishing industry.

Quote

"Canada is proud to stand with other nations to take action on the challenges facing our oceans such as illegal fishing, pollution, and ocean acidification. We are committed to working effectively with our global partners to increase marine protected areas, and promote the research, knowledge and innovation needed to support clean economic growth as the means to achieve these sustainable development goals. Together we will protect our oceans for future generations."

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., Q.C., M.P., Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Quick Facts

• In 2010, Canada agreed to marine conservation targets established under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to conserve 10% of coastal and marine areas through effectively managed networks of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures by 2020. This commitment was reconfirmed in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development under Goal 14.
• Canada's commercial fisheries and aquaculture sectors contribute $9 billion to the Canadian economy each year.
• Canada is a major exporter of fish and seafood with more than $6 billion worth of exports around the world annually.

Associated Link
Meeting Canada's Marine Conservation Targets

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SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada

Media Relations, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 613-990-7537, [email protected]; Laura Gareau, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 613-992-3474, [email protected]