MPAs in B.C.

Only 1.98% (8963.58 km²) of BC’s Pacific waters are currently protected in federal and provincial MPAs.  Compared to other countries, Canada has far less marine area that is actually protected in some type of MPA.


MPAs in BC range in levels of protection.  Keeping track of the different types of MPAs in BC can be difficult because there are so many different kinds. Also, different agencies are in charge of managing various MPA types, and the specifics of what is allowed to occur vary amongst individual MPAs.  


In general:

• DFO is the governing body responsible for conservation, protection and licensing of   marine species in Pacific Ocean tidal waters.

• The Province of BC is responsible for managing coastal lands (including the seabed, underlying subsoil and associated flora and fauna submerged under ocean Pacific waters) and issuing licenses where wild oyster harvesting occurs and where aquaculture farming occurs.

There are 11 types of MPAs in BC managed by federal, provincial and municipal agencies as follows:

MPA Type (# of MPAs)	Area in km2	Managing Agenccy	% of Total Area of Pacific Coast
Class A Provincial Parks (93)	688.28	BC Parks	0.15
Conservancy (28)	1,081.94	BC Parks	0.24
Ecological Reserves (20)	512.53	BC Parks	0.11
Protected Areas (2)	0.05	BC Parks	<.00001
Recreation Areas (1)	0.004	BC Parks	<.0000008
Wildlife Management Areas (6)	216.33	BC Parks	.05
Migratory Bird Sanctuaries (4)	24.60	Canadian Wildlife Service	.005
National Wildlife Areas (2)	0.57	Canadian Wildlife Service	<.0002
Marine Protected Areas (2)	6,189.30	Fisheries and Oceans Canada	1.37
National Park Reserves (2)	249.98	Parks Canada	0.06
Marine Park (1)	0.21	City of West Vancouver (Municipal)	<.00005
TOTAL AREA OF MPAs IN BRITISH COLUMBIA	8,963.79 km2		1.98

                                                                                                                                                          (Source: Living Oceans Society 2008)

B.C. MPA Quick Facts

The total area of MPAs in B.C.: 8963.79 km²
The total area of federal MPAs in B.C.: 6464.44 km²
The total area of provincial MPAs in B.C.: 2499.14 km²
The total area of municipal MPAs in B.C.: 0.21 km²

Percentage of MPAs in B.C. that are federal: 72%
Percentage of MPAs in B.C. that are provincial: 28%
Percentage of MPAs in B.C. that are municipal: <.00003%

The total number of federal MPAs in B.C.: 10
The total number of provincial MPAs in B.C.: 150
The total number of municipal MPAs in B.C.: 1

Only 1.98% of Canada’s Pacific Coast is covered by some type of MPA.
                                                            (Source: Living Oceans Society 2008)