Why this action is needed:
British Columbia boasts of rich marine ecosystems and species found nowhere else on this planet. Due to its nearly 30,000-kilometre-long coastline, ocean-based activities in the province contribute to about 8% of its GDP annually—it’s clear that one of the most important assets of BC lies in its wealth of natural marine and coastal resources.
With many destructive industrial projects being approved, such as Roberts Bank Terminal 2, the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline, and so many more, the risks to marine life and coastal communities continue to grow exponentially. With Woodfibre and Tilbury LNG projects, it is expected that 6,600 tanker voyages will take place in the Salish Sea by 2053, based on a recent report by Stand.earth. This will increase tanker traffic exponentially within BC’s waters and as vessel traffic and shipping activity increases, noise levels are also climbing at a frightening rate—one of the major factors for the decline of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales.
Furthermore, marine contaminants like heavy metals, plastics, nutrient runoff, and derelict vessels are also on the rise in the Salish Sea. In this urbanized marine region, these threats (including ocean noise) do not exist in isolation— they amplify and interact with one another and other stressors, posing a toxic environment for not only marine life but also for the nearly 9 million people who depend on that ecosystem.
The Coastal Marine Strategy is a strong blueprint to ensure that the province stays on a path towards a healthy and clean coastline, resilient communities, and a thriving economy. Boosting BC’s economy relies on prosperous natural ecosystems—now is the time to bring the Strategy to life and invest in our future. The Strategy addresses complex issues such as cleaning up marine contaminants, helping endangered species recover, and ensuring that communities are climate-ready. The Strategy emphasizes Indigenous-led conservation and continues to be prioritized and implemented in collaboration with coastal First Nations across the province.
We now need the government to turn their promises into legitimate action by legally implementing the Strategy and providing sufficient funding and resources to carry out its listed actions. If implemented effectively, this Strategy could mark a turning point in the protection and restoration of BC’s coastal and marine environments.
After all, a thriving economy depends on thriving ecosystems.