Everyone likes large terrestrial parks and understands why we need them- to protect natural ecosystems and provide recreational opportunities. Most of our parks are "no take" areas, places where industrial exploitation like logging and mining are banned. This "human hands off" policy for parks allows Nature's processes to unfold untrammelled and consequently best conserves natural biodiversity.

British Columbians -and all Canadians- love the ocean. B.C.'s marine environments are as much a part of our identity as our renowned ancient forests and majestic mountains. Why aren't there similar parks "no take" areas set up in the ocean waters surrounding Canada?

Perhaps one of the reasons is the perception that it is hard to fix boundaries on open waters and enforce a ban on resource use in the ocean. But for whatever reason, unlike ecosystems on land which have a long history of protection in parks and ecological reserves, the preservation of our marine environment has been almost completely neglected. Incredibly, there are virtually no truly protected areas of ocean in BC and Canada - only three tiny areas in BC, Whytecliff Marine Park, Porteau Cove Marine Park, and Race Rocks Marine Protecte Area totalling less than 5 square kilometres, are completely off limits to fishing. Contrast this to the over 100 000 square kilometres of land protected in BC from most commercial resource extraction.

While BC is still blessed with a productive and diverse marine environment, the current richness pales in comparison to the abundance of life in years past. Vast schools of "old-growth" rockfish, some as old as 120 years, swarmed throughout BC's rocky reefs and kelp forests. Ling cod were once thirty times more abundant in the Strait of Georgia than the present and the threatened northern abalone, considered commercially extinct, existed at an exponentially greater biomass throughout its range. The seas teemed with so many salmon, steelhead, perch, and Pacific cod that early settlers thought the marine wealth to be inexhaustible. Far greater numbers of seabirds, blue whales, humpback whales, sea lions, fur seals, and sea otters feasted on this rich marine smorgasbord. Rich and complex First Nations cultures flourished on these rich marine resources at much higher populations than they are today

Unfortunately, decades of over-fishing, habitat destruction, exotic species introductions, and pollution have drastically reduced this abundance. Stock after stock has dramatically declined as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)'s mismanagement has led to 31 out of 56 commercially harvested marine species in BC to be at stock levels considered to be of "grave concern". The intricate seabed of corals, sponges, and invertebrate-encrusted rocks which provide habitat for the majority of marine species have been smashed into rubble by bottom trawlers in pursuit of shrimp and bottom fish. "Strip-mining" of subtidal seabeds for geoduck clams, a species we know little about, progresses over large areas fuelled by special markets. Fish farms, factory discharge, and ocean dumping increasingly contaminates our marine waters with deadly wastes, while global warming and shifting ocean currents are wreaking havoc with the survival of numerous native fish. Even the famed killer whales of the southern Gulf Islands are now listed by the federal government as a threatened species largely due to a combination of these factors.

However, marine protected areas offer a beacon of hope for our threatened oceans. In contrast to the typical "species by species" approach to resource management, MPA's are an "ecosystem-based" approach that factor in the interactions between species and their environments. All around the world, MPA's have dramatically increased the size, populations, and reproductive capacities of commercial and non-commercial species. More fish and invertebrates inside protected areas may soon translate into an excess of adults and larvae that swim outside the protective boundaries, enhancing the overall catch for fishermen. Marine mammals and birds also benefit from the increased food supplies. Scuba divers enjoy an enhanced experience exploring the greater proliferation and diversity of life. Through meaningful involvement of First Nations, local communities, and the public in their selection, establishment, management, and monitoring, MPA's can be a win-win situation for the vast majority of British Columbians.

The government claims that there are currently over 100 MPA's in BC. However, this is highly misleading as all but three of these areas allow for commercial and recreational fishing. Worse still, the new Marine Protected Areas (MPA) legislated under the Oceans Act (administered by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, DFO) have no mandatory provisions to create any "no-take" zones. In addition, there are no specifications for the generally larger National Marine Conservation Areas (NMCA) in Bill C-8 (administered by Parks Canada and also incorporated into the MPA strategy) on what minimum proportion "no-take" zones should constitute in NMCA's.

In fact, the Oceans Act doesn't mandate any minimum standards for protecting the marine environment in MPA's. This means that an area can be declared a "Marine Protected Area" and still allow ocean dumping, dredging, bottom trawling, fish-farming, oil extraction, log booming, and commercial fishing. Similarly, NMCA's do not prohibit bottom trawling, dredging, or fish farms.

Several "pilot" MPA's were recently announced by the provincial government and the DFO. These include Race Rocks, Bowie Seamount, and the Endeavor Hydrothermal Vents. However, these Marine "Protected" Areas are not legislated to permanently prohibit commercial and sport fishing (although Race Rocks does prohibit fishing for several years). Proposed MPA's such as Browning Passage and Scott Islands and NMCA proposals including Gwaii Haanas (South Moresby) and the Southern Gulf Islands will also allow commercial and sport fishing in all or most of their waters unless we make our voices heard.

It is up to the citizens of BC to demand from our government true marine protected areas. That is, we need "no-take" MPA's and NMCA legislation that mandates large "no-take" zones. Both should contain effective minimum standards for protecting the seabed and water quality. An extensive network of real MPA's can help our oceans approach their former biological magnificence, brimming with sea life to sustain all the citizens of this province.

Express your opinions to:

Premier Gordon Campbell
Legislative Buildings, Victoria BC
V8V 1X4
premier@gov.bc.ca

Robert G. Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Parliament Buildings, Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario,
K1A 0A6
Min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca