The marine rich north and central coasts of British Columbia - also know as the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA) – is a beautiful stretch of wilderness covering 88,000 square kilometres, about the size of the adjacent Great Bear Rainforest. The combination of complex oceanographic conditions, rocky inlets and islands create a wide range of ecological niches that support a diverse array of marine species.
At last count, this northern half of B.C.’s ocean hosts 27 different types of whales, dolphins, porpoises, and pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), including blue, fin, sei, grey whales, and humpback whales, which are making a comeback. Fish are abundant and varied in the region and among the 409 known species are the tiny sandlance, which burrow into the sand to protect themselves from predators; huge schools of herring; long-lived rockfish; giant halibut; and many species of salmon.
The 34,500 people of PNCIMA live in 25 communities – from Prince Rupert and Queen Charlotte City in the north to Port Hardy and Alert Bay on the southern edge. First Nations represent 36 percent of the population in the region. In one way or another, they all depend on the health of the ocean.
Increasing pressure from human activities such as, fishing and shipping as well as the potential for large-scale offshore oil and gas exploration, threaten the health of the PNCIMA marine environment. The impacts of these activities including declines in fish stocks, pollution and invasive species will likely be compounded by climate change. The future resilience of our northern saltwater ecosystems is at risk.
Led by the federal government and in collaboration with First Nations and the government of British Columbia, this area was selected as an important ocean region to undergo a planning process that would improve management and ensure long-term ecosystem health. However, the federal government recently announced its decision to pull out of a funding arrangement that would support the PNCIMA initiative, reasoning that a more focused plan needs to be developed.
CPAWS and other stakeholders are very concerned about this unilateral action by the federal government. It undermines the joint agreement with First Nations and the province to develop a comprehensive marine use plan that involves all concerned stakeholders for BC’s north and central coast.
CPAWS is dedicated to creating a comprehensive ocean management plan though the PNCIMA process and will continue to work collaboratively with stakeholders, First Nations and the Province of B.C. to achieve a high standard of marine protection for BC’s coast. CPAWS works on a number of projects to advance marine planning in BC, including work on climate change, conservation objectives, economic benefits of planning and review of other marine planning experience in Canada.
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