Source: Council of the Haida Nation
Haida Gwaii, British Columbia – The Haida Nation and the Government of Canada have agreed to increase the level of protection at the SGaan Kinghlas – Bowie Seamount Marine Protected Area (MPA) by closing all bottom-contact fishing. This closure shows a precautionary management approach to protection of sensitive benthic habitats in support of the MPA objectives.
This decision by the Haida Nation and Canada also aligns with the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) recent decision to close bottom contact fishing on all seamounts in the Offshore Pacific Area of Interest (AOI) and manage impacts to coral and sponges in the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Marine Protected Areas.
Longer-term measures to manage benthic impacts from fishing activities in the MPA will be identified in the developing SGaan Kinghlas – Bowie Seamount MPA Management Plan.
Continue reading here.
For further reference, go to:
