North Coast and Proud

The North Coast of British Columbia (BC) is wild, raw, and full of life. It’s a place that grabs hold of you and doesn’t let you go. What makes it truly special is not just what it is today, but the incredible stories of resilience and recovery that inspire hope for our future.

humming through the waves again. An increase in whale populations is not only vital for species recovery, but it also plays a key role in supporting the health of the entire ecosystem. As ecosystem engineers, their movements stir ocean layers, their waste fertilizes plankton (which produces much of the oxygen we breathe), and their presence anchors food webs from krill to salmon to seabirds. These comebacks are a powerful reminder that conservation efforts work, not only benefiting target species but also strengthening the broader marine ecosystem.

Fueled by nutrient-rich upwellings that support krill, herring, and plankton blooms, the North Coast offers a seasonal buffet for travelling titans such as humpback whales.

Helping Nature Heal

First Nations on this coast have long been guardians of the ocean, guided by knowledge passed down through generations. Today’s western science is catching up to what these communities have known all along: this coast is irreplaceable.

Science shows that Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can increase fish populations by over 400% and play a key role in climate resilience and biodiversity conservation. On the North Coast, they also represent something more: a path forward where traditional knowledge and science come together to protect a globally significant marine ecosystem – as observed with sea otters around Haida Gwaii.

Long before colonial conservation designations, First Nations on the North Coast have sustainably managed marine resources since time immemorial. Traditional laws and practices like seasonal closures, no-take zones, and clam gardens helped maintain ecological balance. This stewardship laid the foundation for and continues to be important in today’s marine protection work.

In 2023, the Government of Canada, the Province of BC, and First Nations released the Network Action Plan for MPAs across the Northern Shelf Bioregion. Spanning more than 102,000 square kilometers from northern Vancouver Island to the Alaska border, this network represents a globally significant effort to protect biodiversity while supporting sustainable coastal economies. Collaborative First Nations Governance Partners on the Network Action Plan include:

• Central Coast: Kitasoo Xai’xais, Heiltsuk, Nuxalk and Wuikinuxv First Nations, supported by the Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance (CCIRA).
• North Coast: Gitga’at, Gitxaala, Kitsumkalum, Kitselas, Haisla, and Metlakatla First Nations.
• Haida Gwaii: Council of the Haida Nation.
• North Vancouver Island: Mamalilikulla, Tlowitsis and Wei Wai Kum First Nations, as represented by the Nanwakolas Council, and Kwiakah First Nation.

Proposed MPA Network for the Northern Shelf Bioregion. To date, marine protection on the North Coast continues to evolve, with plans to expand MPA coverage to protect whale migration corridors, eelgrass beds, salmon estuaries, and other critical ecosystems. These efforts are central to Canada’s commitment to protect 30% of its marine and coastal areas by 2030.

Protecting the North Coast requires a renewed commitment to community-led stewardship and science-based management. By working with community groups and regional partners, protection efforts can be strengthened and made more effective. Many dedicated individuals and organizations along BC’s North Coast are working tirelessly to protect the coastline they love.

One example of industry stepping up to safeguard marine life is the Prince Rupert Port Authority. Through its support of marine mammal initiatives like the Whale Report Alert System, the Port of Prince Rupert has played a key role in reducing impacts on local populations. BC Whales, a non-profit organization, also takes a community-based approach to conservation by conducting research in partnership with the Gitga’at First Nation to protect whales, dolphins, and porpoises along BC’s North Coast. Most recently, the Gitga’at Nation, BC Whales, and WWF-Canada have collaborated to manage whale-vessel interactions by establishing an acoustic monitoring network that detects when whales are present in the shipping lanes used by vessels transiting to and from Kitimat. Similarly, the non-profit SkeenaWild works with Indigenous partners to support to recovery of salmon populations and their habitats. This includes developing guidelines for responsible mining, sustainable forestry, and improved management of fisheries and estuaries.

Stewards of Our Future

Our past shows us that when we choose to act, recovery is possible. By supporting conservation, collaborating with First Nations, communities, and local organizations, we can help ensure that the North Coast remains a place of resilience, wonder, and hope for generations to come.

Stewardship starts with awareness, grows with action, and thrives in community. On BC’s North Coast, that community is strong, resilient, and ready to rise.

Whether you’re a boater, fisher, paddler, or community member, your actions matter. Every small act adds up. Be a steward of your community by:

• Supporting Indigenous-led conservation
• Choosing sustainable seafood
• Reducing your plastic footprint
• Slowing down and be vigilant around whales
• Reporting whale, dolphin, and porpoise sightings through the Ocean Wise Whale Report app
• Using the SkeenaWild Fishing app to stay informed on salmon returns and regulations

Use in Instagram post: The North Coast is more than a beautiful backdrop; it’s a pulse point for British Columbia’s marine life. From ancient reefs to thriving kelp forests, from salmon runs to the return of whales and sea otters, this coastline is home to species that are not only storytellers of the past but are also climate allies and living indicators of ocean health. Every small act adds up. Be a North Coast steward or a steward of your own community by: Supporting Indigenous-led conservation; choosing sustainable seafood, reducing your plastic footprint, slowing down and be vigilant around whales, reporting whale, dolphin, and porpoise sightings through the Ocean Wise Whale Report app, and using the SkeenaWild Fishing app to stay informed on salmon returns and regulations.

We’d like to thank the dedicated organizations along the North Coast with whom we’ve had the privilege to work with or support over the years. @rupertport, @bcwhales, @northcoastecology, @princerupertadventuretours @skeenawild.conservation.trust