OCEAN WATCH | Átl’ḵa7tsem / Txwnéwu7ts / Howe Sound 2020 STEWARDSHIP AND GOVERNANCE Stewardship and Governance A view over Átl’ḵa7tsem/ Txwnéwu7ts/Howe Sound. (Credit: Amanda Weltman) OCEAN WATCH | Átl’ḵa7tsem / Txwnéwu7ts / Howe Sound 2020 STEWARDSHIP AND GOVERNANCE Summary In 2017, the OWHS report noted a distinct lack of comprehensive, region-wide planning to manage growth and development, while protecting the environ- ment. Today, many steps have been taken to bring this vision closer to fruition. Local governments have committed to support and develop the Atl’ḵa7tsem/ Howe Sound Marine Reference Guide (MRG), as recommended in the OWHS 2017 Action Plan. The MRG team is creating an online interactive map that displays spatial data associated with the Sound’s marine environment and watersheds to support decision making, marine social planning and commun- ity education. The Ocean Watch Task Force (OWTF), formed by the Howe Sound Community Forum (HSCF) and comprised of locally elected government representatives, planning staff, NGOs and First Nations, worked to advance relevant actions proposed in the OWHS 2017. The OWTF advanced the development of the MRG and, with support from Ocean Wise, created the Strategic Plan to guide local government protection of the Átl’ḵa7tsem/Txwnéwu7ts/Howe Sound region over the next three years (2019–2021). In addition, efforts continue towards the goal of having Átl’ḵa7tsem/Txwnéwu7ts/Howe Sound designated as a UNESCO biosphere region. Within the Sound, there has been an expansion of protected areas. In 2019, eight new marine refuge areas were created to protect nine glass sponge reefs placed under voluntary protection in 2017, bringing the total number of pro- tected glass sponge reefs in Átl’ḵa7tsem/Txwnéwu7ts/Howe Sound to 11. The English Bay/Burrard Inlet Important Bird Area (IBA) was expanded into the southern part of Átl’ḵa7tsem/Txwnéwu7ts/Howe Sound. However, IBAs do not offer any legal protection. Further support and collaboration are still needed to continue this momentum and support the communities in the Sound in the face of climate change. (NB: An update for Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw/Squamish Nation Stewardship was not available at the time of release. If an update becomes available, it will be added to our website). Summary | Page 364 OCEAN WATCH | Átl’ḵa7tsem / Txwnéwu7ts / Howe Sound 2020 STEWARDSHIP AND GOVERNANCE Ocean Watch Health Rating HEALTHY 1) The status is healthy according to available data, 2) the trend is positive if known, 3) some data are available, and/or 4) actions to address or mitigate are well underway and are known to be effective. Actions should be taken to maintain positive status and/or trend. CAUTION Status, trend, data, and/or actions provide contradictory or inconclusive information. Actions are needed to move into positive status and trend and avoid negative status and trend. CRITICAL 1) Impacts or issues are high risk or have resulted in a low or vulnerable status, 2) improvements are uncertain, minor, or slow, and/or 3) actions to address or mitigate are non-existent, vague, or have low effectiveness. Actions are needed to move into positive status and trend. LIMITED DATA/ NOT RATED Not rated due to the nature of the article, or there are not enough data to produce an assessment. ARTICLE + 2020 RATIONALE 2017 2020 MARINE PROTECTED AREAS Positive actions have been taken, with the creation of new marine refugia to protect glass sponge reefs and the expansion of the important bird area (IBA). However, the IBA offers no legal protection. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING Recent accomplishments suggest positive improvements, but a need for continued collaboration and communication is essential. Summary | Page 365 OCEAN WATCH | Átl’ḵa7tsem / Txwnéwu7ts / Howe Sound 2020 STEWARDSHIP AND GOVERNANCE Marine Protected Areas: expanding, but under protected AUTHOR Aroha Miller, Manager, Ocean Watch, What is happening? Ocean Wise Research Institute REVIEWERS Although no new marine parks have been added to the Átl’ḵa7tsem/Tx- David Bradley, Director, British Columbia Bird Studies Canada/Études d’Oiseaux wnéwu7ts/Howe Sound area since the 2016 expansion of Ch’á7elsm/Halkett Robert Butler, President, Pacific Wildlife Bay Marine Park, several areas designated to protect specific species or Foundation groups of species have been added. Jessica Schultz, Manager, Howe Sound Conservation and Research Team, Ocean Wise Research Institute Glass sponge reefs. (Credit: Adam Taylor) MARINE Protected Areas | Page 366 OCEAN WATCH | Átl’ḵa7tsem / Txwnéwu7ts / Howe Sound 2020 STEWARDSHIP AND GOVERNANCE What is the current status? Glass sponge reefs In 2016, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) closed Átl’ḵa7tsem/Txwnéwu7ts/Howe Sound to 11. These areas around nine known glass sponge reefs in the included closures in the Nínich Ḵw’émḵw’em/East Strait of Georgia and Átl’ḵa7tsem/Txwnéwu7ts/Howe Defence Islands; Lhaxwm/Anvil Island; Lost Reef; Sound to all bottom contact fishing activities.1 Bottom Brunswick Point; Ch’á7elsm/Halkett Point; Lha- contact fishing activities are those likely to damage the ́kw’tich /Bowyer Island; Dorman Point; and Lions Bay reefs, including fishing activities for prawn, shrimp, and Ḵél̓etstn/Kelvin Grove, combined into one area. crab and groundfish, as well as fishing activities that The refuges include a protection boundary extending use downrigger gear for recreational salmon trolling. to 150 metres from the reefs’ edges (Figure 1). Not During this process, DFO was informed of nine addi- only do these marine refuges protect the glass sponge tional reefs in Átl’ḵa7tsem/Txwnéwu7ts/Howe Sound. reefs, they also protect numerous fish and inverte- In 2017, DFO requested voluntary avoidance of bottom brate species that use the reefs as habitat. contact fishing activities within the additional sites identified in Átl’ḵa7tsem/Txwnéwu7ts/Howe Sound. The establishment of these marine refuges effectively bans all commercial, recreational and Food, Social and In March 2019, DFO formed eight marine refuge areas Ceremonial (FSC) bottom contact fishing activities, as to encompass the nine additional glass sponge reefs detailed above, and adds an additional 3.5 km2 to the placed under voluntary protection in 2017, bringing marine refuge areas2 in the Strait of Georgia bioregion the total number of protected glass sponge reefs in (total approximate size: 36.2 km2).3 MARINE Protected Areas | Page 367 OCEAN WATCH | Átl’ḵa7tsem / Txwnéwu7ts / Howe Sound 2020 STEWARDSHIP AND GOVERNANCE ! S q u a er mish Garibaldi Riv MARINE R uam iv !Highlands mq e Ma PROTECTED AREAS Squamish r ! River Area IBA Community (BC023) Jc Ferry terminal Î Marina Squamish S Skwelwil'em ! t Î Public dock ÎBlue Heron aw Squamish am Estuary WMA Î Squamish us D Industry Ri ver Squamish River watershed D Squamish TermMianrailne Municipal No take zone Shannon Park Creek M ill C Glass sponge reef marine refugia ree Squamish k Harbour Provincial park (marine component) Woodfibre D Woodfibre Creek D Rockfish conservation area Watts Point ia Creek Britann Wildlife management area ! Î Britannia Terrestrial protected area Beach Furry Creek Important Bird Area Po tla tch C re Ellesmere ek Creek ! Ph yl lis East Defence C re Islands ! ek M cN Furry Creek a b Defence C Islands re Howe Sound ek & Defense ainy Ri R ve Islands r Porteau Cove Provincial Park McNab Creek Co a st a l R a n g e ! Domett Point Anvil RCA Anvil Island Island Thornbrough ¤£99 Channel Pam Rock Ekins Point RCA Î ! Ramillies Lost Montagu Douglas Bay Reef Woolridge Channel Channel Island RCA Christie Islet Brunswick Point Gambier Brigade Bay Pam Rocks Port MellonD ! Lions Bay Island Sea Ranch Lions Bay ! ! Woolridge Upper Centre and Kelvin Î Lions Bay Island Centre Bay Î Grove Bay RCA Î Halkett Bay RCA Provincial West Bay Park Halkett Bowyer RCA Point re e k Island ¤£99 ta C Twin Creeks West Bay Long ako D D !Î Bay Î Halkett Bowyer New Bay Island RCA Mariners Brighton Bowyer Rest RCA Î! Gambier Island ÎSunset Î Harbor ! Î! Williamsons Hood Point Landing S u n s h i n e Langdale Jc West C o a st ! Hutt Î Island Whytecliff Vancouver Hopkins Î Park no take ÎJc Landing Shoal Snug Cove zone Î! Horseshoe Channel Mount ! Plumper Collingwood Gardner JcÎ Bay ¤£1 Cove Marine Keats Channel Î D D Provincial Î Island Dorman ÎWest DDD D Gibsons Park Plumper Eastbourne BrPigoaidnet Bird Islet DD D D D ! Bowen Vancouver D Roberts Creek Cove Bay Grebe Islet RCA DD DD Î Î Barfleur Island Passage ! Keats English Bay, Burrard D ¤£101 Passage Island RCA DD Landing Bowen Inlet & Howe Sound IBA DDDD ! Bay D DDDD Passage (BC020) D Island Pasley ! Islands Turnstall Burrard Inlet Pasley Bay Queen Charlotte V Island RCA Channel 1-4 D 1:200,000 0 2.5 5 10 Strait of Georgia Metro Kilometers Vancouver Figure 1. Marine Protected Areas and Important Bird Areas within Átl’ḵa7tsem/Txwnéwu7ts/Howe Sound.4 MARINE Protected Areas | Page 368 OCEAN WATCH | Átl’ḵa7tsem / Txwnéwu7ts / Howe Sound 2020 STEWARDSHIP AND GOVERNANCE Important Bird Areas Important Bird Areas (IBA) are sites that support level and one species at the national leveli that con- threatened species, birds restricted by range or habi- gregate in large numbers in the area – the western tat, or large groups of birds that gather in one area. grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis); Barrow’s golden- IBAs do not afford any legal protection. However, the eye (Bucephala islandica); surf scoter (Melanitta per- sites are identified using internationally agreed upon, spicillata); and the local subspecies, the Pacific great standardized, quantifiable, and scientifically defens- blue heron (Ardea herodias fannini).5 This IBA supports ible criteria. Because of this rigour, IBAs provide ex- numerous other Pacific Northwest marine and coast- cellent opportunities for bird conservation. al bird species, including high numbers of marbled murrelets, (Brachyramphus marmoratus), recorded in In January 2019, an already existing IBA in Eng- Átl’ḵa7tsem/Txwnéwu7ts/Howe Sound during winter lish Bay/Burrard Inlet was extended to include part surveys conducted in 2014–2015.6 Marbled murrelets of Átl’ḵa7tsem/Txwnéwu7ts/Howe Sound (Figure are a blue-listed species (i.e., considered to be of spe- 1).