Great Bear Sea (Northern Shelf Bioregion)
The Great Bear Sea (Northern Shelf Bioregion) covers approximately two-thirds of BC’s coast, encompassing 102,000 km2 of marine area. It extends from the northern tip of Vancouver Island, including Quadra Island and Bute Inlet, all the way to the Canada-United States border at Alaska.
The Great Bear Sea (Northern Shelf Bioregion) encompasses 102,000 km2 of marine area stretching from the northern tip of Vancouver Island to the Alaskan border. It is one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world, home to:
- migrating humpback and killer whales
- sea otters
- seabirds
- salmon
- ancient glass sponge reefs
- kelp forests
- seagrass meadows and
- much more
The region has enormous cultural significance to the people who live and work here and contains important marine resources for BC’s economy.
In February 2023, First Nations, the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia endorsed a Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network Action Plan in the Northern Shelf Bioregion (Great Bear Sea). In addition to endorsing the Network Action Plan, the partners announced they would work together to advance a sustainable conservation financing arrangement. This arrangement uses the internationally recognized Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) model to support long-term funding for ongoing network implementation, management and stewardship. The network action plan is part of the core conservation plan for the Great Bear Sea PFP that provides durable financing to:
- support the implementation of a robust network of marine protected areas
- conserve an additional 0.3% of Canada's marine area
The Great Bear Sea PFP builds on the Great Bear Rainforest PFP, a terrestrial PFP established in 2007.
It will contribute to community well-being and a conservation economy in the region. These benefits are estimated to last for over 20 years and include:
- more than 3,000 new jobs and 200 new businesses
- culturally-relevant job and training opportunities for more than 2,250 people
- transition to a more sustainable, equitable and diverse regional marine economy
- improved mental, physical and family health and well-being outcomes
- cultural, language and leadership programs that revitalize culture and support reconnection to the lands and waters and strengthen communities
On June 25, 2024, First Nations, the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, and philanthropic foundations, joined together to announce and celebrate the signing and launch of the Great Bear Sea PFP.
The Government of Canada is investing $200 million in the GBS PFP. This investment, when leveraged and invested together with investments from the Province of BC, philanthropic foundations, and additional private revenue sources, is anticipated to deliver an estimated $750 million in economic impact in the region over the next 20 years.
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