View from Qikiqtarjuaq, a community located just north of the Arctic Circle on Broughton Island, adjacent to the eastern coast of Baffin Island at the Davis Strait. Photo by Chris Colombo.
From coast to coast to coast, Indigenous nations are leading the way for marine planning. While it isn’t broadly applied by Canada's provincial or federal governments, Indigenous governments are using marine planning to support co-management of the waters and resources within their territories.
Here are three examples:
If your traditional territory includes large lakes, coastlines and/or the open ocean, and you’ve been wondering how best to protect what matters and plan for the future, this post is for you! Read on for an overview of marine planning and how it differs from land use planning, and to hear about marine planning initiatives from around the globe.
Marine planning aims to achieve balance between the development you want to have, and protecting what’s important to you. It’s about deciding when and where activities can occur. For example, you can decide that a certain area should be protected and completely closed to all activities, except for fishing during a specific season. You can also identify areas where you would welcome development, such as an aquaculture facility.
The end goal is not necessarily a master plan for all activities on all coastlines and oceans in your territory (though if you want that, go for it!). You can make your marine plan as focused or as broad as you want. Whether your goal is to designate an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area, or to map out areas for every current and future ocean use, marine planning will help you accomplish it.
The Coastal First Nations along British Columbia’s North Coast, Central Coast and Haida Gwaii have some of Canada’s most long-running, established and heralded Guardian Watchmen programs. These Guardian programs generate significant value for all parties. The value of Indigenous Guardians driving marine planning outcomes is recognized in federal budgets which are focused on advancing the federal government's existing commitment to conserving at least 17 per cent of land and inland waters by 2020, through networks of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures. Given that 90 per cent of Canada’s land and inland waters are provincial and territorial Crown or Indigenous lands, achieving this goal requires collaboration with Indigenous governments and Indigenous Guardian programs. To support Canada’ biodiversity and protect species at risk, the Government of Canada proposes to make investments that total $1.3 billion over five years, on top of related funding allocations for Indigenous Guardian initiatives.
It’s similar to land use planning in so many ways. A marine planning process starts with collecting background information, including what you want to protect and where and how you want to grow, and creating a vision for your coastal and marine spaces. Marine planning and land use planning share common elements, including being community-led and needing a realistic implementation plan. Think of your marine plan as a partner to your land use plan, applying your common vision and values across your entire territory, lands and waters.
What makes marine planning a little trickier than land use planning is the environment you’re planning in. First, things are always moving – from tides to ships to seals, nothing stays in one place. There are also seasons to consider, including that for fishing, tourists, migrating and breeding animals, and ice cover. Then, there’s the fact that creating a plan for waterbodies and the resources within them requires cooperation between traditional rights holders and their governments, and provincial and federal governments, plus multiple agencies within those governments. And let’s not forget all the different users of marine spaces – conservationists, fish harvesters, energy developers, tour guides, recreational boaters, to name a few. It’s challenging but not impossible, and there are many examples, globally and locally, of successful marine planning initiatives.
According to the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, over 70 countries have marine planning initiatives in various stages, from early planning to post-implementation evaluation. Here are three examples:
We’ve just skimmed the surface of marine planning and we’ll be doing a deeper dive in future posts (puns intended). In the coming weeks, we’ll take you step-by-step through the marine planning process, and will showcase some of the ways our clients have participated in marine planning initiatives.
This is the fifth post in a series that explores ways Indigenous communities have used the planning process to create an exciting vision for their future and a realistic roadmap to get there – and some resources and ideas for you to do the same. We hope you join us for the rest of the ride. And please get in touch if there’s a topic you’d like us to explore.
Read more posts in this series:
Five Crucial Elements Every Land Use Plan Needs
Three Questions to a Clear Vision
Indigenous Planning Cheat Sheet: Five Types, Tips and Resources
If you are trying to figure out how to get started, do give us a shout. We’d be happy to discuss your options and help you weigh the pros and cons of your planning options. We’re a team of self-proclaimed planning geeks who love to talk about this stuff, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Looking for a quick overview of some planning options you might be considering?
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We are a Canadian B Corp, and we assist Indigenous communities with support throughout regulatory processes surrounding major development projects like mines, hydroelectric facilities, transmission lines, highway expansions, oil and gas pipelines, natural resource transport applications and nuclear power.
We have deep context and experience behind the recommendations we provide, having worked for our clients on almost every major project in Canada over the last 10 years. For us, it’s all about building long-term relationships with our clients. We want to get to know you and what you want to do so we can help you move your plans forward.
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