By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer A stretch of ocean off BC\u2019s central coast, where salmon, herring, whales, sea otters and some of the province\u2019s largest kelp beds share waters with fishing boats and coastal communities, is moving toward federal protection. Six First Nations, Ottawa and the province signed an agreement Friday to establish a new National Marine Conservation Area Reserve in the Great Bear Sea, beside the globally known Great Bear Rainforest. \u201cThis is kind of the water offshoot of part of that,\u201d BC Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Minister Randene Neill told Canada\u2019s National Observer. \u201cIt protects some of our most biologically diverse and sensitive areas.\u201d Parks Canada officials say the reserve, once implemented, could protect up to 6,700 square kilometres (an area larger… <\/p>\n
By Sonal Gupta, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer A stretch of ocean off BC\u2019s central coast, where salmon, herring, whales, sea otters and some of the province\u2019s largest kelp beds share waters with fishing boats and coastal communities, is moving toward federal protection. Six First Nations, Ottawa and the province signed an agreement Friday to establish a new National Marine Conservation Area Reserve in the Great Bear Sea, beside the globally known Great Bear Rainforest. \u201cThis is kind of the water offshoot of part of that,\u201d BC Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Minister Randene Neill told Canada\u2019s National Observer. \u201cIt protects some of our most biologically diverse and sensitive areas.\u201d Parks Canada officials say the reserve, once implemented, could protect up to 6,700 square kilometres (an area larger... <\/p>\n