Minister Prentice: Protection for Gwaii Haanas to extend from mountain tops to sea floor

June 12, 2010

Ottawa – The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, took a historic step in Parliament today to formally protect the spectacular marine ecosystems of Gwaii Haanas in southern Haida Gwaii, located in the province of British Columbia. The Minister tabled an amendment to the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act to formally establish the Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. This will be the first national marine conservation area established under the Act.

“Today’s milestone is the result of an historic and outstanding collaborative partnership between the Government of Canada and the Haida Nation,” said Minister Prentice. “As our maritime nation prepares to celebrate World Oceans Day tomorrow, I am sincerely proud of Canada’s international leadership in protecting one of the most spectacular and wild seascapes in our country.”

"This is a changing of the tides," said Guujaaw, President of the Haida Nation "as we come to appreciate the fragile and precious nature of our marine areas, we will begin to give the necessary attention to look after and restore our oceans."

The Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site will extend about ten kilometres offshore from the existing Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, and encompass approximately 3,500 square kilometres of the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Shelf natural marine regions. In total, the combined existing park reserve and new marine conservation area will protect over 5,000 square kilometres of spectacular wilderness from alpine mountain tops to the deep sea beyond the continental shelf – a first for Canada, North America and the world.

Today’s milestone follows the signing of the Gwaii Haanas Marine Agreement on January 16, 2010, by Minister Prentice, Guujaaw, and the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister for Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The agreement commits Parks Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Haida Nation to share in the planning, operations and management of the marine conservation area, including fisheries.

"The establishment of the Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site will be a huge step for Canada and our oceans,” said Minister Shea. “Fisheries and Oceans Canada is committed to move forward together with Parks Canada Agency and the Haida to advance the ecosystem goals for Gwaii Haanas. We must ensure both the future health of our marine resources as well as sustainable fisheries opportunities in this spectacular ocean region."
For additional information, please see the accompanying backgrounder at www.parkscanada.gc.ca under Media Room.