Category 2 Zones

Description

These zones, located North-east of Haida Gwaii, have been identified as ecologically and biologically significant areas. They are important forage habitat to multiple bird species, including Sea duck, Shearwaters, Fulmers, Loon, Grebe, Storm Petrel and Pigeon Guillemot. The area is biologically diverse and includes many important, rare, unique and threatened species including Pacific Sand Lance, eulachon, Dungeness crab, Grey Whale, Sunflower sea star, corals and sponges, harbour porpoise, and groundfish.

This zone has high cultural and historic value, including Haida Village sites and seasonal camps, and important areas for learning traditional practices. Historically and presently the nearshore area provides an important travel route for Haida to access fishing grounds and other village sites. Moreover, the site contributes to the conservation of species significant to the Haida Nation and coastal communities, including those important for cultural use and food security. These species include, but are not limited to, nesting sites and foraging habitats for marine birds, harvesting of seaweeds and kelp, herring and herring roe on kelp, marine invertebrates, and fish.

Description

These zones are located in the Queen Charlotte Sound region, southeast of Haida Gwaii and the Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. The area captures a portion of the Shelf Break EBSA, known to support the aggregation of macrozooplankton.

The general area supports a variety of groundfish and rockfish species, as well as habitat-forming corals and sponges.

This area has cultural and spiritual value for the Haida Nation, and is used for the traditional harvest of marine resources, and supports multiple culturally significant species. These offshore areas see activity from a number of commercial fisheries. Commercial fisheries occurring within the zones identified include those targeting halibut, rockfish, sablefish, and species caught by trawl (bottom and/or mid‐water).

Description

These zones are located between the northern and central portions of the Hecate Strait / Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs MPA. The zones capture portions of areas identified as having a high diversity of both fish and invertebrate species.

This area has cultural and spiritual value for First Nations, is used for the traditional harvest of marine resources, and supports multiple culturally significant species. These offshore areas see activity from a number of commercial fisheries. Commercial fisheries occurring within the zones identified include those targeting halibut, rockfish, sablefish, and species caught by trawl (bottom and/or mid‐water).

Description

This area includes a number of small bays and heads of inlets containing estuaries and habitat of high rugosity, which supports a diverse range of marine species, including salmon, eulachon, rockfish, invertebrates, and marine birds. The area is important to local First Nations, both culturally and spiritually, and for the traditional harvest of marine resources, and includes multiple cultural and village sites. Uses in the area include commercial and recreational fishing (prawn, sea cucumber, crab, halibut, and rockfish), recreational boating, kayaking, and wildlife viewing. There is an old cannery site in Butedale.