Southern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area Reserve

Marine Mixers  

Fall 2005 

Initial Report to Participants

December 20, 2005

 Marine Mixer Summary

Parks Canada invited approximately 500 stakeholders to five Marine Mixers that were held between November 29 and December 8, 2005.  Invitations were sent by mail, fax, e-mail and through list-serves. Stakeholders who received the invitations were encouraged to circulate the information to other interested parties.  Table 1 outlines the Mixer attendance numbers. 

Table 1 – Attendance at Marine Mixers 

*Estimate of total attendees, at some venues not all participants signed-in. 

The Marine Mixers were structured to reach those with business and recreational interests in the Southern Strait of Georgia study area, many of whom did not attend the Open Houses held in the spring of 2005.  The Mixers were structured so that participants could explore what the NMCA Project Team has heard so far – and contribute to our knowledge through placing their comments on panels on yellow sticky notes.  In addition, the first hour allowed people to meet other stakeholders and ask questions directly to project team staff.  The second hour consisted of a presentation, followed by questions and answers. 

This report highlights attendance numbers for each venue and an overview of comments. Comments were gathered from sticky notes, question and answer sessions, discussions with staff and comment forms that have been received to date.  Also included are quotations from participants – you can see what people are saying in their own words.  It should be noted that the overview of comments and quotations do not necessarily reflect the opinions and policy of Parks Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada nor the Province of British Columbia – they are instead, a record of what we heard from Mixer participants. 

To follow in 2006 is a more detailed report that highlights a commitment to action by Parks Canada and the NMCA Project Team on how we will follow-up on what we heard, creating a path forward with stakeholders and the public to further the feasibility study.

“We would like to see a consultation report from this process.  What is being said?”  -Conversation with participant, Sidney 

“We will be unable to attend the ‘Marine Mixer’…. We do, however, wish to be kept informed.  If it is possible to have the minutes, or information resulting from the Q &A session, e-mailed or otherwise sent to us, it would be much appreciated”.  -E-mail from a stakeholder who could not attend, Cowichan Bay

Record of Comments

The following comments[1] are taken directly from the sticky note comments[2] placed on the panels at each of the Mixers, from participant conversations with staff, questions posed during the Q&A session and from comment forms submitted to date.

The comments are separated by theme and the Mixer venue is indicated at the end of the comment.   

Tourism and Recreation

Will tourism operators be charged fees?   -Conversation with participant, Victoria

Can floatplanes land and take-off within NMCA waters?  -Conversation with participant, Vancouver

Interest in protecting dive areas.  -Conversation with participant, Vancouver

The Parks Canada label becomes a magnet that brings tourists to the area.  -Conversation with participant, Vancouver

Do you anticipate having user fees in the future?  -Q/A session, Vancouver

Room for artificial reefs?  -Q/A session, Vancouver

The Gulf Islands form one of the easiest to access natural history laboratories for educating people.  -Post-it note, Vancouver

Sewage issues.  More dumping stations will not solve the issue because there are too many boaters.  -Conversation with participant, Sidney

Cultural resource values – the presentation and program do not recognize the full extent of human history in the region.  Would like to see emphasis on cultural history, such as European settlement, Japanese fishing, etc.   -Conversation with participant, Sidney

You are going to develop a socio-economic benefits analysis, but you haven’t shown in anyway what the opportunities will be for different activities (which may or may not be permitted)?  Will we be able to see the loss of activities that are prohibited or impacted?  -Q/A session, Sidney

All small harbours have pump out stations.  -Q/A session, Sidney

I have been making a living here with marine based activities for years.  I am very excited about this project; it will enhance my business… I appreciate there is a public process that people can offer their opinions.  If there is room for volunteer activity for enforcement and science, I know that there are a whole lot of people who are willing to be involved.  -Post-it note, Sidney

We want to enjoy the marine life, but we have to protect the lifestyle of those creatures we want to see.  -Post-it note, Sidney

The strategy needs to dovetail with the proposed whale watching regulations being developed by DFO.  -Post-it note, Sidney

Is there a policy/regulations (to come) on personal watercraft use in sensitive marine areas?  -Post-it note, Sidney

Restrict harvesting around designated scuba sites.  -Post-it note, Sidney

What is the interface with G.I. National Park Reserve?  Many of the concerns expressed here were also expressed to and addressed – in some form – by that group.  -Post-it note, Sidney

Concern that an NMCA would bring more and more people to the area, where there is already too many people.  -Personal conversation, Steveston

Where are you going for your information on killer whales? Who are your experts to come up with statements about killer whales?  -Q/A session, Steveston

Which tourism and recreational activities compatible and which ones are not compatible?  -Q/A session, Steveston

It drives me nuts when people move beside railway tracks and complain about the noise.  And now these people live on the islands and complain about too many boats.  So now you are not allowed powerboats.  I’m exaggerating too…I’m nervous if I don’t exaggerate my comments certain things will happen.  -Q/A session, Steveston

You have two existing NMCAs – what restrictions have been put in place to marine boaters there?  -Q/A session, Steveston

I hope that I never hear that recreational boaters are the main source of pollution in waters… The biggest problem comes from someone else saying there are no facilities to pump out.  There are supposed to be 18 places to pump out. None of them are hooked up.  -Q/A session, Steveston

Kayakers and boaters (small craft) also requested that shoreline access be retained so they could access the shore for water, washroom needs and garbage.     -Personal conversation, Duncan

Would you require a Parks Canada permit to work in the area, in addition to BC Parks permit if you are a tour operator?  -Q/A session, Duncan

Will there be areas within the NMCA where the use of non-motorized watercraft will be disallowed?  -Q/A session, Duncan

Are there any areas where motor vessels will be banned?  -Q/A session, Duncan

Are you planning on implementing the Gwaii Haanas commercial tour operator guidelines and regulations down here?  -Q/A session, Duncan

 Coastal Land Use

Yes to more pump-out stations. -Post-it note, Vancouver

Beach access for sports fisherman using beach.  -Post-it note, Vancouver

Atlas should include recreational boating locations, marine parks, anchorages, kayak pullouts etc.  -Post-it note, Vancouver

In any marine development application, there are 12 agencies whose approval must be sought.  What additional advantage is there to anybody in adding another federal bureaucracy to the list? What will this bureaucracy do that others are not already doing?  -Post-it note, Sidney

Increased numbers of private mooring buoys and docks remove/restrict previously accessible anchoring areas, which increases pressure on remaining sites. Reference BC Council of Yacht Clubs Boat Havens prior to eliminating more anchorages.  -Post-it note, Sidney

 Too many crab pots.   -Post-it note, Sidney

Fisheries

Would finfish aquaculture be considered a sustainable use?  -Q/A session, Vancouver

Our (fly fisher organization) concern would be the impact on sports fishing especially from the beach.  We are seeing rockfish conservation areas being proposed that would exclude such fishing and we would argue that fly-fishing from shore does not impact rockfish.  -Post-it note, Vancouver

Need to study models of MPAs from around the world for governance and management models.  -Post-it note, Vancouver

Lets hope the NMCAs will alter “traditional fisheries management” – they are not working well as they are – ecosystem based approach is needed.  -Post-it note, Vancouver

The rockfish closures are affecting salmon fishing.  How can you continue to fish for salmon while still protecting rockfish? Need to discuss techniques, which are compatible for salmon fishing and rockfish protection.  -Conversation with participant, Sidney

Gulf Island resident concerned about the level of recreation and commercial crab and prawn traps. The numbers are increasing to the point where there are no crab and prawn left where they used to fish. Too many traps. Suggestion that there are two days of a week where no traps are allowed in the water. In the days where no fishing is allowed, the agency goes and removes the traps that are in on the closure days.  -Conversation with participant, Sidney

What will the NMCA look like?  In practical terms what will this mean?  How will fisheries look if the NMCA is established?  -Conversation with participant, Sidney

What sort of effects no-take zones have had on fish stocks in other areas?  -Q/A session, Sidney

The current commercial establishments and service industries on Mayne are fearful that additional closures of active fishing will impact their livelihoods.  -Post-it note, Sidney

Many people move to the Gulf Islands and expect to be able to do some sports fishing – even if it’s restricted to certain areas.  One hears there is a move to make all of the Gulf Islands’ water part of the conservatory (no fishing). I hope not.  -Post-it note, Sidney

Please explain clearly what is the “official” definition of:  “Commercial & recreational fishing can continue in NMCAs within a new conservation oriented fisheries management regime”.  -Post-it note, Sidney

Can you change the wording of “sport fishing can continue under NMCA” to “WILL” continue.  -Post-it note, Sidney

Many anglers are extremely suspicious of Parks Canada’s intention to overrule the existing management of fisheries by DFO.  -Post-it note, Sidney

Is parks involved with deciding RCAs?  -Post-it note, Sidney

It is hard to protect an area with only one fisheries officer for the whole of the Gulf Islands.  -Post-it note, Sidney

Agreed (hard to protect with only one fisheries officer).  Also hard to see violations occurring and to be powerless to do anything because enforcement through multiple agencies is so weak.  Stewardship!  -Post-it note, Sidney

How does sustainability apply to fisheries?  -Personal conversation, Steveston

200 seals are in Active Pass.  How many cod do seals eat?  There should be a bumper sticker, shoot a seal and save a cod.  -Q/A session, Steveston

Concerns regarding lingcod closures were expressed, since there is belief that lingcod have made a comeback; in saying that, the need for rockfish closures is recognized.  -Personal conversation, Duncan

Interested in understanding how current RCA closures would be integrated into an NMCA, and how they would impact closures of other areas.  -Personal conversation, Duncan 

The impact of growing seal populations on fish stocks was raised.  -Personal conversation, Duncan

What is Parks Canada’s interest in the southern Strait of Georgia? What concerns are being addressed? How would activities be managed and who would be responsible for managing them?  -Personal conversation, Duncan

How can commercial fishers stay part of this feasibility study when we don’t have time to come and ‘mix’?  How do we ensure our participation?  -Q/A session, Duncan

How effective have no take zones been in rebuilding fish stocks in other areas where they have been implemented?  -Post-it note, Duncan

Maintain all historical commercial fishing.  -Post-it note, Duncan

Moratorium on open pen fish farms and eventually eliminate them in favour of closed containment.  -Post-it note, Duncan

As a fisherman, my concern is one of closures… will you assure us in writing that closures for salmon fishing will not take place?  -Comment form, Sidney

Protection And Conservation

Inadequate pump out facilities: they should be free to use and available wherever fuel services are offered.  -Conversation with participant, Victoria

What does sustainable use mean?  Examples are required!  What does manage on an ecosystem basis mean?  -Conversation with participant, Vancouver

I wish I was seeing education mentioned right along with protection & conservation!  -Post-it note, Vancouver

Victoria needs sewage treatment.  -Post-it note, Vancouver

What organization will be responsible for enforcement?  Voluntary guidelines will not be, never are, adequately observed.  -Post-it note, Vancouver

The S. Strait of Georgia is NOT rich in biodiversity – rockfish and lingcod stocks are severely depleted compared to 30 to 40 years ago.  Pacific cod have been extirpated from Strait of Georgia waters.   -Post-it note, Vancouver

If the conservation area were established, the marine waters would form an extension of the existing park?  -Q/A session, Sidney

Why is the Strait of Georgia representative for the area?  Why is it representative? Why doesn’t it extend up to Discovery Islands?  -Q/A session, Sidney

 How reasonable is it for the ecosystem that you are dealing with to pick one bit to do something so exceptionally good while leaving the rest of it to go to pot?    -Q/A session, Sidney

How can we put some protection out there?  Don’t get hung up on the government. Look at protection as the issue. The real thing is to get protection in place.     -Q/A session, Sidney

Protection designation and policy is only the first step.  Can there be adequate funding for enforcement on the water as well?   -Post-it note, Sidney

If the primary management objective is the protection & conservation of this representative marine ecosystem, this rare & sensitive element of the ecosystem deserves long-term protection.  -Post-it note, Sidney

There needs to be some check on both over fishing & fishing in protected areas. With only one fisheries officer for all the Gulf Islands this is very limited. Could something be done to allow others to report (especially when in out of bounds areas) with warnings sent out?  -Post-it note, Sidney

As someone working in the whale watching industry, I would like to see more stringent control over numbers of vessels, their sizes and their movements when viewing our local pods.   -Post-it note, Sidney

The Southern Resident Killer Whale Conservation Strategy (Draft) includes an approach based on protection of critical habitat. Given the wide range of this species within the Salish Sea, however, critical habitat could in effect, mean that a basin-wide, ecosystem approach may be required.  Thus, the question arises as to how the proposed SSG NMCA Reserve will dovetail with the killer whale and other initiatives.   -Post-it note, Sidney

A protection safety net is needed right away for the Southern Strait. Let's work out the details after it is protected.  -Personal conversation, Duncan

Pollution – from pleasure boats and commercial boats. A lot of these places simply do not have pump-outs.  Would Parks Canada inject cash into the local areas so that they can put in the infrastructure so they can attain this goal?  -Q/A session, Duncan

 Shipping and Transportation

Concern that bilge, ballast water and vessel based emissions are massive environmental threats.  In addition, there were concerns over sewage/pollutants from vessels and waste from land uses (home septic etc.).  -Conversation with participant, Victoria

Is there a system in place to allow rapid response to reports of oil spills to permit containment & removal prior to shoreline cleanup?   -Post-it note, Vancouver

Is it realistic to create a massive conservation area in a region subjected to so much vessel traffic?  -Post-it note, Sidney

A Gulf Islands resident raised the point, that recently in Cowichan Bay, large vessels that used to be guided in by tugs are now coming into the Bay under their own power.  Are these vessels under their own power damaging the intertidal zone or seabed?   -Personal conversation, Duncan 

Education and Stewardship

A non profit angling group stated that as one of their priorities, they have a mandate to teach kids and youth how to fish, and to encourage the activity through volunteer run programs.  -Conversation with participant, Victoria

A dive club is interested in assisting with underwater monitoring.  -Conversation with participant, Victoria

Independent float plane operators looking for opportunities to explore options for a stewardship agreement with Parks Canada and how they can contribute services to the NMCA.   -Conversation with participant, Vancouver

Educational use is the most sustainable.  -Post-it note, Vancouver

 Feasibility Study

There is some concern about the zoning and how this will be set up and what it will look like when it is done, when will it be proposed?  -Conversation with participant, Victoria

What is the time line for implementation of NMCA designation?  -Conversation with participant, Victoria

Why was the Southern Strait of Georgia chosen?  -Q/A session, Victoria

There is one group that I am concerned that you may not be reaching; how you reach Gulf Islands residents since many of them are summer residents who are dispersed at this time of year?   -Q/A session, Victoria

In an NMCA, will there be fees charged for any kind of use?  -Q/A session, Victoria

Is there a schedule for consulting on user fees?  -Q/A session, Victoria

The smaller stakeholders are going to have significant concerns that they may not be able to afford the fees or the impacts of them.  -Q/A session, Victoria

I have some concerns; I would like you to make me feel better.  It appears that you are trying to appease everyone.  -Q/A session, Victoria

I believe the role of government is to make the tough decisions.  I hope that in 2009 that we come out with a real positive plan for the stakeholders rather than a compromise.  -Q/A session, Victoria

The rubber hits the road when lines are drawn.  When are the lines on the map with areas of no harvest going to happen?  -Q/A session, Victoria

Would the area include the intertidal zone?  -Q/A session, Victoria

In some ways you couldn’t have picked a busier place to put an NMCA.  This has two large population centres, ferry traffic and shipping traffic.  It is as much about an integrated coastal zone management process, the NMCA brings a conservation and protection mandate.  Do you think you will be able to achieve that mandate with all that is going on?  -Q/A session, Victoria

If you can’t establish the NMCA, then conservation would become a dead issue for our area.  When in this process do you start looking at areas of high conservation value in more detail?  -Q/A session, Victoria

Would the boundaries be discontinuous?  Or are they considered contiguous?  -Q/A session, Vancouver

Will stakeholder really have a voice and be heard once the governance structure is put in place?  Design the high level policy to resonate with the stakeholders’ voices.  -Conversation with participant, Sidney

The map atlas is missing information.  People would like maps available for them to add their local knowledge.    -Conversation with participant, Sidney

Economic feasibility of the whole thing.  -Q/A session, Sidney

How does a small group of kayakers get to the table to participate?  How does our little voice get heard?   -Q/A session, Steveston

Have you had any discussions with the province of BC on transferring the seabed?  -Q/A session, Steveston

Transfer of seabed from BC to Parks Canada.  What is going to happen to oil and gas claims already staked out – are you going to pay compensation?  -Q/A session, Duncan

Within the study area there will be no-take zones…what percentage is mandated?  -Q/A session, Duncan

Where can I look at the PC map atlas, is it available on the web?  -Q/A session, Duncan

If existing tenures can be grandfathered, that’s ok. If a business has, as one of their objectives, to promote new resorts and obtain new water leases, is this permitted in an NMCA ?  -Q/A session, Duncan

I don’t understand what this will do that the status quo does not.  -Comment form, Sidney 

Governance

It seems like when we go out on the water, there are 11 different jurisdictional agencies out there.  How do we get the biggest bang for the buck?  Q/A session, Victoria

There is agreement between the Provinces and the States in the Great Lakes, that kind of cooperation would be very helpful in this area.  Is there anything like that with intergovernmental cooperation?   -Q/A session, Victoria

How does ecologically sustainable management differ from Fisheries and Oceans Canada current management regime?  There is concern that an NMCA would introduce several more closures and restrictions and morph into a large no-take zone.  -Conversation with participant, Vancouver

To do you job effectively what kind of staffing do you require?  -Q/A session, Vancouver

What is in this for the province?    -Q/A session, Vancouver

Who will manage fishing after the creation of an NMCA?  -Conversation with participant, Sidney

Accountability.  This vague governance model you are talking about.  How are they going to be accountable for anything?  How can I express pleasure or displeasure with the management of it?  -Q/A session, Sidney

I can just see masses and masses of bureaucracy and self-sustaining bureaucracy.  And this is what we have come to expect from the feds.  Are you going to have to show where this has been implemented successfully?  -Q/A session, Sidney

Have you already sat down with all the other federal departments you’ll be working with?  -Q/A session, Sidney

Ultimately in the end, as taxpayers and working people, this is one more big thing that we have to put our money towards.  What is the benefit we are going to get from this?  -Q/A session, Sidney

Who would enforce the regulations?  Department of Fisheries and Oceans or Parks Canada?  -Q/A session, Steveston

Who ultimately will have control over the water column?  Comment form, Duncan

Miscellaneous

Thanks for this public forum!  -Post-it note, Sidney

Good presentation tonight, I appreciate the information you gave tonight.  What are you going to do with the information in the new year and at further meetings?  -Q/A session, Duncan 

Next Steps

The feasibility study is an evolving process.  Your feedback is essential to ensure that the values, issues and concerns you have for the marine environment are heard.  If you haven’t sent in your Marine Mixer comment form yet, please drop-off, mail, fax or e-mail your comments to us. 

SSG NMCA Feasibility Study

300 – 300 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, BC

V6B 6B4

straitofgeorgianmca@pc.gc.ca

604.666.0446 fax 

The Marine Mixers are only one means to engage stakeholders and the public.  Opportunities for public involvement are on going.  We received several requests to make presentations to groups and companies.  If you did not request a presentation or meeting at the Mixers and would like to have members of the Project Team come talk with your members/employees – please let us know!  Call Bill Henwood at 604.666.0285 or send an e-mail to straitofgeorgianmca@pc.gc.ca 

This document is intended as an immediate ‘what we heard’ for Mixer participants.  In 2006 we will follow-up with how we will work with stakeholders and residents to answer some of the questions you have raised – including a commitment to action.  

Further Information 

Please contact Bill Henwood, Project Manager at 604.666.0285 or by e-mail straitofgeorgianmca@pc.gc.ca  

Visit our website at www.pc.gc.ca/straitofgeorgia