No matter where we come from, most of us want to care for the coast and ocean and the wildlife that call them home, and to leave a more abundant future for those to come.
To make sure this happens, coastal Indigenous nations, Canada and BC have released a plan to protect vast swaths of the ocean on the north and central coast of BC.
This will be the first network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in Canada – and it will address the concerning declines in marine life on the Pacific coast. Right now, the governments are asking for public feedback.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to establish lasting legal protections for ocean wildlife and sensitive ecosystems in the region, with benefits for years and years to come. However, there has been opposition to this plan from industrial and commercial resource sectors that could give our government cold feet, and delay the protection that we need today.
That’s why it is more important than ever for us to work together to make our voices heard. Please send a letter to the MPA Network Team, as well as Canada's Minister of Fisheries & Oceans and BC's Minister of Land, Water & Resource Stewardship, to let them know you support a strong, well-managed MPA network.
We encourage you to personalize your letter and tell the government why protecting the BC coast matters to you.
Top photo: Markus Thompson