The province of British Columbia is developing a Coastal Marine Strategy with First Nations that will lay out a plan for addressing priorities for coastal-marine ecosystem health and community well-being. The Policy Intentions Paper was developed and published by the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship this week as part of the province’s engagement with communities and stakeholders. The Coastal Marine Strategy will concentrate on activities, uses, and values that the province of
British Columbia is accountable for, while recognizing that it needs strong collaboration and cooperation with other orders of government who share responsibility. The Intentions Paper acknowledges the important role of commercial shipping and that it is regulated federally, and also refers to the shared risk that shipping may impose to the province. Interestingly, it also highlights the needs to “build a diverse coastal workforce,” especially in traditionally male-dominated industries, including marine shipping.
