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How
are Marine Environments Protected in Canada and British Columbia?
The
protection of marine environments in Canada and British Columbia
falls under several different areas of government and can carry
many different names.
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| Vancouver
Aquarium volunteers at Whytecliffe Park. Click image
to enlarge. |
Fisheries
and Oceans Canada
Fishery
Closures
In
addition to having jurisdiction over Marine Protected Areas under
the Oceans
Act, Fisheries and Oceans Canada also has jurisdiction over
Fishery Closures under the Fisheries
Act. The purpose of a Fishery Closure is to regulate commercial
and sport fishing.
Two such examples of Fishery Closures are West Vancouver's Whytecliffe
Park and Point Atkinson (Lighthouse Park).
The
Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre played an important role
in establishing these "no take" zones. Once declared a
Fishery Closure in 1993, the Aquarium, in collaboration with West
Vancouver Parks and Recreation, developed two interpretive signs
to educate visitors of Whytecliffe Park about the amazing features
of the newly protected area. On
July 24,1993, the Aquarium also co-hosted Ocean's Day at the Park,
a fun-filled family day of educational aquatic games and crafts.
In
1997, Fisheries and Oceans Canada granted the Vancouver Aquarium
permission to set up a small area of Lighthouse Park as a Research
Fishing Closure. One of the initial projects in the area involved
black rockfish that had once been abundant in the Vancouver area
but had been exploited to the point of local extinction by the early
1970's. In an effort to replenish the population, the Aquarium transplanted
black rockfish collected from Ucluelet, on the west coast of Vancouver
Island, into Lighthouse Park. In addition to monitoring the black
rockfish, Vancouver Aquarium divers continue to survey and catalogue
the species of life found at the Point Atkinson Research Fishing
Closure.
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| A
local no-fishing sign showing several languages. Click
image to enlarge. |
Parks
Canada
National
Marine Conservation Areas
Another
department of the Canadian Federal Government, Parks Canada, is
responsible for protecting marine environments through the creation
of a network of National Marine Conservation Areas (NMCAs). NMCAs
are established to protect and conserve a network of representative
areas of the vast diversity of marine environments in Canada's Atlantic,
Pacific and Arctic oceans and the Great Lakes.
Canada's
coastal waters have been subdivided into 29 regions. The goal is
to establish one NMCA in each of these regions. Draft legislation,
known as Bill C-8, the proposed Marine
Conservation Areas Act, is currently before Parliament. Once
proclaimed as law, this legislation will give Parks Canada the authority
to establish and manage National Marine Conservation Areas. In the
interim, Parks Canada has established two NMCA equivalents: Fathom
Five National Marine Park in Georgian Bay, Ontario, and Saguenay
- St. Lawrence Marine Park in Quebec. In addition, Canada and British
Columbia have agreed to the establishment of a NMCA in the waters
of Hecate Strait and the Queen Charlotte Shelf surrounding Gwaii
Haanas National Park Reserve in the southern end of the Queen Charlotte
Islands.
Five
of the 29 marine regions of Canada are located on B.C.'s Coast:
the Strait of Georgia, the Vancouver Island Shelf, Queen Charlotte
Sound, Hecate Strait and the Queen Charlotte Shelf. The marine component
of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve may in the future become the
center of a larger NMCA for this region. Parks Canada is also currently
examining the possibility of establishing a NMCA in the Gulf Islands
area of the southern Strait of Georgia and is in the process of
selecting a NMCA candidate area in the Queen Charlotte Sound marine
region.
Environment
Canada
National
Wildlife Areas
Environment
Canada is responsible for establishing National Wildlife Areas (NWA).
The goal of NWAs is to set aside nationally significant habitats
for the protection of migratory birds and wildlife for the purpose
of research, conservation and interpretation. The Canada
Wildlife Act, signed in 1973, allows the creation of NWAs by
the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) of Environment Canada. Under
the 1994 amendment, Environment Canada is also allowed to create
"protected marine areas" within Canada's Exclusive Economic
Zone (out to 200 nautical miles).
Migratory Bird Sanctuaries
The
1917 Migratory
Birds Convention Act, developed in collaboration with the U.S.A.,
gives Canada the authority to ratify and enforce regulations to
protect a specific set of migratory birds.
British
Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks
Ecological
Reserves
The
purpose of the Ecological
Reserve Act is to set aside land owned by the provincial government
for ecological purposes. These areas could be places suitable for
research and education, or representative of natural ecosystems
in B.C. They could also be examples of modified environments for
the purpose of examining the recovery of the area, or habitats of
rare, endangered or unique plants and animals. The Legislature approved
the Ecological Reserve Act in 1971. There are currently 134 reserves,
14 of which have a marine component.
Provincial
Parks
The
intention of Provincial
Parks is to reserve representative ecosystems, habitat and unique
landscapes and features. They are also created to serve outdoor
recreation and enjoyment by all residents of B.C. and to enhance
tourism opportunities.
Wildlife
Management Areas
The
Wildlife
Management Area (WMA) Program strives to preserve B.C.'s wildlife
heritage. The goals are to both promote the appreciation of wildlife
and to ensure the protection of B.C.'s wildlife for future generations.
Existing WMAs now include the protection of Fraser Valley wetlands
for waterfowl and coastal islands for seabirds and marine mammals.
Protected
Areas
The
purpose of "Protected Areas" is to protect representative
sites as examples of natural, recreational and cultural heritage.
The designation of a "Protected Area" under the Environment
and Land Use Act is only temporary. Discussions between federal
and provincial governments will determine whether the area will
become a national park or remain under provincial authority.
Municipal
and Regional Parks
The
goals of municipal and regional parks are mainly focused on improving
recreational opportunities. They may include boat ramps, picnic
areas and campsites.
Sources:
Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
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