Why Marine Planning

The combination of an increase in ocean use and a decline in ocean health has made managers and decision-makers re-examine how we use our ocean space and resources and how we manage our ocean activities.

The current ocean management system deals with each industry, activity and conservation initiative largely independently as though they don’t affect one another. But they do. As the health of our oceans, coastal communities and ocean economies declines, it becomes more and more apparent that the way we currently manage the ocean isn’t adequately taking care of the ‘whole’.

The proactive planning we are developing as part of the PNCIMA initiative helps us to:

• forecast and address future developments and needs
• establish goals and strategies to adapt to change
• coordinate new and existing processes
• reduce cumulative impacts
• provide greater certainty and stability in planning for new investments
• reduce conflicts between uses and user groups.

With its rich and globally-significant ocean environment, British Columbians have the opportunity to show international leadership in creating sustainable oceans management for current and future generations.

Why is PNCIMA so special?

The PNCIMA area is unique due to its diverse ocean ecosystems, which provide critical habitat for many species and marine resources that contribute to coastal economies and communities. It has sustained millennia of First Nations culture and continues to support thirty distinct First Nations. A wide variety of year-round and seasonal activities occur in the offshore and coastal areas. In the nearshore areas, a much broader range of activities take place, including as traditional fishing and food gathering, aquaculture, ecotourism, utility and communications lines, ports, ferry landings, and community harbours.