First and long-overdue plan for the coast moves BC toward ocean health

Unceded, traditional, and ancestral Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territories / Vancouver, BC – BC is joining other coastal regions in North America with the release of its first and much-needed Coastal Marine Strategy, which will provide BC with better tools to deal with cumulative impacts on the coast and ensure healthier oceans for both nature and people.  

“The absence of a Coastal Marine Strategy until this point has resulted in a lack of cohesion and jurisdictional confusion that harms ocean biodiversity, the people who live on the coast and the stability of the jobs they depend on,” says Kate MacMillan, Conservation Director – Ocean Program at the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia (CPAWS-BC). “A strong Coastal Marine Strategy, co-developed with First Nations, is long overdue and we’re hopeful that it will lead to a better future for nature and coastal prosperity.”

The “made-in-BC” Coastal Marine Strategy was co-developed by First Nations and the BC government with input from nearly 1,000 people during the public consultation, as well as meetings with coastal stakeholders from fishing, forestry, tourism and conservation sectors.

“In order for a coastal strategy to be successful, it’s critical that it protects and restores marine ecosystems, including coordinated monitoring and incorporating nature-based solutions along the coast in a way that enables coastal communities to flourish and respects the rights and leadership of First Nations. The input of people across BC in shaping the strategy will undoubtedly aid in that goal.” 

Until now, British Columbia has remained one of the only coastal regions in North America without a unifying and strategic plan to protect and manage the coast. 

“Now, with the release of this strategy, we have the opportunity to transition from being reactive to proactive when it comes to making decisions that impact the future of the coast,” added MacMillan.

CPAWS-BC and West Coast Environmental Law have been working together on Blueprint for the Coast, a campaign to find a solution to the issue of BC’s coastal and marine areas being regulated through a patchwork of ministries and departments, with no overarching vision to guide decisions. We have brought people together to learn about coastal issues and to investigate how a coast-wide strategy and law will help to address these issues, as we work together for a healthy, abundant future for the coast and all those who depend on it. 

The strategy also commits the Province to partnering with First Nations to develop a proposal for coastal marine legislation, a key focus for the Blueprint for the Coast campaign.

“The release of British Columbia’s first Coastal Marine Strategy is an exciting step towards biodiverse, resilient marine ecosystems that can mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change and provide a respite for species at risk, ensuring their abundance for generations to come. The Strategy holds the promise of advancing meaningful acts of reconciliation, through Indigenous marine spatial planning, Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, and coastal Guardian programs,” said Georgia Lloyd-Smith, Staff Lawyer at West Coast Environmental Law.

The groups say that the release of the strategy is the start of a new path and a better future for the coastal marine environment across BC.

“It will help protect biodiversity, the well-being of coastal communities, and the stability of over 170,000 ocean-based jobs,” said Lloyd-Smith. “Now with this holistic vision that has a 20-year outlook, the work begins on the actions outlined in the plan to ensure the goals of a healthy coast, resilience to climate change, thriving coastal economies and communities and informed governance are met.”  

For interviews, contact: 

Max Winkelman (he/him)
Communications Manager, CPAWS-BC
max@cpawsbc.org 
604-685-7445 ext. 3

Georgia Lloyd-Smith (she/her)
Staff Lawyer, West Coast Environmental Law
glsmith@wcel.org
604-817-3940

Resources

• Coastal Marine Strategy. July 11 2024
• What We Heard Report: Coastal Marine Strategy: Policy Intentions Paper Public Engagement. Government of BC. August 2023 
• Policy Intentions Paper. A Coastal Marine Strategy for British Columbia. Government of BC. December 2022
• Blueprint for the Coast. CPAWS-BC and WCEL website. www.blueprintforthecoast.ca