A mid-Island environmental group is a on a mission to have the Nanaimo estuary included in a National Marine Conservation Area before time runs out.
Creating the Southern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area has been a decade long pursuit that began when the provincial and federal governments signed a memorandum of understanding in 2003. In mid-October, they announced the proposed boundary for the conservation area, covering 1,400 square kilometres and stretching from the southern tip of Gabriola Island to the Saanich Inlet and Cordova Bay.
It’s one of 29 marine regions Parks Canada hopes to create. Mining and oil and gas exploration will be prohibited, but activities such as fishing, shipping and recreation will continue.
Laurie Gourlay, president of the Mid Island Sustainability and Stewardship Initiative, said the estuary offers itself perfectly to the reserve area.
The organization is launching an effort to gather community support to get the boundary extended around the estuary. MISSI is initiating efforts to create a community committee, comprised of representatives from various mid-Island organizations, to raise awareness about the issue and put pressure on the governments to make the change.
“We want it to be a community effort,” said Gourlay. “Everyone has a chance to be involved and to contribute.”
Gourlay hopes the committee is formed by early March so a meeting can be arranged with Parks Canada this spring.
The group has also written to Nanaimo and the Regional District of Nanaimo for support.
Other interested organizations can contact Gourlay at info@missimidisland.com or 250-722-3444.
For more information on MISSI or the national reserve, please go to www.missimidisland.com or www.pc.gc.ca.
reporter3@nanaimobulletin.com
