As far as the eye can see, the blue of the Pacific and a few green patches of forest. Underwater, a rare biodiversity which gives it its nickname “Galapagos of the North”. The Great Bear Sea, a region of western Canada, dreams today of serving as a model for other marine protected areas (MPAs).
After years of consultation, this area the size of Greece, off the coast of Vancouver Island, has been protected since last summer and will soon become the largest MPA in the country, to the great relief of indigenous populations.
These were part of the discussions from the start, one of the keys to success, according to experts, and a model that could be replicated elsewhere.
An altered ecosystem
“Recently, there have been years where we had to close the fishery to our own people,” says Danielle Shaw, chief of the Wuikinuxv Nation, one of the indigenous communities in the region.
A vital threat for these very remote populations who “have therefore not been able to fill their shelves and freezers for the winter”, she adds. However, the population “really relies on the territory to feed itself throughout the year”.
Because, beneath the dream setting, the reality is darker as pollution, fishing and climate change have already altered the ecosystem (fall in fish populations, particularly salmon, more and more threatened species, etc.)
In this context, indigenous communities and governments (federal and provincial) as well as economic and fishing industry leaders have considered together the necessary framework to establish a truly protected area.
“This is one of the richest and most productive ecosystems in the world and we should be very proud of it,” said Christine Smith-Martin, director of the Coastal First Nations organization.
Bears, whales, salmon
Indeed, if all countries on the planet have committed to protecting 30% of the seas by 2030, during Cop15 in Montreal at the end of 2022, there is no universal definition of what is a protected area.
The new Canadian area, which aims to be a model for recognizing the delicate balance between the preservation of vulnerable ecosystems and the needs of coastal indigenous communities, hopes to show the way.
Salmon, whales, bears, wolves but also forests of kelp and ancient cedars: in all, the region is home to more than 64 species of fish, 70 of seabirds, 30 of marine mammals and 52 of invertebrates such as molluscs, sea urchins, octopuses…
“The hope is that in the long term, a stronger ecosystem means more food sources for humans and a stronger economy,” adds Danielle Shaw.
Some 70 species of seabirds nest in the Cluxewe Marine Protected Area, off Vancouver Island in western Canada. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP)
In this protected marine area, where tourism and fishing remain possible but are regulated, oil and gas activities and mining are prohibited, as is trawling or dredging, which damages corals and the seabed. .
According to biologists, protected areas are essential to help species recover but also allow them to improve their genetic diversity, an essential way to adapt to climate change.
Especially since other challenges await this region of Canada which continues to see its maritime traffic intensify, as do shipments of liquefied natural gas.
Very involved natives
“It’s deplorable to see how brutal the decline of our environment has been,” says Bo Owadi. This young member of the Wuikinuxv community is one of the guardians of the area. “The marine area is a big step forward and, therefore, I am optimistic,” she adds.
Considered the “eyes and ears” of the sea, these indigenous observers are one of the cornerstones of the project. Hired by their nations, they work in conjunction with the police even if they have no coercive power. They also participate in research to study or count fish or crab populations.
“Marine protected areas are one of the most powerful tools we can use to protect biodiversity in the oceans,” says Kate MacMillan of the Wilderness Society of British Columbia.
And, according to her, Canada could become a model because this project managed to bring all parties involved to the table and because funds were allocated over the long term.
For Bo Owadi, who is preparing to go back to sea: “We must come together and fight for land, water and resources. We have no choice.”
