The Haida Gwaii Marine Plan was developed with the co-leadership of the Council of the Haida Nation and the Province of British Columbia with input from local communities, industry and other coastal stakeholders.
Haida Gwaii – Islands of the People
Haida Gwaii is an archipelago of approximately 150 islands set on the edge of the continental shelf off British Columbia’s north Pacific Coast.
A complex Haida culture has been supported for millennia by the sea’s bounty:
- Pacific Halibut, salmon and albacore tuna
- Herring, sablefish, rock and groundfish
- Dungeness crab, prawn, shrimp and geoduck clams
- Red sea urchin and sea cucumber
Known worldwide for its diversity of seabirds and rich marine life, Haida Gwaii is home to:
- 13 species of nesting seabirds
- Migrating grey and humpback whales
- Killer whales, Pacific harbour seals and Steller sea lions
- Hecate Strait glass sponge reefs, coral and rare plant species
Ocean Threats and Opportunities
This diverse marine environment faces growing threats, challenges and opportunities:
- Declining fisheries include once abundant Pacific herring populations
- Species at risk include the endangered northern abalone
- Increasing recreational fishing presents potential jobs while requiring management of impacts on salmon and halibut stocks
