Ocean’s Program at a glance

A variety of work takes place under the umbrella of DARFM’s Oceans Program. These include Ocean Management, which entails a focus on the Inner Bay of Fundy – an area of cultural and ecological interest and significance to the Mi’kmaw People.

Ocean Management works to demonstrate the potential benefits of existing and proposed marine conservation planning concepts for the area. This is done through fieldwork and community engagement.

The Canadian Coast Guard Marine Safety and Environmental Response supports marine safety, emergency response efforts and preparedness capacity to ensure the safety of community members on the water. This program also entails work to protect culturally important sites and the local marine environment from pollution, and supports marine safety emergency response training programs for communities.

The Water Sector Climate Change Adaptation Program involves the development of a sector-wide climate adaptation strategy, with a multi-stakeholder team from across the province’s water sector. This strategy addresses top sectoral concerns and priorities, building outcomes that will allow the oceans sector to better adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Building Capacity in Mainland Mi’kmaw Communities – Offshore Wind Energy provides knowledge sharing, training, youth engagement and capacity building to integrate Mi’kmaq perspectives, in a bid to build a socially and environmentally well-rounded approach to wind energy development in Nova Scotia.

Investigation into Identifying Culturally, Ecologically, and Economically Important Marine and Coastal Sites to Mainland Mi’kmaq Communities, Including Enhancing Oil Spill Response and Prevention Capabilities is a project that enhances oil spill responses and prevention at cultural, ecological and economically important marine and coastal sites. This is accomplished through a response protocol in Mainland Nova Scotia. Staff also investigate and identify coastal and marine sites of cultural, economic and ecological importance for Mi’kmaq communities, for protection from environmental hazards.