Editorial: Marine Protected Areas

August-September 1996

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

by Alan Wilson

Cover photo: Gabriola Islands shoreline by Alan Wilson

We all like parks, publicly owned areas where we can experience the Earth in its most natural conditions. Many of us spend much of our free time in parks-hiking, camping or paddling there, seeking to reconnect with nature and gaining emotional sustenance. We appreciate that these wild areas and the wildlife who live there are protected and we know this protection is essential to ensure a future for them.

Currently some 9% of British Columbia's land is protected by some form of park. But despite the progress made on terrestrial conservation by our provincial government in the last four years, little attention has been paid to protecting the marine environment. Less than .01% of our coastal waters have legal designation that protects species and the habitat required for their survival.

Under the current system of BC Marine Parks, most marine species are still vulnerable to harvesting and many are under severe pressure or even threat of extinction. Marine Parks really offer no protection at all. They are public anchorages and land-based parks for pleasure boaters.

What is needed is the establishment of 'no take' marine protected areas or MPAs. MPA status alone is insufficient. Although there are over a hundred MPAs in BC, 72 of them protect no species or habitat, and some simply stop the harvest of sea urchins or the building of marinas.

Proponents of 'no take' marine protected areas in BC managed their first victory three years ago when the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the municipality of West Vancouver declared the waters around Whtyecliffe Park fully protected. There are currently two 'no take' MPAs in BC for a total of 45 hectares.

Now the federal and provincial governments are indicating support for the next and largest 'no take' MPA in Canada, located in Gabriola Passage at the south end of Gabriola Island, a 280 hectare site which is home to over 250 marine species. It includes a reef which is a resting spot for seals and marine birds, and is a logical addition to the existing terrestrial park which borders the proposed area.

After years of working on this issue, the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society has managed to get federal, provincial and regional governments*, as well as divers, paddlers, fishers and other stakeholders to support 'no take' MPA status for Gabriola Passage. Until recently there was only one group that hadn't signed on-the BC Ferry Corporation.

Apparently BC Ferries felt it should retain the right to possible use of part of the area as a future ferry terminal. The reasoning behind this was unclear since the provincial government is currently building a major ferry terminal at nearby Duke Point.

We were going to call on the provincial government to have the Ferry Corporation come into line with the rest of the world but just at press time we learned the good news from BC Ferries President Frank Rhodes-they now support MPA status for the Passage! Rhodes cited the community's strong views on the issue as part of the reason for this victory.

We encourage all of you to work in your own communities to see that other precious marine areas and their inhabitants receive needed protection. Why not try to extend your nearest Marine Park to include a 'no take' Marine Protected Area in surrounding waters?!