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Marine Reserves

Fish in Bacon Marine Reserve.

In light of the global decline of many marine species, and the rising threats to these species and their ecosystems from pollution, habitat destruction and global warming, a global network of marine reserves is essential to protect ocean ecosystems from human activities. In Canada and around the world, progress in marine protection has been slow. Greenpeace is working to step up the pace…

There is a growing body of scientific evidence that demonstrates the establishment of large-scale networks of marine reserves, which are urgently needed to protect marine species and their habitats, could be key to reversing the global fisheries decline and protecting the marine environment from pollution.

The World Conservation Congress defines a Marine Protected Area (MPA) as “any area of intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or the entire enclosed environment”.

Large-scale marine reserves are areas that are closed to all extractive uses, such as fishing and mining, as well as disposal activities. Within these areas there may be core zones of scientific reference areas or very sensitive habitats where human activity is prohibited. Some areas within the coastal zone may be opened to small-scale, non-destructive fisheries providing that these are sustainable, within ecological limits, and have been decided upon with the full participation of affected local communities.

Marine reserves can have a wide range of benefits to adjacent fisheries. From the spillover of adult and juvenile fish, eggs and larvae beyond the reserve boundaries, to improved reproductive abilities and increases in the size and length of life of populations within the reserve, species are allowed to recover within the boundaries before traveling beyond. Highly migratory species, such as sharks, tuna and billfish, can also benefit if reserves are created in places where they are currently highly vulnerable, such as nursery grounds, spawning areas or aggregation sites such as seamounts.

Watch our Marine Reserves Video

A growing body of scientific evidence that demonstrates what we at Greenpeace have been saying for a long time: that the establishment of large-scale networks of marine reserves, urgently needed to protect marine species and their habitats, could be key to reversing global fisheries decline.
Watch Video

Click to sign our Marine Reserve petition

Sign our Marine Reserves Petition

You can help us convince governments and the United Nations that we need to protect our oceans by creating a global network of marine reserves
Sign our petition

Recent Campaign Developments

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Robson Bight Salvage Operation a Success

The long awaited salvage operation of the wreckage in Robson Bight Ecological Reserve was completed on Tuesday, providing hope that B.C.’s resident orcas no longer face the threat of another spill from a sunken truck laden with diesel fuel.

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Orca court case still alive!

The orca court case lives on. A federal court judge has denied a request by the federal Department of Fisheries and Ocean’s (DFO) to kill the case that environmental groups have launched.

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Fight to protect endangered killer whales far from over

Greenpeace and its partners are awaiting a court decision on a request from the federal government to dismiss an important case brought by environmental groups to protect British Columbia’s threatened northern and endangered southern populations of resident killer whales.

All Recent Campaign Developments