A Collaborative Approach to Systematic Marine Protected Area Network Planning in British Columbia

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