Mia-yaltwa Ha’lidzogm hoon National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area demonstrates the power of partners working together

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories/VANCOUVER

Lawyers at West Coast Environmental Law are celebrating the establishment of the “Mia-yaltwa Ha’lidzogm hoon” (phonetically, Me-ah-yall-twa Ha-lee-joh-gom hOH-own) National Marine Conservation Area Reserve (NMCAR) and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) on the Central Coast of British Columbia. 

Today, the Gitga’at, Gitxaała, Heiltsuk, Kitasoo Xai'xais, Nuxalk and Wuikinuxv Nations, British Columbia and Canada signed an agreement to establish the Mia-yaltwa Ha’lidzogm hoon NMCAR, and the six Nations declared the IPCA of the same name. The NMCAR / IPCA will protect up to 6,700 square kilometres of ecologically rich coastal waters.

“This area is incredibly ecologically and culturally important,” said Staff Lawyer Erin Gray. “It supports salmon, whales, herring, coral and sponge reefs – species that we all rely on and cherish, and which underpin coastal economies.” 

Today’s agreement builds on years of collaborative marine planning in the Central and North Coasts, and the Mia-yaltwa Ha’lidzogm hoon NMCAR / IPCA is an important step in the continued establishment of the Great Bear Sea Marine Protected Area Network, furthering commitments made in the Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence funding initiative.

“Today’s announcement represents a joint commitment to work together to secure the prosperity of this incredibly unique area, according to shared values and in an inclusive way,” said Staff Lawyer Michael Bissonnette.

The next step in the process will be for partners to create a co-management board as well as a stakeholder advisory committee and begin management planning. Recreational activities and both commercial and recreational fishing will continue inside parts of the Mia-yaltwa Ha’lidzogm hoon NMCAR / IPCA, with specifics determined by a zoning system defined in the management planning phase and with input from stakeholders.

For more information, please contact: 

Erin Gray, Staff Lawyer
[email protected], 604-684-7378 ext. 234

Alexis Stoymenoff, Director of Communications
[email protected], 604-684-7378 ext. 228