By Irine Polyzogopoulos, Communications and Development Coordinator
On July 11, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC), along with the Council of the Haida Nation, Pacheedaht First Nation, Quatsino First Nation and the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced the designation of the Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxwiqak – Tsig̱isMarine Protected Area (MPA).
Canada’s largest MPA to be designated under the Oceans Act, the the Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxwiqak – Tsig̱is MPA is home to extraordinary seafloor features, including more than 47 underwater mountains, known as seamounts, and all known hydrothermal vents in Canada.
“Nuu-chah-nulth have, since time immemorial, worked to protect the ocean as it is our valuable resource, and we must ensure future generations will be able to access the resources as we have,” said Cloy-e-iis, Judith Sayers, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council President.
Next steps for the Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxwiqak – Tsig̱is MPA include the collaborative development of a management plan for the MPA.
In addition, Alison Wale and Dani Burrows, Uu-a-thluk’s Capacity Building Coordinator and Protected Areas Planner (respectively) have begun community outreach to facilitate the Nuu-chah-nulth naming of a portion of the newly discovered seamounts.
