Our commitment to sustainable recreation in BC’s coastal protected areas

It’s no secret that British Columbia has an incredibly beautiful coastline. Two hundred and seventy-four coastal protected areas exist within the traditional territories of many First Nations. The coast includes a diversity of beaches, inlets, and islands, providing incredible opportunities such as wildlife viewing, boating, swimming, and coastal hiking.

Over the years, we have seen an increase in marine recreation in our parks and protected areas as more and more people enjoy all that B.C.’s coastline has to offer. The Marine Recreation Action Plan is part of BC Parks’ commitment to protecting these special places and providing high-quality and sustainable recreation experiences, alongside, and in support of, other emerging plans and priorities along the coast.

The plan was developed with input from coastal First Nations, key marine recreation groups, BC Parks staff and other government agencies. It recognizes the rights and interests of First Nations and BC Parks’ role in advancing reconciliation, the need to consider climate change risks and impacts and the importance of community involvement.

Why was it created?

The Marine Recreation Action Plan is a framework for managing recreation in coastal marine protected areas.  It provides BC Parks staff with direction on managing marine recreation and those with shared interests and rights in these locations with a greater awareness of the work needed to acquire knowledge, respect First Nations rights and interests, and foster responsible use and ocean stewardship.

The plan’s goals, objectives and actions are designed to be highly flexible and adaptable to local situations, priorities and resources, over the next five years.  It offers opportunities for integration with other initiatives, within the agency and with coastal First Nations communities, marine authorities, and marine recreation organizations.

What’s in it and what does it look like on the ground?

Five key goals target efforts towards: 

1. Understanding Marine Protected Area Values

Project example: BC Parks and partners have been mapping eelgrass at various parks to help us track the impacts of boats on this incredibly important seagrass and determine where anchoring restrictions or alternate mooring options may be necessary to help alleviate impacts.

2. Strengthening First Nations Relationships in Coastal Communities 

Project example: Earlier this year, Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nation, Nuxalk First Nation and BC Parks signed a Memorandum of Understanding towards establishing a new shared compliance and enforcement pilot program in B.C. The Guardian Shared Compliance and Enforcement Pilot Project would designate select Indigenous guardians with the same legal authorities as BC Parks rangers within both Nations’ traditional territories.  

3. Providing Quality Marine Recreation Today and in the Future

Project example: Two private properties have been purchased on Hornby Island adjacent to Tribune Bay Provincial Park. The two properties were purchased with the goal of adding them to the park system to ensure recreational opportunities and other park values are protected in perpetuity.

4. Enhancing External Collaboration

Project example: BC Parks works with other government partners, NGOs and concerned citizens around the protection of a large area of glass sponge reef – a globally unique ecosystem – in Halkett Bay Marine Park. Department of Fisheries and Oceans, in collaboration with BC Parks, have developed compliance-based signage informing watercraft and park visitors of the sponge reefs.

5. Promoting Ocean Stewardship

Project example: BC Parks is grateful to the many partners that work on ocean stewardship initiatives and help increase the public’s awareness of being responsible and respectful when visiting these areas. One example is a collaborative project involving the Cowichan Tribes Stqeeye’ Learning Society, Compliance and Enforcement Branch, and local volunteers to remove unauthorized structures and garbage left on the beach in Burgoyne Bay Park (Xwaaqw’um Village). These shoreline clean-up efforts help address risks to these important places and the visitors that spend time in them.

What’s next?

Funding from the BC Parks’ Licence Plate Program (LPP) will provide support to staff to work on aspects of the plan. Continued conversations with First Nations, other provincial ministries, and federal government, as well as marine recreation groups will help determine how we can move forward collaboratively and constructively in partnership and on common interests.

We are very excited to launch this plan, to focus on work that needs to be done to protect these important places, and foster sustainable recreation for years to come. Stay tuned for more marine updates along the way.

To learn more and find a copy of the Marine Recreation Action Plan, visit: https://bcparks.ca/recreation/marine_parks/