With an announcement on the eve of World Oceans Day, federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice officially protected 5000 km2 of Haida Gwaii’s stunning marine and terrestrial wilderness areas. The newly designated Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) Reserve and Haida Heritage Site complements its terrestrial counterpart, Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, in protecting the “Galapagos of the North” from the depths of the sea – off of the continental shelf – to the rugged mountaintops that accentuate this other-worldly landscape. Haida Gwaii was formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, located off the British Columbia coast.

Perhaps even more exciting, this designation marks the very first time that an NMCA has been designated under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act. Under the Act, an Order to amend Schedule 2 – where the NMCA Reserves are officially listed – has to be tabled in both Houses of Parliament and approved by the Governor in Council before the designation is final; Prentice presented this Order on Monday. Parks Canada’s existing marine conservation areas, Fathom Five National Marine Park and the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, were established using different legal mechanisms. Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, the first NMCA announced after the Act’s passing, is still in the planning stages.

Monday’s announcement follows a January 2010 Gwaii Haanas Marine Agreement between Parks Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Haida Nation “to share in the planning, operations and management of the marine conservation area, including fisheries”.

The combined Haida Heritage Site, NMCA Reserve and National Park Reserve also provide permanent protection for 5 coastal Important Bird Areas in Haida Gwaii – excellent news!

For more information, read Parks Canada’s backgrounder on this historic announcement, many years in the making, and check out Canada’s official NMCA website.

On a related note, yesterday Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea announced a new Area of Interest for a future Marine Protected Area in the same region as the new NMCA Reserve, as well as another Area of Interest in the Laurentian Channel between Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island.

What a way to celebrate World Oceans Day! Let’s not forget about other long-outstanding marine and terrestrial protected areas commitments across Canada, though…