How Does it Work?

Canada's Oceans Act and Oceans Strategy enshrined the principle of integrated management planning for Large Ocean Management Areas like PNCIMA.

Integrated Management is a commitment to planning and managing human activities in a comprehensive manner while considering all factors necessary for the conservation & sustainable use of marine resources and the shared use of ocean spaces.

It embodies the principles of sustainable development and the precautionary approach, as well as:

• integrated data collection, monitoring, research, synthesis and information sharing, communication and education (the full range of relevant knowledge is applied to the planning process and decision-making process, including scientific studies and local and traditional knowledge);
  
  
• inclusive and collaborative oceans governance structures and processes;
  
  
• flexible and adaptive management techniques to deal with uncertainty and improvements in the understanding of marine species and ecosystems; and
  
  
• planning on the basis of natural and economic systems together, rather than principally on political or administrative boundaries.¹
  
  

Integrated management planning in PNCIMA will identify the range of values including consumptive and non-consumptive uses and the decision processes to account for these. An integrated management plan will provide increased certainty to users of ocean resources and will give confidence to conservation interests that the health of our oceans is being maintained.

¹(Canada's Oceans Strategy, 2002)