WHEREAS Environment Canada wishes to establish a Federal Marine Protected Area around the Scott Islands; AND WHEREAS the Protected Area may include a massive section of the southern Queen Charlotte Basin; AND WHEREAS the Protected Area may exclude existing fishing opportunities, vessel traffic and impact future resource development in the Basin: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities strongly recommend to Environment Canada that the current provincially protected status of Scott Islands remain as it is and that the Ministry conduct additional studies towards minimizing birdhuman conflicts in the surrounding ocean.
Ministry of Water, Land Air Protection The Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection will continue to maintain the Scott Islands as a protected area and supports the development of additional management strategies to protect breeding bird populations by the CWS. The provinces view continues to be that this initiative must be coordinated with other land use and marine planning initiatives, competing values, including economic values, First Nations and local government interests. We support in principle the concept of a Marine Wildlife Area providing it results in a cooperative, balanced management regime to protect the foraging area for the significant breeding bird populations of the ecological reserves on the Scott Islands in addition to the economic and social interests of the communities whose livelihood is dependent upon the resources in this area.
Environment Canada The Canadian Wildlife Service is taking a collaborative approach to developing the Scott Islands Marine Wildlife Area MWA to conserve the seabird populations within a broader framework of sustainable management of British Columbias coastal and marine resources. This approach will provide greater certainty, stability and opportunity for coastal communities, as well as ensure the long-term protection of these globally significant seabird populations. The Scott Islands MWA proposal is being pursued as part of a joint federalprovincial approach to marine conservation under the Canada-British Columbia Memorandum of Understanding on the Implementation of the Oceans Strategy for the Pacific Region. Environment Canada recognizes the concerns expressed by local governments, and is committed to doing economic and resource assessments. The Department is also working with other federal, provincial and industry representatives to consider interim measures that will enhance protection of seabirds in their foraging areas at sea and on the Scott Islands themselves. It is not my intention to exclude existing fishing opportunities or vessel traffic, and I foresee a management framework in the long term that will permit economic activities that do not pose an unacceptable risk to seabird populations.