Oceana Canada celebrates commitment to protect B.C. Seamounts

A Memorandum of Understanding reached between Canada and several First Nations

By Chadd Cawson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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It is just as crucial to protect all life below sea-level as it is above it. Oceana Canada partnered with Fisheries and Oceans Canada in July 2018 and is celebrating their commitment to publish draft regulations to protect a 133,019 square-kilometres (km2) area off the west coast of Vancouver Island. This area is home of hydrothermal vents and 93 per cent of Canada’s known underwater mountains referred to as ‘seamounts’. The announcement was made on February 7 at IMPAC5, a global forum on marine habitat protection, hosted in and around Vancouver, B.C.

After years of hard work by Indigenous Peoples, stakeholders, government agencies and conservation groups, these proposed regulations are set to protect an area four times the size of Vancouver Island, making it the newest and second largest marine protected area (MPA) in Canada. A memorandum of understanding (agreement) has been reached between Canada and the Nuu-chahnulth Tribal Council, the Council of the Haida Nation, Pacheedaht First Nation, and Quatsino First Nation to cooperatively manage the proposed new MPA.

The MPA, named Tang. ɢwan · ḥačxʷiqak · Tsigis by Haida, Nuu-chah-nulth and Quatsino First Nations, contributes to Canada’s international commitments to protect 25 per cent of its marine and coastal areas by the year 2025. Once draft regulations are made public, there will be a 30-day public commentary period, after which Fisheries and Oceans Canada will make its final decision on the designation of these seamounts as an MPA. Oceana Canada will continue to advocate for the formal creation of the MPA and the implementation of co-management with First Nations in the region: the Council of the Haida Nation, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, the Pacheedaht and Quatsino First Nations.

Oceana Canada, an independent charity that was established in 2015, is dedicated to ocean conservation. It has made several impacts including a successful campaign to end the shark fin trade, improving the way fisheries are managed, and making rebuilding depleted fish populations law, something residents of the Columbia Valley who have seen depletions in salmon over the decades can relate to.

Oceana Canada, the Haida Nation, and Ocean Networks Canada will explore the seamounts and identify marine species. Through this deep-sea exploration, the research revealed the existence of centuries-old forests of red tree corals and glass sponges that provide habitat for numerous animals, including sea lilies, basket stars, octopuses, prowfish and many long-lived rockfish. Above the seamounts, the upwelling of deep nutrient-rich water fuels the growth in planktonic life that attracts larger species such as tuna, sharks and whales such as humpbacks, as well as seabirds including tufted puffins. “The stunning diversity and abundance of life on the seamounts leave no room for hesitation about protecting them,” said Dr. Robert Rangeley, science director, Oceana Canada, in a February press release. “The fragile nature of the seamounts and their importance to marine life mean that we just can’t allow any activities that may threaten them, like dragging fishing gear or deep-sea mining. This is a critical step toward protecting this extremely important marine ecosystem.”

Disease threatens the Little Brown Bat - researchers ask public for help

Submitted by the Kootenay Community Bat Program ca or by calling 1-855-922-2287 (1-855-GOT-BATS).

B.C.’s bats, including the well-known Little Brown Bat, are threatened by a fungal disease headed towards the province from Alberta and Washington State. The Kootenay Community Bat Program, in collaboration with the Province of BC, are asking the public for help in the effort to detect and prevent the spread of WhiteNose Syndrome (WNS). Residents are urged to report any bat activity observed in winter and any sick or dead bats found before May 31st.

White-Nose Syndrome is a fungal disease that is harmless to humans, but has devastated North American bat populations. The fungus attacks bats while they are hibernating, appearing on their wings and faces to give an appearance of a white nose. Bats often wake to clean the fungus from their skin. This uses valuable energy, and finally the bats die from hypothermia and starvation. Across North America, millions of bats have been killed, and two BC species are now listed as Endangered. As a key predator for many night-flying insects, bats are essential parts of BC’s ecosystems and provide billions of dollars of economic benefit by helping control agricultural, forest, and urban pests.

All live bats should be left alone — keep your distance, snap a photo and report it to the Kootenay Community Bat Program. If you must move a bat, visit www.bcbats. ca for advice and never touch a bat with your bare hands. Please note that if you or your pet has been in direct contact with the bat you will need further information regarding the risk of rabies to you and your pet.

In partnership with the BC Ministry of Environment, and funded by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Forest Enhancement Society of BC, Habitat Stewardship Program, the Columbia Basin Trust, the Kootenay Lake and Columbia Valley Local funds, and the Columbia Valley Community Foundation, the BC Community Bat Program provides information and promotes local stewardship and citizen science. You can find out more about the Kootenay and BC Community Bat Program, and options for helping local bat populations at www.bcbats.ca, info@bcbats.ca, or 1-855-922-2287 ext.14

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First detected in New York State in 2006, the disease continues to spread, with detections on the west coast close to Seattle and in south-central Alberta. Biologists say the arrival of WNS in BC is imminent. Increasing the number of reports from the public is the best chance to understand how WNS might spread and affect local bat populations. Though there is not yet a proven cure for WNS, several promising treatment options are being developed, and it may be possible to mitigate the effects of this wildlife health crisis.

If you find a dead bat or have sightings of winter bat activity, please report to the B.C. Community Bat Program online at www.bcbats.ca , via email at info@bcbats.

White-nose syndrome occurrence map – by year (2023).

Downloaded 2023-02-07.

Available at: https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/where-is-wns