Planning Process
Formal planning for the MPA Network began in 2015.
Photo by Barb Dinning
How it began
2015
The Governance partners worked with experts and stakeholder groups to determine conservation objectives within the region and assess what was already protected by existing MPAs.
The next step was to design a network that would effectively fill conservation ‘gaps’ while maintaining the cultural, economic, and recreational opportunities that people and communities in the region depend upon for their wellbeing and livelihoods.
2019
A first draft of the Network, known as ‘Scenario 1’, was produced. It mapped and proposed management details for over 370 potential zones within the Network, as well as objectives and guidelines for the Network as a whole. Scenario 1 underwent a year-long period of review by stakeholders and Governance partner organizations. Significant efforts were made to incorporate feedback, and a revised Scenario 2 was produced in 2021.
2020
Work also began on the Network Action Plan, which describes the Network planning process and proposed Network design (including maps and zone-specific conservation objectives), and provides recommendations to support its implementation, governance, and adaptive management.
Timeline
Marine conservation and planning in the Great Bear Sea
Planning Documents
Documents used to guide Network implementation.
Network Year-One Implementation Progress Report
Network Agreement
Network Action Plan, Northern Shelf Bioregion
Network Action Plan, Summary
Network Action Plan, Compendium 1