Implementing Marine Protected Areas Policy: Lessons from Canada and Australia

Canada's Oceans Act and Australia's Oceans Policy are based on similar principles and have similar objectives. Both recognize the need for improved oceans management, and include strategies for establishing a system of marine protected areas (MPAs) within a broader marine planning and integrated management context. There are indications, however, that the implementation process has been more successful in Australia than in Canada. This study analyzes and compares a range of factors that may influence the ability of Canada's Oceans Act and Australia's Oceans Policy to achieve their MPA policy objectives. Based on interviews of key informants and reviews of policy and literature, this cross-national comparative analysis reveals the challenges and opportunities of the policy context in each setting, and the relative strengths and weaknesses of the different implementation approaches. The report concludes with lessons and implications for Canada and Australia, and recommendations for other states interested in implementing MPA policy.