canada’s oceans support $23 billion a year in economic...

Canada’s oceans support $23 billion a year in economic activity.

Can we afford not to protect them?

Dear Prime Minister Harper:

In 1992, 30,000 jobs disappeared overnight when the cod moratorium was imposed. Families suffered. Whole communities were

devastated. And we all learned a hard lesson in the costs of failing to responsibly manage our ocean resources.

Or did we?

Almost two decades later, we still haven’t put in place the needed measures to prevent a similar economic and ecological

disaster. We still haven’t acted to protect our natural resources while encouraging sustainable industry.

It is time for government to take action.

Canada’s oceans industries are the backbone of many Canadian communities. They contribute $23 billion a year to our economy.

And they’re growing. Traditional industries such as fi shing and shipping now share the waters with energy development and

aquaculture initiatives.

To achieve Canada’s economic and conservation goals – protecting our oceans and the jobs they support – we need to

implement Integrated Management (IM), an approach that mirrors successful land-use policies. IM planning balances all the

different interests that use the ocean from development to fi shing to recreation to conservation, creating a strong sustainable

local economy.

IM would provide specifi c benefi ts to many industrial sectors creating a climate of certainty – a planning framework to help

bolster investor confi dence and allow Canadian companies to thrive in emerging fi elds such as offshore renewable energy.

Canada has legislation in place, but it needs explicit timelines and dedicated funding in order for real progress to be made. We

call on the government of Canada to take action now. Make Integrated Management a reality.

Integrated Management is the best tool available to protect not only our oceans but also the families of those who earn their

living upon them.

On Oceans Day 2009, we urge you to move forward with the goal of supporting the sustainable economic development of our

oceans by protecting their health and maintaining their productivity.

We can’t afford to wait any longer.

Sincerely,

Stewart McInnesLawyer, Former MP & Minister

Boris WormDalhousie University Boris Worm Jack Keith

retired Senior VP, ScotiabankJack Keith

Fred SmithersIona Resource Holdings Ltd. Fred Smithers

Graham DabornAcadia UniversityGraham Daborn

Bruce WarehamIcewater Seafoods Inc.

George RoseMemorial University

of Newfoundland

George Rose

Fred FountainThe Great Eastern Corporation Ltd.Fred Fountain Henry Demone

High Liner Foods Inc.Henry Demone

Gerald ButtsPresident & CEO WWF-Canada

oceans by protecting their health and maintaining their productivity.

Gerald Butts

David MacDonaldFormer MP, Minister, Ambassador

Dr. Peter PearseUniversity of British ColumbiaDr. Peter Pearse

Hon. Brian V. Tobin, P.C.Hon. Brian V. Tobin, P.C.

Art SterrittCoastal First Nations

Joan Carlisle-IrvingAtlantic CouncilJoan Carlisle-Irving

Donald SobeyEmpire Company LimitedDonald Sobey

Heike LotzeDalhousie UniversityHeike Lotze

© 1986 Panda symbol WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature (also known as World Wildlife Fund) ® “WWF” is a WWF Registered Trademark

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