Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act (S.C. 2002, c. 18).

Marine conservation areas are established in accordance with this Act with a view to protect and conserve representative marine areas for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people of Canada. Furthermore, reserves are established where an area or a portion of an area proposed for a marine conservation area is subject to a claim in respect of aboriginal rights being accepted for negotiation by the Government of Canada. Each marine conservation area shall be divided into zones which must include at least one zone that fosters and encourages ecologically sustainable use of marine resources and at least one zone that fully protects special features or sensitive elements of ecosystems, and may include other types of zones. Section 4 establishes that such areas shall be used and managed in a sustainable manner. Section 29 deals with mitigation of environmental damage whereby in case of discharge of a dangerous substance threatening to injure animal, fish or plant in a marine conservation area, any person in charge, management or control of the said substance shall take reasonable measures to prevent or mitigate such degradation or injury. The Act consists of 29 sections.