Go slow on marine park

Times Colonist (Victoria)
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Page: A12
Section: Comment
Source: Times Colonist

Parks Canada must consider how British Columbians use the southern Strait of Georgia before creating Canada's third National Marine Conservation Area.

The federal government is considering creating a 900-square-kilometre marine park that encompasses the Gulf Islands up to Gabriola Island, reaches into the middle of the Strait of Georgia and south to the U.S. border and Cordova Bay.

Bill Henwood, the project manager for the proposed conservation area, told a Sidney public meeting that most marine activities would continue to be permitted. Just so long as participants abide by new regulations.

Meanwhile, in its project "visioning" statement, Parks Canada says that if the waters are designated a marine conservation area, commercial purposes could be restricted. Everyday coastal-community activities, such as shipping, dumping sewage and some forms of fishing could also be affected.

Any new regulations must be concise, clearly stating residents' rights and obligations.

Parks Canada staff have been careful in the past to play down the impact of marine conservation designation. Prior to the 1998 creation of Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park in Quebec, residents asked how it would affect their lives. Parks Canada said marine conservation areas are not national parks; they are meant to "conserve" special areas while still allowing their use.

However, Parks Canada recently unveiled a draft framework that requires that each marine conservation area include a "special preservation" zone for limited research -- with no public access. If the plan goes ahead, which Strait of Georgia island, reef, wreck or estuary will be deemed off limits? And will B.C. residents have any say?

And will there be fees to enter areas or to scuba dive or camp, as there are at Ontario's Fathom Five National Marine Park, Canada's first national marine park? Unless improvements are evident or new services included, charging fees for activities and access to areas island residents previously considered free and open will create animosity.

Habitat and environmental conservation are laudable goals. But a marine park and new regulations will affect residents' lives. Full and meaningful community consultation is needed.