Ocean Campaigns

ID: Overlooking gulf islands from Galiano island.

June 21 2022

Southern Strait of Georgia

cpawsadmin Campaigns, Ocean Campaigns national marine conservation area reserve, nmcar, orca, southern strait of georgia

Southern Straight of Georgia

HOME OF THE ORCAS

Between Vancouver and Victoria lie the emerald waters of the Southern Strait of Georgia, home to most endangered marine mammals in Canada– the Southern Resident killer whales. Southern Resident orca critical habitat has been identified in the area, where they feed on extreme dwindling numbers of their favored chinook salmon.

The legacy of thriving orca echoes through stories told across the surrounding Salish Sea where, in 2023 only 75 remain. Precariously low numbers of their favoured Chinook salmon and noise from marine transportation affect their hunting. While interim and seasonal measures have been put in place to increase food availability and decrease human disturbance, they need permanent protections if there is to be any chance of their survival.

ID: Illustration shows two kblack and white killer whales echoing sound off school of fish

The planned NMCAR would include critical feeding habitat for endangered Southern Resident killer whales.

ID: Illustration shows bubble of fish, birds, sealions through the Southern Gulf Islands map

ID: Illustration shows green eelgrass and seaweed absorbs CO2

HOME OF THE ORCAS

The legacy of thriving orca echoes through stories told across the surrounding Salish Sea where now a mere 75 remain. Precariously low numbers of their favoured Chinook salmon and noise from marine transportation affect their hunting. While interim and seasonal measures have been put in place to increase food availability and decrease human disturbance, they need permanent protections if there is to be any chance of their survival.

The planned NMCAR would include critical feeding habitat for endangered Southern Resident killer whales.

BIODIVERSITRY HOTSPOTS

The Southern Strait of Georgia is more than just the home of the Southern Resident orcas. More than 3,000 species can be found here seasonally and year-round. These include the Bigg’s transient killer whales, the Pacific giant octopus — the world’s largest, 100-year-old rockfish, schools of herring and salmon, millions of birds, as well as seals and sea lions, dolphins and whales. The region also contains climate change fighting, biodiverse habitats like seagrass beds and glass sponge reefs.

The shores of the Salish Sea and the many islands within it have sustained Indigenous Peoples for generations. The incredible natural beauty and abundance of life led scientists, including world-renowned ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, to call for its protection back in 1970.

In 2003, Parks Canada and the provincial government began working to establish the Southern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area Reserve (NMCAR), but two decades later, the area is still not protected.

BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS

The shores of the Salish sea and the many islands within it have sustained Indigenous Peoples for generations. The incredible natural beauty and abundance of life led scientists, including world-renowned ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, to call for its protection back in 1970.

THESE WATERS ARE OVERDUE FOR PROTECTION

Right now local First Nations are working with Parks Canada on the feasibility of an NMCAR to protect these waters. Co-development and co-management will ensure that the vision and stewardship values of the 11 First Nations who share these waters are at the heart of plans to protect these waters. We expect updates this summer on the status of the process and how you can share your support for protecting the home of the orcas.

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THESE WATERS ARE OVERDUE FOR PROTECTION

A NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREA RESERVE

NMCARs are a type of federal marine protected area created by Parks Canada. They focus on ecologically sustainable use — harmonizing conservation with human activities. This involves working closely with those who use the coastal land and the water to create a healthy marine ecosystem.

Human uses such as fishing and shipping, for example, are allowed in national marine conservation areas. But they would be limited or even eliminated from zones protecting sensitive features such as nesting areas, spawning beds, and cultural sites.

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June 9 2022

Great Bear Sea

cpawsadmin Campaigns, Ocean Campaigns british columbia, central coast bc, cpaws, great bear sea, kate macmillan, northern bioshelf regions

Photo: Lichen, Troy Moth, Salmon Beyond Borders. Tahltan lands and waters.

DEFENDING THE GREAT BEAR SEA

The Great Bear Sea is next to the sacred Great Bear Rainforest. Located off the North and Central Coasts of BC, the area includes Haida Gwaii and the waters around Northern Vancouver Island. Also known as the Northern Shelf Bioregion, these abundant offshore islands, rocky shorelines and deep fjords are home to iconic wildlife. Every summer, migrating humpback whales come to feed in these rich waters. Both Bigg’s and Northern Resident killer whales cruise through the Great Bear Sea. Once hunted to extinction from BC, reintroduced sea otters are bouncing back and helping bring back balance to ecosystems. Healthy kelp forests, seagrass meadows, and glass sponge reefs provide shelter for marine life like rockfish and shrimp. This rich stretch of ocean helps fight climate change by storing blue carbon.

Indigenous Peoples have stewarded the Great Bear Sea since time before memory. These waters have supported vibrant societies and cultures for thousands of years. Indigenous Peoples continue to lead the stewardship of healthy coastal waters now and for generations to come. Care and respect for nature is woven through many cultural values. Responsible management of the coast ensures sustainable resources and local food security.

Photos: © markus thompson – thalassia environmental

DEFENDING THE GREAT BEAR SEA

diver in cloudy turquoise waters hovers over qhite square outline on seafloor

Boat surrounded by kelp, calm water and coastal shores

Orange sunset beams over crashing waves on rocky shore

Working Together to Create Canada’s First Marine Protected Area Network

Now the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss threaten these rich waters’ ability to provide for the future. Overharvesting, destructive fishing, and pollution are mounting pressure and adding excess stress. Marine protected areas can act as an insurance policy to keep marine life healthy in the face of a changing ocean. These designations grant refuge from harmful human activities. When we protect the oceans, we’re not only protecting nature. We’re also supporting healthy, sustainable, local economies along the coast.

For over a decade, 17 First Nations in partnership with the federal and provincial governments, have been working together to create Canada’s first network of marine protected areas to safeguard the Great Bear Sea. The MPA network aims to protect marine wildlife and First Nations’ cultural conservation priorities.

We know MPAs work. BC has already made great strides to establish individual MPA’s along the coast. The region already hosts three established marine protected areas: Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, Hecate Strait/Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area, and Scott Islands marine National Wildlife Area. The region is also home to the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation’s Gitdisdzu Lugyeks (Kitasu Bay) marine protected area and the Mamalilikulla First Nation’s Gwaxdlala/Nalaxdlala1 (Lull Bay/Hoeya Sound) Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA).

Northern Shelf Bioregion area

Working Together to Create Canada’s First Marine Protected Area Network

Map shoes red bold lines around north and central coast area

Northern Shelf Bioregion area

Map of north and central coast of BC dotted with existing marine protected areas.

Existing marine protected areas potential for a connected marine protected areas in the Great Bear Sea

Now it’s time for us all to connect the dots. We’ve seen MPA networks work in other parts of the world; now it’s BC’s turn to level up for our coast. By adding many smaller protected areas to neighbouring hotspots, the network can link important marine habitats. The benefits of a single MPA will spillover and amplify beyond the protected borders. MPA networks are more comprehensive and safeguard ocean biodiversity more effectively than individual sites.

Share your Support for Canada’s First MPA Network

Right now we need your help to share support for the completion of the network of marine protected areas. MPAs and networks provide refuge for ocean life to thrive and also benefit people by supporting sustainable industries, local economies, and coastal communities.

Tell the MPA Network partners that the network must have strong protections and meet minimum standards to support both the people and marine life who depend on these waters.

There will be public webinars, open houses and online surveys. Please visit MPAnetwork.ca to learn how you can share your support for the MPA network.

NEW! Learn more about the Great Bear Sea by visiting: greatbearsea.org

Learn More

Check out our Site by Site series on the Great Bear Sea Marine Protected Area Network

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May 10 2022

Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxʷiqak – Tsig̱is MPA: A Deepsea Oasis

cpawsadmin Campaigns, FrontPageOurWorkSlider, Ocean Campaigns biodviersity, canadian parks and wilderness society, hydrothermal vent, marine protected area, pacific offshore area of interest

Photo: Ocean Networks Canada (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxʷiqak – Tsig̱is MPA: A Deepsea Oasis

Thousands of metres beneath the swells of the open ocean west of Vancouver Island is the Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxʷiqak – Tsig̱is Marine Protected Area (MPA). This mysterious Deepsea Oasis is teeming with life.

The waters of Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxʷiqak – Tsig̱is have enriched the lives of the Haida, Nuu-chah-nulth, Pacheedaht, Quatsino Peoples for millenia. Pronounced Tung – Gwun, huch/khwi/kuk, tsee-geese, the marine protected area (MPA) name consists of a Haida word meaning deep ocean (Tang.ɢwan), a Nuu-chah-nulth and Pacheedaht word meaning deepest part of the ocean (ḥačxwiqak), and a Quatsino word referring to a monster of the deep (Tsig̱is). Whales and seabirds on the ocean surface have long signaled a rich ecosystem below. First Nations are working with Fisheries and Oceans Canada to protect and co-manage their fishing territory.

In these dark waters, seamounts rise 3000 metres above the seafloor, extending higher than Whistler Mountain. These underwater volcanoes are biodiversity hotspots offering a buffet for marine wildlife. Like the Galápagos Islands to the south, each of the nearly 50 seamounts is unique, providing critical habitat for endemic species.

Hydrothermal vents, which are like deep sea hot springs, release superheated water and minerals from under the Earth’s crust. These vents are home to 10 species recorded nowhere else in the world.

Did you know? The such as a sea spider and a microbe that can live here in hot waters reaching as hot as 121°C. Some marine life, like tube worms, have adapted to create energy without sunlight.

Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxʷiqak – Tsig̱is would encompass all of Canada’s hydrothermal vents and 75% of its known seamounts.

A Hotspot for Marine Protection

Canada created its first marine protected area (MPA), Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents MPA, in this region in 2003. The proposed Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxʷiqak – Tsig̱is MPA would give stronger, permanent marine protection for the Deepsea Oasis – an area four times the size of Vancouver Island. It would be the biggest protected area of any kind in Canada, and add a welcome boost toward Canada’s commitment of 30% ocean protection by 2030.

A Hotspot for Marine Protection

TIMELINE

2003 – Endeavour Hydrothermal Vent in BC designated as Canada’s first Marine Protected Area under the Oceans Act (was announced as a pilot MPA in 1998)
2009 – Pacific Offshore listed by the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat as one of 13 bioregions which inform marine planning exercises including MPA network development
2017 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada declares the Offshore Pacific Bioregion area of interest for a potential MPA
2017 – Marine refuge declared for the large Offshore Pacific area of interest. The Fisheries closure, categorized as an Other-Effective Conservation Measure (OECM) with partial protections, encompasses a number of seamounts and hydrothermal vents – identified as Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs)
2023: Memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Haida Nation, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Pacheedaht First Nation, Quatsino First Nation, and the Canadian government (MPA) signals final consultation through Canada Gazette to become an MPA

Meeting MPA Minimum Standards

BC’s rich deep sea ocean life is under threat. Bottom-contact fishing such as longlines, trap fishing, and trawling is highly destructive to the seafloor. Deep sea mining could destroy fragile habitats on seamounts and hydrothermal vents.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada designated a large portion of the Deepsea Oasis as a fishing closure in 2017. This prohibits bottom-contact fishing, but it still allows, other harmful industrial activities. A marine protected area would enforce Canada’s MPA minimum standards: banning bottom trawling, dumping, oil and gas exploration and deep sea mining.

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

Hydrothermal vents expel hot plumes of mineral-rich gases. Photo: Ocean Networks Canada (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

ID: white small octopus with elephant -like ears floats on seafloor

Meeting MPA Minimum Standards

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

Hydrothermal vents expel hot plumes of mineral-rich gases. Photo: Ocean Networks Canada (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

Learn more about the Deepsea Oasis at www.DeepseaOasis.com

Learn More

May 10 2022

Glass Sponge Reefs

cpawsadmin Ocean Campaigns bottom trawl, canadian parks and wilderness society, carlo acuna, glass sponge, hecate strait, howe sound, kate macmillan, reef bc, rockfish, sabine jessen, sally leys

The Sea of Glass: Protecting BC’s unique glass sponge reefs

Deep in the cold dark waters of the BC coast lie rare ecosystems once thought extinct: glass sponge reefs! While individual glass sponges have been identified around the world, glass sponge reefs are mostly unique to beautiful British Columbia. On the north and central coasts, these living reefs stretch for hundreds of kilometres across the seafloor and reach the height of a six story building. Smaller reefs also grow in the Salish Sea on the south coast, just outside Vancouver and Victoria. BC truly has a sea of glass!

Natural Solution to Climate Change

These marine animals are an integral part of a healthy marine habitat. Glass sponge reefs provide shelter for marine life including rockfish and shrimp, store carbon on the ocean floor, filter bacteria out of the water, and fertilize the ocean. The sea of glass supports thriving culture and livelihoods for coastal communities.

With skeletons made of silica, these sponges are extremely fragile. Bottom contact fishing such as bottom trawling and shrimp trapping easily shatter their bodies. Sediment on the seafloor kicked up by these fishing methods also causes them to “choke” and stop feeding.

Glass sponge reefs provide habitat for economically important rockfish and shrimp

Strong Permanent Protection for the Sea of Glass

CPAWS-BC looks to protect the Sea of Glass by calling on the federal government to ban bottom contact fishing on or near glass sponge reefs with marine protected areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs) such as marine refuges and fishing closures.

North and Central Coasts

North and Central Coasts
South Coast

Hecate Strait/Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area

Off the north and central coasts of BC, the Hecate Strait/Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area (MPA) prohibits bottom contact fishing. CPAWS-BC is calling on the federal government to make the MPA bigger because new research shows that sediment from beyond the one kilometre buffer zone, as far away as six kilometres, can cause the sponges to choke.

Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reefs

On the south coast, the marine refuges and fishing closures of the Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reef Conservation Initiative protect the Salish Sea’s glass sponge reefs. While not full marine protected areas, these OECMs prohibit bottom contact fishing. CPAWS-BC is calling on the federal government to make these protections more permanent since the current laws can be removed with a change in ministry leadership. We are also calling for better monitoring and enforcement because after the fact fines do not prevent fishing damage from occurring in the first place.

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September 21 2020

Blueprint for the Coast

cpawsadmin Campaigns, Ocean Campaigns bc coast, coastal first nations, coastal marine strategy, coastal strategy bc, marine debris, ocean bc, ocean pollution, wcel, west coast

British Columbia’s coastline extends for over 30,000 km and is home to diverse eco-systems and communities. That’s why it’s so hard to believe BC is one of the only coastal jurisdictions in North America without a coastal strategy and law to protect it.

BC needs a blueprint for the coast to leverage and coordinate the work of provincial ministries, local communities, First Nations, and stakeholder groups to better manage and protect our coast.

BC needs a Blueprint for the Coast

We need to send the message to our provincial leaders that a comprehensive plan is vital to the future of the coast. A blueprint that will:

Advance reconciliation in BC
Coordinate engagement from other orders of government
Establish a home for coastal issues within the provincial government
Implement enforceable coastal and marine zone plans
Signal to the world the importance of BC’s ocean and coastlines

Learn More

Panel Discussions

Join us for a discussion on coastal habitat preservation, as we learn how these ecosystems support biodiversity, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and benefit coastal communities.

Plastic debris, contaminated shellfish, and immune-compromised killer whales – it’s no secret that BC is facing a marine pollution crisis.

About

British Columbia has one of the largest coastal jurisdictions in the world. Yet, BC does not have a comprehensive coast-wide strategy or law. That is why CPAWS-BC launched a campaign with our partners at the West Coast Environmental Law – Blueprint for the Coast.

Coastal-marine areas are vital to our identity, culture, and economy. The coast provides key habitat for vulnerable marine life, such as salmon and orcas. Additionally, ocean-based activities contribute $17 billion annually to the BC economy and employ over 170,000 people across coastal communities.

Coastal jurisdiction can be complicated to navigate. Under Canadian laws, all orders of government – Indigenous, federal, provincial, and local – have a role in coastal planning, management, and protection. Indigenous peoples have sovereign powers over their territories, therefore Indigenous laws are applicable as well. Without a blueprint, the gaps and overlap in coastal jurisdiction results in a fragmented approach to provincial coastal management.

BC has the opportunity to become a leader in coastal management and protection. We can build upon examples from other coastal provinces, states, and countries that have effective coastal management strategies and laws. In collaborating with communities, rights holders, and governments across BC, we can develop a meaningful blueprint for the coast.

Many threats face the coast, including biodiversity loss, intensifying impacts of climate change, and increasing conflicts over resources. To make matters worse, we’ve inherited a jumble of regulations and laws overseen by different provincial ministries and departments. Without a coastwide plan that includes coordination between Indigenous, municipal, provincial and federal governments, issues will continue to be dealt with in an ad-hoc fashion, without considering the interaction of solutions and their cumulative effects.

We’re calling on the BC government to establish a Coastal Marine Strategy and law, co-developed with Indigenous nations. This initiative should coordinate coastal planning, management, and protection in collaboration with Indigenous, federal, and local governments.

We met with coastal Indigenous nations, communities, and local experts to learn about issues of concern surrounding coastal management and about how a BC Coastal Marine Strategy can provide meaningful solutions.

With your help, we’re keeping pressure on the BC government to ensure coastal marine ecosystems are healthy, protected, and secure for generations to come. Your support in sending letters and messages to the provincial government during the Coastal Marine Strategy Policy Intentions Paper public consultation period and BC budget 2024 consultation is helping shape a stronger future for the coast. Thank you!

We’re looking forward to the next steps of this strategy’s implementation.

📁Read the CPAWS-BC submission in response to the Coastal Marine Strategy Policy Intentions Paper public consultation period

📁Joint Feedback Letter from Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations on the British Columbia Coastal Marine Strategy Policy Intentions Paper

📁Read the CPAWS-BC submission to the BC budget 2024 consultation

To learn more, visit: www.BlueprintForTheCoast.ca

West Coast Environmental Law: wcel.org/program/bc-coastal-strategy

October 22 2018

Gwaii Haanas

cpawsadmin FrontPageOurWorkSlider, Ocean Campaigns

Gwaii Haanas: wet wilderness. Huge rains. Swelling, deep seas. Rivers rolling from mountaintops. Water creates the life and breath of this ancient world. Gwaii Haanas is known for its diverse ecosystems, distinct flora and fauna, living Haida culture, and cooperative management model. By safeguarding these marine ecosystems along with the land itself, the Haida Nation and Canada have the potential to create one of the greatest protected areas on Earth, from mountain top to sea floor.

ABOUT

ABOUT
QUICK FACTS

On June 11, 2010, the House of Commons and Senate Committees approved the proposal to establish the Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve (NMCA) and Haida Heritage Site! This was Canada’s first NMCA.

CPAWS congratulated the Haida Nation who worked for decades with Parks Canada, CPAWS, and many others to conserve this special place.

The 3500 square kilometre seascape surrounds the spectacular Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve. The land and sea ecosystems are interdependent, and both are now officially joined. This means that an area stretching from the mountain tops of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve to 2500 metres below the sea surface in a deep, ocean valley of the National Marine Conservation Area Reserve will be conserved.

Currently, the Haida Nation and the Government of Canada have drafted the Gwaii Haanas Gina ‘Waadlux̲an KilG̲uhlG̲a Land-Sea-People Management Plan. This plan will determine the management and protection measures in Gwaii Haanas for the next 10 years, and set a precedent for decades to come.

People-land-sea

In addition to conserving this sensitive ecosystem, the Haida Nation and Canada have also protected the living culture of the Haida people. The ocean connects the Haida people, and is as much a part of their heritage, as the earth and stone of their islands.

SGang Gwaay, or Anthony Island, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and provides a stunning example of living Haida culture and the enduring relationship between the Haida and the land and the sea.

Totem poles, Gwaii Haanas

Sea urchin, starfish, and sponges of the Murchison Lagoon in Gwaii Haanas. Photo credit: Sabine Jessen.

The National Marine Conservation Area Reserve (NMCAR) in Gwaii Haanas – extending 10 kilometres offshore – protects 3,500 square kilometres of ocean.
The Queen Charlotte shelf drops 2500 metres from the islands creating an underwater “ecological edge” with biological bounty.
The Gwaii Haanas marine ecosystems support kelp forests, hundreds of species of fish, seabirds, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises and many different whales, including humpback, orca, and minke whales.
More than 6,800 species of flora and fauna have been found in Haida Gwaii.
Gray whales pit-stop in these waters on their migration to Alaska.
In Burnaby Narrows alone, over 200 species of animals, including sea stars and snails, have been identified in huge concentrations.
Over 40 species at risk can be found in Gwaii Haanas.

Where the land meets the sea in Gwaii Haanas. Photo courtesy of Parks Canada.

October 15 2018

Scott Islands

cpawsadmin Ocean Campaigns british columbia, marine protected area, mnwa, national wildlife area, protected area, scott islands, triangle island, tufted puffin

Seabird Sanctuary on the Scott Islands

Photo: Sabine Jessen

Safeguarding millions of migrating seabirds from around the world

The Scott Islands marine National Wildlife Area (mNWA) off the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island is a global hub for migratory birds. Over one million seabirds nest in colonies on the marine protected area’s (MPA) five stormy, foggy, and rocky islands. Outside of the breeding season, millions of seabirds from across the Pacific Ocean feed in the surrounding rich waters. Internationally recognized as an important bird area, it provides important habitat for:

90% of Canada’s tufted puffins
95% of Pacific Canada’s common murres
50% of the world’s Cassin’s auklets
7% of the world’s rhinoceros auklets

But it’s not only a home for seabirds. These waters provide habitat for cod, sablefish, flatfishes, hake and herring. Seals, sea lions, whales and other marine mammals also call use the area throughout the year.

Over one million seabirds nest in colonies on the marine protected area’s islands

Safeguarding millions of migrating seabirds from around the world

90% of Canada’s tufted puffins
95% of Pacific Canada’s common murres
50% of the world’s Cassin’s auklets
7% of the world’s rhinoceros auklets

Over one million seabirds nest in colonies on the marine protected area’s islands

Stronger Protections for the Scott Islands

However, this MPA is not strongly protected. Bottom trawling, a fishing method involving heavy nets that destroys seafloor habitat, is allowed in much of the MPA. Decades-old offshore oil and gas exploration permits still overlap with the wildlife area. Shipping traffic heavily transits through the area, dumping hazardous waste into the ocean.

In 2019, Canada committed to implementing minimum standards for MPAs prohibiting oil and gas activities, mining, dumping and bottom trawling. Applying these standards to the Scott Islands mNWA would go a long way to adequately safeguarding marine life and the ocean they depend on for survival.

The Scott Islands marine National Wildlife Area will be part of a planned marine protected area network for Northern Shelf Bioregion on the North and Central Coasts of BC.

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Stronger Protections for the Scott Islands

The Scott Islands marine National Wildlife Area will be part of a planned marine protected area network for Northern Shelf Bioregion on the North and Central Coasts of BC.

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