Canada Names Diana Fox Carney Ocean Envoy as Halifax Prepares for 2027 Our Ocean Conference

Canada has appointed British-Canadian economist Diana Fox Carney as its Ocean Envoy and Chair of the 12th Our Ocean Conference, placing ocean conservation, sustainable tourism, Indigenous stewardship and the future of coastal economies at the centre of preparations for the major international gathering in Halifax in 2027.

The announcement, made by Fisheries and Oceans Canada on September 16, 2026, comes as Canada prepares to welcome governments, Indigenous leaders, scientists, businesses, non-governmental organisations and coastal communities from around the world. For the travel and tourism industry, the conference is particularly significant because the health of oceans directly affects coastal destinations, marine tourism, fisheries, cruise activity and the communities whose economies depend on the sea.

Canada’s position as host is also closely connected to its geography. With the world’s longest coastline stretching along the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, the country has a substantial economic, environmental and cultural relationship with marine areas.

Why has Canada appointed Diana Fox Carney for the 2027 conference?

Diana Fox Carney will work with the Canadian government and international partners to help advance discussions linking ocean conservation with climate action, Indigenous leadership, economic resilience and maritime security.

Her appointment gives the 2027 conference a leadership structure focused not only on environmental protection but also on the broader economic and social role of oceans. That distinction is important for coastal destinations, where tourism, fisheries, shipping, recreation and local communities often depend on the same marine ecosystems.

Fox Carney is a British-Canadian economist with professional experience advising companies and investors dealing with the transition towards a more climate-resilient economy. Her work has covered Africa, Europe and North America across private-sector and not-for-profit organisations.

She holds a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Oxford and another in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania. She has also served on the boards of several not-for-profit organisations working in areas including the environment, development and the arts.

What will happen at the Our Ocean Conference in Halifax?

The 12th Our Ocean Conference will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 2027, bringing international stakeholders together around voluntary and measurable commitments designed to improve ocean protection and sustainable use.

The conference was launched in 2014 and has since developed into an international platform for countries, organisations and other stakeholders to announce concrete commitments relating to the ocean.

According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, more than 3,200 commitments have been made globally through the conference, with an estimated combined value of approximately C$243 billion.

Rather than functioning solely as a conventional policy conference, the Our Ocean Conference is structured around commitments and implementation. This approach is particularly relevant to destinations and tourism operators because marine sustainability increasingly affects how coastal economies manage visitor growth, infrastructure, biodiversity and climate risks.

For Halifax, hosting the event will also place Nova Scotia’s Atlantic setting directly within an international conversation about the future of ocean-based economies.

Which ocean issues will Canada highlight?

The conference focuses on six major areas: marine protected areas, marine pollution, climate change, the sustainable blue economy, maritime security and sustainable fisheries.

These themes have direct implications for international travel and tourism. Marine protected areas, for example, can influence access and visitor management around sensitive ecosystems, while marine pollution can affect beaches, coastal attractions and wildlife experiences.

Climate change presents another major challenge. Rising temperatures, changing marine conditions, extreme weather and coastal impacts can affect destinations and the infrastructure supporting tourism.

The sustainable blue economy also has growing relevance to tourism. Coastal destinations increasingly need to balance economic activity with protection of the marine resources that attract visitors in the first place.

For cruise lines, ferry operators, marine excursion companies, diving businesses, waterfront hotels and destination-management organisations, these discussions can eventually translate into changes in operating practices, investment priorities and environmental standards.

Why does ocean protection matter to travel and tourism?

Healthy oceans are a fundamental asset for many tourism destinations, from Atlantic and Pacific coastlines to island nations and Arctic communities.

Tourism businesses rely on beaches, marine wildlife, coral ecosystems, fisheries, scenic coastlines and clean waters to attract visitors. Activities such as whale watching, sailing, diving, kayaking, recreational fishing and coastal sightseeing are all closely connected to marine environmental conditions.

The relationship works in both directions. Tourism can generate employment and support local businesses, but poorly managed visitor growth can also create pressure on coastal ecosystems through waste, congestion, infrastructure demand and resource consumption.

That makes sustainable tourism an important part of the wider blue-economy discussion.

Canada’s approach for the Halifax conference is expected to connect environmental objectives with the economic realities of coastal communities. This is especially relevant to destinations where tourism operates alongside fishing, shipping, conservation and Indigenous cultural activities.

How will Indigenous leadership feature in Canada’s approach?

Indigenous leadership is one of the central themes identified by the Canadian government for the 2027 conference.

Canada has said the event will showcase Indigenous-led stewardship, recognising the role of Indigenous communities in protecting and managing marine environments.

For tourism, this can also create space for greater recognition of Indigenous knowledge, culture and relationships with coastal landscapes. Indigenous tourism has become an increasingly important component of destination development in Canada, including experiences connected with local history, traditional knowledge, food, nature and cultural interpretation.

The conference therefore provides an international platform for conversations about how Indigenous communities can participate in decisions affecting marine resources and coastal development.

Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson said Canada’s coastal communities, harvesters and independent owner-operators are both economic contributors and long-standing stewards of ocean ecosystems.

That perspective places local communities alongside governments, scientists and businesses in discussions about the future of marine resources.

What does the conference mean for Halifax and Nova Scotia?

Hosting an international conference focused on oceans gives Halifax an opportunity to demonstrate its position as an Atlantic Canadian gateway and a city closely connected to maritime activity.

The event is expected to bring delegates from governments, international organisations, industry, academia, civil society and Indigenous communities. Such gatherings can generate demand for accommodation, meetings infrastructure, restaurants, transportation and other visitor services.

More importantly, international conferences can strengthen a destination’s profile among professional travellers and organisations that may return for future meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.

Halifax’s location on Canada’s Atlantic coast also provides a natural setting for conversations about fisheries, maritime industries, ocean science and coastal communities.

The conference’s legacy, however, will extend beyond visitor numbers. The commitments announced and partnerships developed during the event could influence future investment and cooperation in marine conservation and the blue economy.

How could this affect Canada’s sustainable tourism ambitions?

Canada’s tourism sector operates across a vast range of coastal and marine environments. From Atlantic provinces to British Columbia and the Arctic, ocean-related tourism contributes to regional economies while also exposing destinations to environmental and climate-related pressures.

The 2027 conference gives Canada an opportunity to bring these tourism considerations into a broader international framework.

Sustainable tourism does not simply mean reducing environmental damage. It can also involve strengthening local supply chains, supporting coastal employment, protecting cultural heritage and ensuring that tourism revenue contributes to communities.

For travel businesses, the changing sustainability landscape could increasingly influence product development and destination marketing. Travellers are also paying greater attention to environmental credentials, although the specific expectations vary considerably between markets and traveller segments.

The conference could therefore become relevant to tourism stakeholders well beyond the traditional environmental sector.

What is Canada’s wider ocean strategy?

The Canadian government has framed its hosting role around the protection and sustainable use of oceans while supporting coastal communities and strengthening marine science.

Canada has also positioned ocean conservation alongside economic resilience and maritime security rather than treating environmental protection as an isolated issue.

This integrated approach reflects the interconnected nature of marine economies. Fisheries, shipping, tourism, conservation, coastal infrastructure and scientific research operate within the same marine environment and can affect one another.

For the international travel industry, the sustainable blue economy is particularly important because coastal destinations increasingly need to manage competing demands for marine space and resources.

The Halifax conference will provide a forum for these issues to be discussed alongside international commitments.

What has Diana Fox Carney said about her new role?

Fox Carney said she was honoured to become Canada’s Ocean Envoy and help convene the Our Ocean Conference in Halifax.

She said the gathering would provide an opportunity to deepen cooperation, exchange knowledge and experience, and secure commitments aimed at ensuring healthy and sustainable oceans for future generations.

Her role is voluntary and non-remunerated, according to the Canadian government.

The appointment also brings an economist with a climate-policy background into a role that sits at the intersection of environmental protection, international cooperation and economic resilience.

That combination is significant as governments and businesses increasingly examine how climate change and environmental pressures could affect long-term economic activity in coastal regions.

What should the global travel industry watch before 2027?

The most important developments will likely centre on how governments and businesses translate ocean commitments into practical measures.

Travel companies operating in coastal destinations will have an interest in developments involving marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, pollution reduction, climate adaptation and blue-economy investment.

Cruise and maritime tourism stakeholders will also be watching how sustainability policies evolve, particularly around emissions, waste, marine ecosystems and destination management.

For destinations, the wider question will be how to increase the economic value of tourism while protecting the natural and cultural assets that attract visitors.

Canada’s hosting of the 12th Our Ocean Conference places Halifax at the centre of these discussions in 2027. It also gives the country a platform to connect international ocean policy with the practical realities facing coastal communities.

As the global travel industry continues to adapt to climate and sustainability pressures, the conference could become an important meeting point between environmental commitments and the future of coastal tourism.

For Canada, the objective is clear: use its position as host to bring international partners together around measurable ocean action while demonstrating how conservation, Indigenous stewardship, scientific knowledge and sustainable economic activity can operate alongside one another.

Image: ocean-climate.org