The Opportunity
A National Marine Conservation Areas (NMCA) can help protect marine life in the Southern Strait while balancing human uses. NMCAs are established to represent unique marine regions throughout Canada and to demonstrate how protection and conservation practices can be harmonized with resource use in marine ecosystems for their long term sustainability. Currently, there are two NMCAs in Canada: Fathom Five National Marine Park in Georgian Bay, Ontario and Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park in Quebec.
In 1995, Canada and BC agreed to assess the feasibility of establishing a NMCA in the Southern Strait of Georgia. The feasibility study is intended to identify key environmental, economic and social outcomes of a range of conservation strategies. It will identify areas of biodiversity and other conservation values, conflicting and incompatible uses, and consider ways to accommodate appropriate activities. The study area for the NMCA extends from Haro Strait in the south to the waters of Active Pass, southern Trincomali Channel, Saanich Inlet and the southern shores of Saltspring Island. Based on ecosystem boundaries, environmental organizations are advocating for a larger area of protection, which includes the area from Haro Strait to Gabriola Passage (see map below).
If the feasibility study demonstrates support for the initiative, the federal/provincial steering committee will set out the terms and conditions under which the Southern Strait of Georgia NMCA will be established and managed.
Increasing interest in ocean issues by the province is another opportunity to move this issue forward, giving the province a chance to show some leadership. The provincial Ocean and Coastal Strategy, released early last year, presents an opportunity to ensure that the provincial government honours its commitment to protect the health of BC’s ocean and coastal ecosystems by supporting the establishment of a NMCA. In addition, the province recently signed an agreement on ocean issues through the Pacific Coast Collaborative (process linking BC with Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California).
