From protecting marine habitat to stopping the shark fin trade and rebuilding abundant fish populations, our victories represent a new hope for the world's oceans.
February, 2026
Canada Releases National Whalesafe Fishing Gear Strategy
Fisheries and Oceans Canada have released Canada’s Whalesafe Fishing Gear Strategy — the first national framework to advance whalesafe fishing gear, including on-demand (ropeless) systems. Critically endangered North Atlantic right whales face high risk of entanglement in fixed fishing gear in busy Canadian waters. The strategy represents Canada’s most significant federal action to address this threat. It outlines a phased plan to assess risk, pilot on-demand gear and designate high-risk areas for its use. This milestone follows years of advocacy by Oceana Canada and partners, including fish harvesters, Indigenous rights holders and scientists. Together, they advanced practical solutions to reduce whale entanglements while supporting fishing communities. With a national framework now in place, the focus now shifts to full and timely delivery. Successful implementation will reduce entanglement risk, support fish harvesters and give the species a fighting chance at recovery.
Court Victory That Protects the Federal Government’s Ability to Regulate Plastic Pollution
After more than three years of legal challenges, the Federal Court of Appeal affirmed the federal government’s authority to list plastic manufactured items as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. This decision restores the federal government’s ability to regulate plastic pollution nationwide. It also allows long-delayed measures — including recycled content requirementsand pollution prevention plans for major grocers — to move forward. Oceana Canada, represented by Ecojustice, intervened in support of science-based solutions to reduce unnecessary plastics and hold plastic producers accountable. The ruling also reinforces the legal foundation for the single-use plastic ban, which will prevent billions of unnecessary plastic items from entering the Canadian market and polluting the environment, annually.
Canada Releases First-Ever Legally Mandated Plans to Rebuild Depleted Fisheries
Canada’s first legally mandated fisheries rebuilding plans mark a major step toward restoring ocean abundance. If implemented effectively, the plans could strengthen coastal and Indigenous fisheries, support more resilient ecosystems, and help secure long-term food security. The 12 new plans cover key Atlantic fisheries, including iconic forage fish such as Atlantic mackerel and herring, economically and culturally important cod, and groundfish like American plaice, winter flounder, and white hake. Off the Pacific coast, plans include culturally and ecologically significant species like Chinook salmon and Pacific herring.
Underwater Mountains off the Coast of B.C. Now Permanently Protected
Canada has designated 133,017km2 of underwater mountains, known as seamounts, off the West Coast of Vancouver Island as its newest and largest Marine Protected Area (MPA). Named Tang. ɢwan · ḥačxʷiqak · Tsig̱is, this new MPA will be co-managed by the Haida, Nuu-chah-nulth, Pacheedaht and Quatsino First Nations. The MPA covers 2.31% of Canada’s marine area, increasing the total protection of the ocean off the coast of Canada to more than 15.54%. Oceana Canada has been advocating for the protection of these vital underwater ecosystems since 2018 including conducting an expedition with several partners to better understand this area and contribute to its protection. The Tang. ɢwan · ḥačxʷiqak · Tsig̱is MPA will prevent activities such as bottom-contact fishing and dumping, safeguarding centuries-old forests of red tree corals, glass sponges, and the myriad species that depend on these habitats.
Canada Strengthens Emergency Measures to Protect Critically Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales
Amid a crisis facing critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, Oceana and its allies successfully campaigned for the Canadian government to strengthen its emergency measures to protect this species from deadly ship strikes and entanglements in fishing gear. Since these measures were strengthened over the last three years, there have been no known right whale deaths in Canadian waters. Prior to these improvements, 21 right whales had been killed in Canadian waters between 2017 and 2019. These strengthened measures include increasing vessel slowdown zones, ensuring fishery closures can be triggered by any sighting, including acoustic detections, and starting the fishing season earlier so that there is less overlap with the time right whales are in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Oceana is now campaigning to make protection measures for right whales permanent along the East Coast of Canada and the United States to give these whales the best chance of survival.
June, 2022
Canadian Government Bans Six Categories of Single-Use Plastics
Ina huge win for the health of our oceans, Canada introduced a national ban on six categories of single-use plastics. The ban will gradually eliminate the Canadian production and export of plastic bags, cutlery, stir sticks, six-pack rings, straws and some takeout containers. The ban also ends the export of banned plastics by 2025, making Canada the second country ever to do so. The final ban also closes technical loopholes from its previous draft that would have allowed more durable single-use plastic options to replace items of common use, such as cutlery and checkout bags. This is a meaningful contribution to Canada’s commitment to ban harmful single-use plastics and hold companies responsible for doing their part to reduce plastic waste. The announcement also positions Canada as a global leader in efforts to reduce single-use plastics.
Canadian Government Sets Legally Binding Requirements to Rebuild Depleted Fish Stocks
In a major turning point for the future abundance of Canada’s wild fish, the federal government released new regulations that legally require depleted fish populations to be rebuilt. These regulations fall under the Fisheries Act, which Oceana Canada successfully campaigned to amend in 2019. Oceana Canada and its allies advocated for robust regulations to guide the recovery of Canada’s depleted fisheries, of which less than one-third are considered healthy. The regulations set requirements that are needed in rebuilding plans— that a target must be set to rebuild a stock, a timeline by which it will be achieved and what actions are required to make this change happen. Legally requiring the rebuilding of fisheries means Canada will be better able to prioritize the health of the ocean and the long-term viability fisheries that are essential for coastal communities.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Closes Two Critically Depleted Fisheries
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) closed the commercial and bait fisheries for two critically depleted species: Atlantic mackerel and Southern Gulf spring herring. Oceana Canada advocated for fishery rebuilding measures to be implemented and called for the closure of both fisheries. Atlantic mackerel and Southern Gulf spring herring play a crucial role in the Northwest Atlantic ecosystem and feed many other species, including whales, seabirds, and commercially important stocks such as cod and tuna. DFO’s decision – a difficult but necessary measure – contributes to the conservation of these forage fish and the long-term prosperity of Canada’s fisheries.
Banc-des-Américains, a submarine bank off of Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, designated as a Marine Protected Area
The Government of Canada established a 1,000 square kilometer Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence called the Banc-des-Américains. This new MPA protects one of Canada’s most diverse and productive marine areas. In 2017, Oceana Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada partnered to conduct an expedition in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, including the Banc-des-Américains. The MPA conserves habitat important for many species, including habitat-forming corals and sponges, forage fishes like capelin and herring and commercially important species, such as crab and shrimp and the iconic and highly endangered North Atlantic right whale.
Canadian government bans industrial activity in marine protected areas
Canada adopted new standards that ban industrial activities such as oil and gas, mining and destructive bottom-contact fishing activity in newly created Marine Protected Areas, bringing Canada in line with international best practices. In the past few years, Canada has protected more of its ocean, but within these areas, industrial activities, including oil and gas, were still permitted. Oceana Canada called on the government to implement stronger protection measures. The new standards help protect fragile habitats that provide nursery, spawning and feeding areas for marine wildlife from harmful practices.
