Coastal Community Access to Marine Resources and Conservation in Canada

Access to marine resources and the ocean is important for the well-being of coastal communities. Yet, in Canada, this access is being threatened by a variety of activities that are increasing competition in the marine... [ view full abstract ]

Access to marine resources and the ocean is important for the well-being of coastal communities. Yet, in Canada, this access is being threatened by a variety of activities that are increasing competition in the marine environment. This paper will first examine how coastal community access to marine resources and the ocean is changing in Canada. Then, drawing on interviews and case studies from across the country, it will examine the relationship between access, conservation and coastal communities. It will touch on how top-down conservation efforts impact local access and communities, how local community access is important for maintaining local presence, traditional knowledge and management capacity, and how access might be better taken into account in conservation decision-making. In conclusion, this presentation will discuss solutions for how access and conservation can be integrated together to improve human well-being and ecosystem health.