Carlo Acuña

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January 31 2022

Marine Protected Area 101: An introduction to MPAs

Carlo Acuña Blog marine protected area, mpa

The beautiful coast of British Columbia has sustained people for thousands of years. But now fisheries are edging closer to collapse, iconic wildlife is on the brink of extinction, and vital marine ecosystems are disappearing. To keep British Columbia prosperous for our children, grandchildren and future generations, marine protected areas (MPAs) are being created to restore fisheries and fight climate change. Creating marine protected areas in BC today will set the course for coastal communities to thrive and show leadership in ocean conservation for generations to come.

But what’s an MPA? How does it help protect ocean life? And what does CPAWS-BC do to create more MPAs and make them stronger? Dive into our new MPA 101 series to learn the basics.

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ID: close-up of glass sponges are white funnel-like tubes.

January 19 2022

All Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Now Protected From Bottom Contact Fishing

Carlo Acuña News cpaws-bc, glass sponge reefs

For more information, please contact:
Rippon Madtha
Communications Manager
rippon@cpawsbc.org
604-685-7445 (x23)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 19, 2022

All Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Now Protected From Bottom Contact Fishing

Five new fisheries closures have been implemented to protect newly confirmed living glass sponge reefs in Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound

Unceded Coast Salish Territory / Vancouver, BC – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia (CPAWS-BC) is pleased to see five new protections announced for glass sponge reefs in Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound. These new fishing closures prohibit bottom contact fishing such as trawling and prawn trapping from destroying these rare and ancient ecosystems. These protections extend 150 metres around the reefs. This buffer prevents sediment kicked up from trawls and traps from choking the sponges.

“With this new announcement, all of Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound’s glass sponge reefs are now protected by 15 fishing closures,” says Carlo Acuña, Ocean Campaigner for CPAWS-BC. In 2019, nine glass sponge reefs in Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound were protected from bottom contact fishing. These new fishing closures protect the additional living reefs confirmed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) report with the aid of the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society in 2020.

The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) played a key role in securing these protections. They agreed to prohibit Indigenous bottom contact Food, Social and Ceremonial fishing activities for the closures announced in 2019. Consultations are ongoing regarding Food, Social and Ceremonial bottom contact fishing in the five new closures.

These protections safeguard biodiversity, improve ocean health and support the local economy. “Glass sponge reefs are ocean superheroes,” adds Acuña. “They provide habitat for rockfish and shrimp, store carbon in the ocean floor to fight climate change, filter bacteria out of the water, and fertilize ocean water for plankton and marine plants.”

The work to protect Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound’s glass sponge reefs does not end with these fishing closures. Fishing closure designations do not ensure permanent protection like marine protected areas (MPAs) do, as they are more easily removed. The 300 prawn traps found in a glass sponge reef fishing closure near Sechelt last year also indicates the need for stronger enforcement.

These protections show Canada’s intent for strong ocean conservation. With the 5th International Marine Protected Area Congress being held in Vancouver this September, CPAWS-BC looks forward to even bolder announcements to reach the government’s target of protecting 30% of the country’s ocean by 2030.

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Resources:

Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reef Conservation Initiative, Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (2022). Overview of Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reef Conservation Initiative: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-fermetures-eng.html

Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (2022). FN0039-Glass Sponge Reefs – Pacific Region – Area 28 – Bottom Contact Fishery Closures – Effective January 17, 2022 [Fishery Notice]. Retrieved from: https://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=view_notice&DOC_ID=254231&ID=all

Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (2022, January 17). Government of Canada releases draft 2022-23 Prawn and Shrimp by Trap Integrated Fisheries Management Plan [Press release]. Retrieved from: https://www.canada.ca/en/fisheries-oceans/news/2022/01/government-of-canada-releases-draft-2022-23-prawn-and-shrimp-by-trap-integrated-fisheries-management-plan.html

For more information, please contact:
Rippon Madtha
Communications Manager
rippon@cpawsbc.org
604-685-7445 (x23)

ID: newly protected glass sponge reefs are highlighted blue on howe sound map.

About CPAWS-BC:

The CPAWS British Columbia chapter (CPAWS-BC) works to protect wilderness in every corner of BC and deep into the ocean. We have been defending BC since 1978, and are dedicated to keeping BC’s natural environment thriving forever. Nature is BC’s best hope.

CPAWS-BC’s office is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.

Visit: cpawsbc.org | Follow: @CPAWSbc

December 1 2021

CPAWS-BC applauds Mamalilikulla First Nation’s new Indigenous-led protected area

Carlo Acuña News cpaws-bc, ipca

CPAWS-BC applauds Mamalilikulla First Nation’s new Indigenous-led protected area

Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories / Vancouver, BC – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia (CPAWS-BC) congratulates Mamalilikulla First Nation in declaring gwaxdłala (Lull Bay)/‘nalaxdłala (Hoeya Sound) as an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA).

Near Knight Inlet on the central coast of British Columbia, this 10,416 hectare protected area is almost the size of the city of Vancouver, and contains watersheds that support critical species like grizzly bears, eagles, and salmon. It also houses a one-of-a-kind underwater sponge and coral reef. Without protection and sustainable management, this biodiversity risks being lost.

“Indigenous Peoples—like Mamalilikulla First Nation—have stewarded rich and healthy landscapes since time immemorial. This announcement is a re-assertion of the stewardship role they’ve held,” says Kevin Barlow, Executive Director of CPAWS-BC. “I look forward to seeing the crown governments uphold their commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) by formally recognizing this IPCA.”

In addition to protecting biodiversity and cultural values—including settlement sites—this IPCA is an important step forward in protecting 25% of BC’s lands and waters by 2025 in order to stem the climate change and biodiversity crises affecting communities across the province.

The ocean waters of the IPCA are proposed as a strongly protected component of the planned Northern Shelf Bioregion Marine Protected Area Network. This network, led by 17 First Nations including Mamalilikulla First Nation, aims to protect the species and ecosystems underpinning their ocean economy in the north Pacific coast of BC.

With their expertise protecting nature, CPAWS-BC looks forward to more Indigenous-led conservation initiatives.

Kevin Barlow
Executive Director, CPAWS-BC

To learn more about the Mamalilikulla First Nation, visit mamalilikulla.ca.

CPAWS-BC applauds Mamalilikulla First Nation’s new Indigenous-led protected area

With their expertise protecting nature, CPAWS-BC looks forward to more Indigenous-led conservation initiatives.

Kevin Barlow
Executive Director, CPAWS-BC

To learn more about the Mamalilikulla First Nation, visit mamalilikulla.ca.

October 28 2021

CPAWS Report Finds BC’s Marine Protected Areas Need Urgent Strengthening

Carlo Acuña News canada, marine protected areas

For more information, please contact:
Rippon Madtha
Communications Manager
rippon@cpawsbc.org
604-685-7445 (x23)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 28, 2021

CPAWS Report Finds BC’s Marine Protected Areas Need Urgent Strengthening

More than 60% of BC’s marine protected area waters are not effective at protecting biodiversity. Canada needs to implement its minimum standards to effectively safeguard biodiversity and fight climate change.

Unceded Coast Salish Territory / Vancouver, BC – Today, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) released The MPA Monitor, a first-of-its-kind assessment of the quality of Canada’s marine protected areas (MPAs). Using The MPA Guide, a scientific tool to evaluate MPA protection, CPAWS analysed the five MPAs which make up five per cent of the Pacific Ocean in BC. Over 60% of BC federal MPAS do not have the strong, high-quality protections in place that support thriving ocean life and healthy communities.

According to a 2018 study published in Marine Policy, MPAs are one of the most effective tools to restore habitats, rebuild biodiversity, and help species adapt to climate change, but only when they are strongly protected and effectively managed. In 2019 Canada announced it had protected almost 14% of the ocean, exceeding the international goal of 10% by 2020. It has since committed to build on this to protect 25% of the ocean by 2025 and 30% by 2030, in line with global scientific consensus needed to effectively protect marine biodiversity.

“SG̱aan Ḵinghlas-Bowie Seamount MPA is an excellent example of an effective MPA on the west coast, scoring as strongly protected under The MPA Guide,” says Kate MacMillan, CPAWS-BC’s acting Ocean Conservation Manager. “But not all MPAs are created with high-protection. We need to see protection measures in BC MPAs improved, such as prohibiting bottom trawling in the Scott Islands marine National Wildlife Area.”

First Nations, conservation groups and community members have sounded the alarm of poor quality ocean protection in Canada for years. In 2019, in response to these concerns, Canada committed to establish minimum protection standards for all new federal MPAs that would prohibit bottom trawling, oil and gas, mining, and dumping. Canada also committed to eventually review existing MPAs against those minimum standards. However, two years later, we are still waiting for action.

The MPA Guide was developed by an international team of experts to allow for a global assessment of MPA standards. CPAWS is the first organization to assess Canada’s federal MPAs against both The MPA Guide and the minimum protection standards. CPAWS found that implementing the minimum protection standards would provide a critical basic level of protection and improve Canada’s scores under The MPA Guide framework. With minimum standards in place, two BC MPAs would move from incompatible to weakly protected, and another two BC MPAs from weakly to strongly protected.

“Canada continues to increase marine protection on the BC coast with planning for a large Offshore Pacific MPA west of Vancouver Island and an MPA network for the north and central coasts,” adds MacMillan. “We need to make sure these MPAs implement Canada’s minimum standards to effectively conserve ocean life and prevent them from being no more than ‘paper parks.’”

Visit www.cpaws.org/oceanreport to read the full version of The MPA Monitor.

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Background

The MPA Guide: A Framework to Achieve Global Goals for the Ocean provides a novel science-based framework to consistently plan, establish, and track MPAs and their outcomes for both biodiversity and human well-being.
Evidence shows that at least 30%, and as much as 70% or more, of ecosystems need to be conserved to reverse nature’s decline and safeguard a healthy planet for people and nature. This is consistent with CPAWS’ long-standing goal of protecting at least half of Canada’s ocean, public land and fresh water.
A recent paper summarizes the benefits of effective and strongly protected MPAs, including increasing fish biomass by 600% and helping to mitigate climate change and its effects. Research recently published in Nature calculated that protecting 30% of the ocean in strong MPAs could help to restore ocean ecosystems as soon as 2050, with significant economic benefits.
MPAs can produce financial returns of up to 10:1 on every dollar invested and create as many jobs per million dollars as most industrial sectors but only if they are effectively protected and well resourced. Effective MPAs also have more positive well-being outcomes for people than negative ones.

Media Kit

For more information, please contact:
Rippon Madtha
Communications Manager
rippon@cpawsbc.org
604-685-7445 (x23)

About CPAWS-BC:

CPAWS-BC’s office is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.

Visit: cpawsbc.org | Follow: @CPAWSbc

August 13 2021

CPAWS-BC Welcomes Important Step for a New National Marine Conservation Area Reserve

Carlo Acuña News canada, national marine conservation, nmca

For more information, please contact:
Rippon Madtha
Communications Manager
rippon@cpawsbc.org
604-685-7445 (x23)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 13, 2021

CPAWS-BC Welcomes Important Step for a New National Marine Conservation Area Reserve

Protected area aims to boost biodiversity and mitigate climate change impacts on coastal communities

Unceded Coast Salish Territory / Vancouver, BC – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia (CPAWS-BC) congratulates the Kitasoo/Xai’xais, Nuxalk, Heiltsuk, and Wuikinuxv First Nations, Parks Canada and Government of BC for formally beginning the process to establish a new National Marine Conservation Area together.

The announcement marks the start of a feasibility assessment for a new marine protected area. The area being assessed covers 14,200 square kilometres of some of BC’s most productive and intact marine ecosystems that border the Great Bear Rainforest, including some of the largest kelp forests in BC.

“The creation of a new National Marine Conservation Area Reserve (NMCAR) off the central coast of BC would protect iconic, important, and vulnerable species, such as herring, salmon, and orcas,” says Ross Jameson, Ocean Conservation Manager for CPAWS-BC.

Today’s important announcement acts on the longstanding and aligned vision between Canada and the partnered First Nations partners to protect nature and safeguard the health of the ocean for generations to come. First Nations on the Central Coast have been stewards of these lands and waters for millennia. Most recently this includes developing world-leading marine-use plans, acting as First Responders to catastrophic oil spills, partnering with the federal and provincial government to develop what will be the world’s largest MPA network, and earlier this week announcing a new Fisheries Resources Reconciliation Agreement with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Recent declines in herring and crab have led to the First Nations taking important steps to protect these species and reduce commercial fishing pressure, to ensure long term sustainability. Marine protected areas, like the proposed NMCAR, have long been recognized as a critical insurance policy for ecosystems and species. MPAs are one of the most effective conservation tools to protect and rebuild populations of marine life. “By removing or reducing all known threats and stressors, MPAs act as refugia for marine life and in doing so improve the long-term health and sustainability of species and habitats that coastal communities and commercial fisheries rely on,” adds Jameson.

The establishment of an NMCAR in the region is yet another investment in the prosperity of the region. Recent studies have shown that by protecting biodiversity and increasing sustainability, marine protected areas can produce a return of $10 for every $1 invested and create thousands of jobs directly and indirectly.

“This NMCAR will benefit both coastal communities and the ecosystems that support them, creating jobs for Indigenous Guardians, increasing recreation and tourism opportunities, rebuilding fisheries, and creating a strong and sustainable conservation economy,” said Jameson.

Canada has committed to protecting 25% of its ocean by 2025, toward 30% by 2030 in line with global scientific recommendations to restore ocean health. Co-governed protected areas, like the proposed NMCAR will play a critical role in achieving these targets in an equitable and just manner.

“This announcement shows great wisdom and fortitude in putting the future of our communities first by furthering important nature commitments. We look forward to working towards a resilient future with Indigenous, provincial, and federal governments by furthering conservation here in BC,” said Jameson.

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For more information, please contact:
Rippon Madtha
Communications Manager
rippon@cpawsbc.org
604-685-7445 (x23)

About CPAWS-BC:
The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is Canada’s only charity dedicated to the protection of public land, freshwater and ocean with a strong national and regional presence across the country. Working in a way that respects the sovereignty and leadership of Indigenous nations, we are focused on conserving nature to respond to the dual crises of accelerated biodiversity loss and climate change. With almost 60 years of success, we are Canada’s leader in conservation and have played a lead role in protecting over half a million square kilometers. Our vision is that at least half of land, freshwater and ocean in Canada is permanently protected to sustain nature and people for current and future generations.

Visit: cpawsbc.org. | Follow: @CPAWSbc