Coastal and Ocean Management in Canada: Moving into the 21st Century

In the years since the first Canadian Special Issue of the then Coastal Zone Management Journal in 1983, the development of Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management in Canada has moved at speeds ranging from glacial to hectic. This article presents an overview of this development, and attempts to tie together the various articles in this Special Issue of the Coastal Management Journal. With the passage of the Canada Oceans Act in 1997, the initiation of an Oceans Strategy in 2002, and the development of Phase I of the Oceans Action Plan in 2005, Canada has finally begun to move into the 21st century with a coherent plan for Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management. Furthermore, with its ocean-to-shore perspective on Integrated Management for Large Ocean Management Areas, Canada has an opportunity to take a leading global role in the implementation of a truly integrated, multistakeholder management strategy.