Scott Islands marine National Wildlife Area National Advisory Panel on Marine Protected Area Standards April 7, 2018 Vancouver, BC Outline • Context: Ecology, Boundary, Establishment Process • Proposed Regulatory Approach • Ongoing Activities • Anticipated Path Forward following Establishment • Annex I – Overview of Proposed Regulations Page 2 – April-6-18 The Scott Islands… 50% of world’s Cassin’s 90% Canada’s Tufted Auklets Puffins Tufted Puffin (Jenna Cragg) Cassin’s Auklet (J.A. Lamont) 90% Pacific Canada’s 7% of the world’s and 12% Common Murres of Canada’s Rhinoceros Auklets Common Murre (Greg Jones) Rhinoceros Auklet (J.A. Lamont) Page 3 – April-6-18 The proposed Scott Islands marine NWA • 11,546 km2 of exclusively marine area located off the northwest tip of Vancouver Island, BC • Excludes the 5 Scott Islands which are already protected by the Province of BC • First marine NWA to be established under the Canada Wildlife Act Page 4 – April-6-18 Establishment Process • The establishment process for the proposed Scott Islands marine NWA has been ongoing for 10+ years. • Steering Committee and stakeholder Advisory Group established in 2010, chaired by ECCC-CWS. – Steering Committee includes representatives from Tlatlasikwala First Nation, Quatsino First Nation, Province of BC, DFO, TC, and NRCan. – Advisory Group includes representatives from commercial and recreational fishing, shipping, energy, conservation, tourism, and local and regional governments. • Scott Islands marine NWA Regulatory Strategy posted for public comment in March 2013. • Proposed Regulations and Notice of Intent to establish the marine NWA published in Canada Gazette Part I (CGI), on December 31, 2016. • Anticipate Canada Gazette Part II (CG II) in 2018 (established). Page 5 – April-6-18 Regulatory Approach • Main purpose is to protect seabirds in the area – Prevent disturbance and reduce threats to seabirds nesting on the Scott Islands and other migratory birds, and their habitat. – Protection of seabird forage species • Allow activities to occur that are compatible with the conservation objective of the area – to conserve migratory seabirds, species at risk, and the habitats, ecosystem linkages and marine resources that support these species • Retain existing management authorities for fishing and marine transportation (DFO and TC) • Complementary regulatory and non-regulatory conservation measures to address fishing and shipping to be implemented by DFO and TC Page 6 – April-6-18 Page 7 – April-6-18 Fishing in the marine NWA • Fishing within the marine NWA will continue to be managed by DFO. • DFO to consult on new Fisheries Act regulation which would include: – prohibition on fishing for three key forage species – Pacific sand lance, Pacific saury, North Pacific krill – prohibition on bottom trawling in 80% of the marine NWA (formalize existing agreement) – potential changes for other gear types where science indicates they pose a risk to conservation objectives of the area • DFO plans to publish Notice of Intent to regulate these fisheries upon establishment • ECCC and DFO working together on seabird bycatch and other complementary fishing measures Pacific Sand Lance (Greg Jones) Page 8 – April-6-18 Shipping in the marine NWA • Shipping within the marine NWA will continue to be managed by TC. ECCC has an agreement with TC to increase aerial surveillance in the area through the National Aerial Surveillance Program (NASP). National Aerial Surveillance Program (Transport Canada) • TC to address shipping concerns through initiatives under the Oceans Protection Plan (OPP), including enhanced marine situational awareness, proactive vessel management, and regional response planning. • The conservation sector and the BC Chamber of Shipping are collaborating to identify joint recommendations to strengthen shipping-related protections that could be implemented within the marine NWA or coast- wide. • Additional measures to address shipping concerns could include areas to avoid, buffers/lanes, speed limits, etc. Page 9 – April-6-18 Oil and Gas activity in the marine NWA • 36 permits and one licence overlap with the proposed marine NWA. • Existing moratorium on offshore oil and gas exploration and development. • Energy and mineral resource development will continue to be managed by NRCan. • If the moratorium were to be lifted, permit and licence holders could apply for a permit under the mNWA regulations. • Permit applicants would have to demonstrate the impacts of their proposed activity would not compromise the conservation of the area. Page 10 – April-6-18 Science and Technical Projects • Seabird ecology research and population monitoring • Studies of the impacts of introduced predators on seabirds • Pacific sand lance habitat research • Risk assessment of fisheries related impacts on species and habitat • Survey of benthic habitats • Oceanographic water properties monitoring • Baseline data collection - Triangle Island beach debris survey Greg Jones Page 11 – April-6-18 Collaborative Management • Governance: The marine NWA will be managed in collaboration with the Province of BC and Quatsino and Tlatlasikwala First Nations. • Stakeholder and Technical Input: New Advisory Committee will be established after designation Common Murre (Mark Hipfner) • Management Plan: – A management plan will be developed in collaboration with partners and stakeholders – A draft plan will be available for public consultation in 2019. Tufted Puffin (Philip Witt) Page 12 – April-6-18 Questions? For more information: Scott Islands marine NWA webpage at www.ec.gc.ca/ap-pa/default.asp?lang=En&n=90605DDB-1 Page 13 – April-6-18 Annex I: Overview of Proposed Regulations - Prohibitions • carry out an activity that is likely to disturb, damage or destroy wildlife or its habitat in the mNWA or to remove wildlife or its habitat from the area • dump or discharge any waste material or substance that is likely to harm wildlife or degrade the quality of its habitat • introduce any living organism that is likely to harm wildlife or degrade the quality of its habitat • fly an aircraft (including drones) above a restricted flight area (at least 1 nm from the islands) at an altitude that is below 3500 ft (approx 1100 m) • be within 300 m of the low water mark of Triangle, Sartine or Beresford Islands • anchor a vessel of more than 400 gross tonnes within one nautical mile (1852 m) of the low water mark of Triangle, Sartine or Beresford Islands Page 14 – April-6-18 Annex I: Overview of Proposed Regulations - Exceptions • Public safety, national security, emergency • Foreign vessels or aircraft • Fishing carried out in accordance with the Fisheries Act and the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act • Navigation of vessels carried out in accordance with the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 • Navigation of vessels that belong to a foreign military force or that are under the command of the Canadian Forces • Federal or provincial enforcement officers • Employee or officer of the Government of BC conducting wildlife research or conservation on the islands Page 15 – April-6-18 Annex I: Overview of Proposed Regulations – Permitting • The Minister may issue a permit authorizing a person to carry out an activity that would otherwise contravene the regulations, if the proposed activity meets the criteria set out in paragraph a) or b) below: a) the purpose of the proposed activity is to promote conservation of wildlife or wildlife habitat and the benefits outweigh any potential adverse effects (e.g. scientific research) b) the purpose of the proposed activity is not to promote conservation of wildlife or wildlife habitat and any adverse effects do not compromise their conservation or protection as a result of taking measures to monitor, prevent and mitigate the adverse effects (e.g. wind energy projects) Page 16 – April-6-18 .