Presentation Abstract
In British Columbia, legislated responsibilities for the protection of marine values are a shared responsibility between federal and provincial governments. Traditionally, the governments of Canada and B.C. have established marine protected areas (MPAs) independently, on an ad-hoc basis, and often in response to single species or habitat specific conservation issues. This is challenging because dual designation may be required to meet MPA objectives, and ad hoc approaches may lead to gaps in biophysical representation and greater uncertainty for marine stakeholders. Recognizing the need to partner together and move towards more systematic marine conservation planning, the governments of Canada and B.C. have completed a strategy for the design of a network of MPAs on the Pacific Coast. The strategy proposes a clear vision, identifies priority goals and objectives, and recommends a set of general operating and network design principles to guide development and implementation of a coast-wide network of MPAs. Identifying gaps in biophysical representation is a preliminary step towards future implementation. Initial GIS analyses suggest gaps in biophysical representation in existing MPAs, reinforcing the need for a more collaborative systematic approach to MPA network planning in BC. This presentation will describe how governments will work collaboratively to design an effective network of MPAs through existing integrated marine spatial planning processes.
Session Title
Session S-08E: Experiences in Integrated Marine Planning
Conference Track
Planning Assessment & Communication
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2-5-2014 8:30 AM
End Date
2-5-2014 10:00 AM
Location
Room 613-614
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Marine parks and reserves--Law and legislation--British Columbia--Pacific Coast
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Pacific Coast (B.C.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
A Collaborative Approach to Systematic Marine Protected Area Network Planning in British Columbia
Room 613-614
In British Columbia, legislated responsibilities for the protection of marine values are a shared responsibility between federal and provincial governments. Traditionally, the governments of Canada and B.C. have established marine protected areas (MPAs) independently, on an ad-hoc basis, and often in response to single species or habitat specific conservation issues. This is challenging because dual designation may be required to meet MPA objectives, and ad hoc approaches may lead to gaps in biophysical representation and greater uncertainty for marine stakeholders. Recognizing the need to partner together and move towards more systematic marine conservation planning, the governments of Canada and B.C. have completed a strategy for the design of a network of MPAs on the Pacific Coast. The strategy proposes a clear vision, identifies priority goals and objectives, and recommends a set of general operating and network design principles to guide development and implementation of a coast-wide network of MPAs. Identifying gaps in biophysical representation is a preliminary step towards future implementation. Initial GIS analyses suggest gaps in biophysical representation in existing MPAs, reinforcing the need for a more collaborative systematic approach to MPA network planning in BC. This presentation will describe how governments will work collaboratively to design an effective network of MPAs through existing integrated marine spatial planning processes.
