Implementing Marine Protection and Conservation Measures in the Haida Gwaii Marine Plan

The 2015 Haida Gwaii Marine Plan captures commitments by the Haida Nation and Province of British Columbia (the “partners”) to managing marine and coastal uses and activities within Haida territory. This presentation... [ view full abstract ]

The 2015 Haida Gwaii Marine Plan captures commitments by the Haida Nation and Province of British Columbia (the “partners”) to managing marine and coastal uses and activities within Haida territory. This presentation describes progress on three priority initiatives: (1) establishing marine protected areas, (2) managing aquatic invasive species (AIS) and (3) enhancing compliance and enforcement.

• (1)The plan established a Protection Management Zone primarily for conservation purposes, comprised of 87 sites and 19.6% of the plan area. The plan partners participate in a joint process to review tenure applications according to zoning guidelines. Management plans that were already in place for about one-third of the sites are being updated and provide enhanced legal protection. Some sites are expected to be advanced as new protected areas through a Marine Protected Area network planning process with the federal government. As well, alternative protection measures such as Indigenous Protected Areas designations are being investigated.
• (2)Highly invasive tunicates (Botryllus spp.) have been detected at several locations in Haida Gwaii. Partners are monitoring spread and have assessed policy gaps and vectors such as small vessel movements. A preliminary risk assessment is underway for AIS and an interim management plan and public awareness campaign are expected to be in place by summer 2018.
• (3)The partners have bolstered their compliance and enforcement capacity through additional staff and training and are exploring opportunities to collaborate with the federal government. Linkages to existing Haida Watchmen and Guardian programs are being enhanced to improve surveillance and enforcement.