Implications of the proposed Southern Strait Of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area for the B.C. ecotourism industry

Abstract

Growing concern over the diminishing health of the world's oceans over the last half century has spawned the rise of Marine Protected Areas throughout the globe as one way for governments to combat environmental degradation and promote a more sustainable marine environment. This research looks at a specific type of Marine Protected Area in Canada called a National Marine Conservation Area. The study examines how one such area, which is proposed for the Southern Strait of Georgia in British Columbia, might impact the local ecotourism industry. Through an exploration of local ecotourism industry concerns, lessons learned from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and the expectations of the governing bodies involved, recommendations are developed. These recommendations seek to help the ecotourism industry to better understand the implications if the proposed National Marine Conservation Area in the southern Strait of Georgia is approved, and to inform government about industry concerns.