Priorities for Greater Protection around North Vancouver Island

Priority areas in need British Columbia of greater protection Southeast , Designated & proposed Northwest Queen , Kingcome Inlet: critical orca habitat Charlotte Strait: This critical and rich ecosystem supports humpback, fin, This area is of great minke, grey and killer whales as well as porpoises, High conservation value ecological diversity dolphins, sea lions, seabirds, fish, kelp beds, eelgrass, and value, important and the primary productivity at the base of the food web. Areas highlighted with a Recreational activities generate millions of dollars habitat for marine white spotlight are mammals, seabird annually that contribute significantly to the North priority areas that are in colonies, fish, marine Vancouver Island economy. need of greater plants and the primary protection. productivity that These areas have been supports all this life. identified because they have particularly high biodiversity, rare species and habitats, or are simply really productive ecosystems that are important for many species including humans.

Blackfish Sound To identify priority areas of high conservation value we looked at 1,243 different ecological features, including important species, like seabirds and whales, in Vancouver addition to habitat features, like kelp forests, coral reefs Pacific Ocean Island and even strong currents that feed plankton blooms. Discovery Islands: Critical to wild salmon rearing and migration, the Data: British Columbia Marine area also teems with marine mammals, seabirds Conservation Analysis, DFO. and many other fish. A range of economic Analysis & Mapping: activities in these channels depend on a healthy Living Oceans Society marine environment. km 0 10 20 30 40 April 2014