MPA Network Planning Process for the Northern Shelf

The waters of British Columbia’s coast have been home to rich marine life and the habitats that sustain them for millennia. They are a source of food and job opportunity for people throughout the north coast and have provided for First Nations since time immemorial. The Northern Shelf is a coastal stretch from North Vancouver Island to the Alaska border, is home to Pacific salmon, Pacific herring, colonies of corals and sponge reefs, three types of killer whale, sea otter, a variety of rockfish, groundfish and shellfish, and lush kelp beds and eelgrass meadows.

These waters are today facing an increasing number of threats, including the impacts of development and climate change. Marine protected area (MPA) networks can help to restore coastal habitats, protect ecological values, and support environmental, cultural, social and economic benefits.

A landmark partnership between First Nations, the Province of B.C. and the Government of Canada is working to proactively protect areas of the Northern Shelf. From September 20 to November 10, the public is invited to provide input on a draft Network Action Plan to guide future implementation of a network of MPAs.

The draft plan is the outcome of over a decade of collaboration between three orders of governments, and consultation with industry, coastal communities, and other stakeholders.

We all share in the responsibility of conserving and protecting special marine areas. That’s why we’re looking forward to hearing from everyone that has interest in the Northern Shelf and its future as we develop a plan for a network of MPAs in British Columbia.