Stephen Hazell
Director of Conservation
and General Counsel

The federal government has published a notice of intent and proposed regulations to protect the Scott Islands and surrounding waters just north of Vancouver Island as a Marine National Wildlife Area.

These islands and waters are one of the most productive and biodiverse marine ecosystems on Canada’s west coast with the highest concentration of breeding seabirds. The area is an internationally recognized Important Bird Area, hosting over one million nesting seabirds annually, and providing important habitat for 40% of BC’s seabirds, including 90% of Canada’s Tufted Puffins, 95% of Pacific Canada’s Common Murres, 50% of the world’s Cassin’s Auklets, and 7% of the global population of Rhinoceros Auklets.

The Marine National Wildlife Area would include 11,546 km² of marine area, but not the provincially protected lands of the Scott Islands.

Public comments received during a 30-day period following December 31, 2016 will be considered in finalizing the regulations.

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