The Juan de Fuca or “Big Eddy” provides a rich supply of nutrients to the marine ecosystems off the west coast of Vancouver Island, supporting the incredibly rich and diverse marine life including orcas, sea otters, seabirds, and salmon, for which the area is famous.

A National Marine Conservation Area that connects with the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary in Washington State could create an International Marine Peace Park to effectively protect this important and vulnerable area. In January 2012, Parks Canada issued a request for proposals for a study to identify potential areas for a National Marine Conservation Area that did not proceed. In the absence of further progress CPAWS has undertaken an independent review of marine ecosystems in the area to support any future studies or proposals.

Photo credit: Duane Fuerter

Campaign page

23