Sea the Future, Save the Pass

February-March 1996

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

by Jennifer Lash

Marine Life Sanctuaries Society (MLSS) is a charitable organization founded in 1989 to promote conservation and public stewardship of the marine environment through the establishment of marine protected areas. Working with coastal communities, MLSS encourages participation from local stakeholders in the design, implementation, and management of marine protected areas. Marine protected areas can range from non-extractive or "no-take" zones in which no consumptive human activities are permitted, to large, zoned, multiple-function areas, in which human activities compatible with the conservation objectives of the are permitted.

There are currently 107 marine protected areas in British Columbia commonly referred to as marine parks, ecological reserves, national marine conservation areas, and wildlife management areas. However most of these marine protected areas were established for recreational purposes and meet limited conservation objectives. For example, although some activities such as log booming, aqua culture, and wharf/marina development are restricted, only 34 of these marine protected areas offer protection for one or more species. Only one, Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver, is completely closed to all harvesting.

Not all marine protected areas need to be "no-take" zones. Rather, it is important that marine protected areas be designed to meet the conservation and management objectives of the specific site. However with fish stocks rapidly decreasing and habitat disruption becoming a prominent concern, more "no-take" marine protected areas will offer increased protection and conservation of our unique marine environment.

Having been part of the team to establish West Vancouvers' Whytecliff Park as Canada's first "no-take" marine protected area, Marine Life Sanctuaries Society is currently working with the Gabriola Islands Trust to establish a "no-take" marine protected area in Gabriola Passage, located near Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Gabriola Passage is located at the south east tip of Gabriola Island. The proposed marine protected area boundary is approximately 12 000 metres long, encloses approximately 300 hectares, and is home to over 220 marine species. This project is currently supported by commercial, sport, recreational, and community organizations.

Anecdotal evidence has indicated that fishing activities in this area have caused depletion of the rockfish and lingcod populations. It was this evidence that sprung the local residents into action. To date efforts on the Gabriola Passage Project have been on a volunteer basis and the results have been amazing. Gabriola Island and Nanaimo residents have dedicated time and energy to protecting this unique piece of the marine environment. There have been many presentations, discussions, meetings, letters, phone calls, and fund raisers to promote this project. And luckily it has not been in vain. The provincial and federal governments are now looking into the feasibility of this project.

There are many ways you could help support Marine Life Sanctuaries Society:

1. Become a member of MLSS.

2. Participate in the Lingcod Egg Mass Survey.

3. Host a Marine Protected Area Evening with your local dive club or community group and MLSS will provide an entertaining and informative presentation.

4. Participate in the Gabriola Passage Data Collection Program starting in June.

5. Share your underwater adventures and insights in the MLSS newsletter.

If you have any questions about Marine Life Sanctuaries Society or the Gabriola Passage Project, contact:

Jennifer Lash, Executive Director
Marine Life Sanctuaries Society
629 Lambert St Nanaimo BC V9R 3N9
Tel/fax: 604/753-6468
Email: jenlash@island.net