Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area
Encyclopedia
The Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA: pronounced pin-SEE-ma) is one of five Large Ocean Management Areas (LOMAs), areas of high ecological, social and economic importance, that have been identified by Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(DFO) as priority regions for marine planning as part of Canada’s Oceans Action Plan.
PNCIMA is an awkward and cumbersome name for one of the most beautiful places in the world. PNCIMA is home to humpback whales, deep sea coral and colourful rockfish. It is where five species of salmon migrate to and from their natal streams, grizzly bears lumber along the shore and giant kelp forests teem with marine life. In PNCIMA kids fish off the docks and you can get a feed of Dungeness crabs from the local bay.
Through the PNCIMA marine planning process, the people who work and live on the coast will be able to combine their knowledge, talents and passions to determine what activities will occur in the region and where they will be done.
of British Columbia's Pacific North Coast. The geographic boundaries of PNCIMA are the outer limit of the foot of the continental slope in the west to the coastal watersheds to the east, the Canada-US border from Alaska in the north to the Brooks peninsula on northwest Vancouver Island and Quadra Island in the south.
Only 1.98 percent (8963.58 km²) of Canada’s Pacific waters are currently protected in federal and provincial marine protected areas (MPAs).
In Canada, marine protection can be established under any number of federal legislation including:
In British Columbia, marine protection can be established under the Park Act and the Ecological Reserves Act .
These are the different types of marine protection found within PNCIMA.
s are highly sensitive to disturbance and the ones in PNCIMA were thought to be extinct until their discovery in 1987. Fisheries closures are for the groundfish
and shrimp
trawl. In June 2010, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans announced the government's intention to pursue marine protection measures for the glass sponge reefs of Hecate Strait
and Queen Charlotte Sound
. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/move-to-protect-bcs-glass-sponge-reefs/article1596787/?cmpid=rss1
breed here where it is often impossible to land a boat and winds have been known to reach hurricane strength. The water surrounding these islands has been proposed as a Marine Wildlife Area
to protect the feeding grounds of this globally significant migratory bird area.
Clarke, C.L., and Jamieson, G.S. 2006. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/326795.pdf Identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area: Phase I – Identification of important areas. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2678: vi +89 p.
Clarke, C.L., and Jamieson, G.S. 2006. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/326796.pdf Identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area: Phase
II – Final Report. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2686: v + 25 p.
MacConnachie, S., Hillier, J., and Butterfield, S. 2007. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/332374.pdf Marine Use Analysis for the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci 2677: viii + 188 p.
Johannessen, D.I., Macdonald, J.S., Harris, K.A., and Ross, P.S. 2007. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/328420.pdf Marine environmental quality in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA), British Columbia, Canada: A summary of contaminant sources, types and risks. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2716: xi + 53 p.
David Suzuki Foundation. 2009. http://www.davidsuzuki.org/publications/downloads/2009/marine_ecosystems_report_web.pdf Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Services: A report on ecosystem servides in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (Pncima) on the British Columbia coast.
David Suzuki Foundation. 2008. http://www.davidsuzuki.org/publications/downloads/2008/PNCIMA_Web_final.pdf B.C.’s Bountiful Sea: Heritage Worth Preserving
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, frequently referred to as DFO , is the department within the government of Canada that is responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs in support of Canada's economic, ecological and scientific interests in oceans and inland waters...
(DFO) as priority regions for marine planning as part of Canada’s Oceans Action Plan.
PNCIMA is an awkward and cumbersome name for one of the most beautiful places in the world. PNCIMA is home to humpback whales, deep sea coral and colourful rockfish. It is where five species of salmon migrate to and from their natal streams, grizzly bears lumber along the shore and giant kelp forests teem with marine life. In PNCIMA kids fish off the docks and you can get a feed of Dungeness crabs from the local bay.
The purpose of the PNCIMA planning process is to ensure a healthy, safe, and prosperous ocean area by engaging all interested parties in the collaborative development and implementation of an integrated management plan. The goals of the PNCIMA initiative include: healthy and resilient ecosystems, reduced inter-user conflicts, sustainable economies, and thriving coastal communities with strong cultural and economic ties to coastal and marine areas.
Through the PNCIMA marine planning process, the people who work and live on the coast will be able to combine their knowledge, talents and passions to determine what activities will occur in the region and where they will be done.
Outputs
The main output of the PNCIMA process will be a draft integrated management plan which will include:- a vision and shared values for the area
- a description of the PNCIMA’s main characteristics, summarized from key reports
- a description of the key issues and opportunities in PNCIMA
- an ecosystem-based managementEcosystem-based managementEcosystem-based management is an environmental management approach that recognizes the full array of interactions within an ecosystem, including humans, rather than considering single issues, species, or ecosystem services in isolation Ecosystem-based management is an environmental management...
framework for the marine environment including goals, objectives and indicators for respecting the cultural, social, economic, and ecological health of the area - oceans management recommendations
- an implementation strategy
- enduring arrangements for on-going management
Geographic Extent
PNCIMA is in the Northern Shelf EcoregionEcoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
of British Columbia's Pacific North Coast. The geographic boundaries of PNCIMA are the outer limit of the foot of the continental slope in the west to the coastal watersheds to the east, the Canada-US border from Alaska in the north to the Brooks peninsula on northwest Vancouver Island and Quadra Island in the south.
Marine Protected Areas
A network of marine protected areas will be designed along with areas designated for other specific uses that contribute to the rebuilding of the ocean's health while minimizing economic impacts on fishermen. New management objectives will be developed to ensure there are healthy habitats and clean waters for all the species that call this place home. This will also give us fisheries that sustain native and non native communities, now and for generations to come.Only 1.98 percent (8963.58 km²) of Canada’s Pacific waters are currently protected in federal and provincial marine protected areas (MPAs).
In Canada, marine protection can be established under any number of federal legislation including:
- Oceans Act http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/O-2.4/
- Fisheries Act http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/F-14/
- National Parks Act http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/N-14.01/
- National Marine Conservation Areas Act http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-7.3/
- Canadian Wildlife Act http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/W-9/index.html
In British Columbia, marine protection can be established under the Park Act and the Ecological Reserves Act .
These are the different types of marine protection found within PNCIMA.
Sponge Reef Fishery Closures
Sponge reefSponge reef
Sponge reefs serve an important ecological function as habitat, breeding and nursery areas for fish and invertebrates. The reefs are currently threatened by the fishery, offshore oil and gas industries[3,4]...
s are highly sensitive to disturbance and the ones in PNCIMA were thought to be extinct until their discovery in 1987. Fisheries closures are for the groundfish
Groundfish
Groundfish are fish that live on, in, or near the bottom of the body of water they inhabit. Some typical saltwater groundfish species are sole, flounder, and halibut....
and shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
trawl. In June 2010, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans announced the government's intention to pursue marine protection measures for the glass sponge reefs of Hecate Strait
Hecate Strait
Hecate Strait is a wide but shallow strait between the Haida Gwaii and the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It merges with Queen Charlotte Sound to the south and Dixon Entrance to the north...
and Queen Charlotte Sound
Queen Charlotte Sound
Queen Charlotte Sound is the name of two channels:*Queen Charlotte Sound , located in British Columbia*Queen Charlotte Sound, New Zealand, located in the Marlborough Sounds...
. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/move-to-protect-bcs-glass-sponge-reefs/article1596787/?cmpid=rss1
Rockfish Conservation Areas
Rockfish Conservation Areas http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/maps-cartes/rca-acs/index-eng.htm are intended to protect rockfish so fishing activities within these areas is restricted. There are 192 Rockfish Conservation Areas in British Columbia, and 79 of those are within PNCIMA.Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and NMCA
Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage SiteGwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site
Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site is a National Marine Conservation Area of Canada. It is located off the coast of the southernmost Haida Gwaii , 130 kilometres off the mainland of British Columbia. It is immediately adjacent to Gwaii Haanas National...
Scott Islands Marine Wildlife Area (proposed)
The Scott Islands are rocky, windy, and remote. Five islands make up the Scott Islands archipelago. Lanz and Cox Islands are closest to Vancouver Island shores and were designated as a Class “A” Provincial Park in 1995. The outer three islands of Sartine, Beresford, and Triangle (Anne Vallée) became provincial Ecological Reserves in 1971.These five uninhabited islands, off the northern tip of Vancouver Island are home to some of the most important bird colonies in B.C. with over two million seabirds nesting there annually. Ninety percent of Canada’s hardy tufted puffinsTufted Puffin
The Tufted Puffin also known as Crested Puffin, is a relatively abundant medium-sized pelagic seabird in the auk family found throughout the North Pacific Ocean....
breed here where it is often impossible to land a boat and winds have been known to reach hurricane strength. The water surrounding these islands has been proposed as a Marine Wildlife Area
Marine Wildlife Area
A Marine Wildlife Area is a conservation status for a marine geographical region of Canada that restricts most human activities on that region. It protects marine areas extending from the edge of territorial waters to the boundary defined by Canada's Exclusive Economic Zone, that is, the areas...
to protect the feeding grounds of this globally significant migratory bird area.
History
- December 12, 2008 Coastal First Nations and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that formally started marine planning in PNCIMA. The MoU was not signed by the British Columbia government at that time because provincial agencies and departments were unable to agree on an approach. The Province is currently participating in the PNCIMA process as observers. Because the provincial government has jurisdiction over the seafloor, foreshore and licensing, the B.C. government’s full participation will eventually be required in order for the PNCIMA process to be successful.
- March, 2009 the first PNCIMA Forum was held in Vancouver, British Columbia. This forum brought together over three hundred people – including representatives from all levels of government, First Nations, coastal communities, marine industries and non-governmental organizations.
- May 2010 the PNCIMA initiative released an Engagement Strategy http://www.pncima.org/pdfs/PNCIMA_Engagement_Strategy_May_30_10.pdf that lays out how the people and industries within PNCIMA can get involved in the process.
- June 2010 Formation of the Integrated Oceans Advisory Committee (IOAC), a stakeholder table that will act in an advisory capacity to the government and First Nations Steering Committee. http://www.pncima.org/pdfs/IOAC_invitation_for_expressions_of_interest.pdf
Policy and Legislation
- Canada's Oceans Act http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/O-2.4/
- Canada's Oceans Strategy http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/publications/cos-soc/pdf/cos-soc-eng.pdf
- Canada's Ocean Action Plan http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/publications/oap-pao/page01-eng.asp
Reports
Lucas, B.G., Verrin, S., and Brown, R. (Editors). 2007. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/328842.pdf Ecosystem overview: Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA). Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2667: xiii + 104 p.Clarke, C.L., and Jamieson, G.S. 2006. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/326795.pdf Identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area: Phase I – Identification of important areas. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2678: vi +89 p.
Clarke, C.L., and Jamieson, G.S. 2006. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/326796.pdf Identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area: Phase
II – Final Report. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2686: v + 25 p.
MacConnachie, S., Hillier, J., and Butterfield, S. 2007. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/332374.pdf Marine Use Analysis for the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci 2677: viii + 188 p.
Johannessen, D.I., Macdonald, J.S., Harris, K.A., and Ross, P.S. 2007. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/328420.pdf Marine environmental quality in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA), British Columbia, Canada: A summary of contaminant sources, types and risks. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2716: xi + 53 p.
David Suzuki Foundation. 2009. http://www.davidsuzuki.org/publications/downloads/2009/marine_ecosystems_report_web.pdf Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Services: A report on ecosystem servides in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (Pncima) on the British Columbia coast.
David Suzuki Foundation. 2008. http://www.davidsuzuki.org/publications/downloads/2008/PNCIMA_Web_final.pdf B.C.’s Bountiful Sea: Heritage Worth Preserving