Two new marine refuges have been established off the coast of Haida Gwaii, marking a significant step forward in Indigenous-led marine conservation. Announced jointly by the Council of the Haida Nation and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the G̱aw Ḵáahlii and X̲aana K̲aahlii Marine Refuges will protect 29.58 square kilometres of ecologically and culturally significant ocean habitat.
The protected areas are home to a wide range of marine species, including all types of salmon, seabirds, herring, and harbour seals. These inlets are critical for biodiversity and Haida food security and are seen as areas of deep cultural importance.
Co-managed by the Haida Nation and the federal government, the refuges are part of the larger Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence—a major initiative supporting reconciliation and long-term funding for Indigenous-led conservation across B.C.’s Northern Shelf Bioregion.
The creation of these refuges builds on years of marine planning by the Haida Nation and aligns with the Haida Gwaii Marine Plan and Canada’s national conservation goals. A marine refuge is a long-term fisheries-area closure under the Fisheries Act, recognized as an Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measure (OECM).
This move also advances Canada’s target of protecting 30 percent of its marine and coastal areas by 2030 and sets a precedent for collaborative governance in marine protection.
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