- What are your views? A management plan for this conservancy
is currently under development; you
are invited to participate
through the management planning web page
for this conservancy. Click
here to provide your comments.
- This site is under construction; more information on this conservancy
will be added when it becomes available.
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Conservancy Info
Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy protects
forested lands, protected bays and coves, small islands, and cliffs,
and supports a natural and scenic setting for visitors.
The conservancy is located in the Johnstone Strait, directly across from
the Robson Bight (Michael
Bigg) Ecological Reserve, a reserve that protects key habitat for
killer whales and prevents their harassment.
The Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy was identified for consideration
as a protected area as a result of the Central Coast Land and
Resource Management Plan planning process. Following Government-to-Government
discussions between the Province and First Nations, the central
coast land use decisions (February 7, 2006) confirmed that Qwiquallaaq/Boat
Bay would become a conservancy. The area was legally designated
as Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy in Spring 2007.
The conservancy contains: rustic campground and picnic sites
used by small boaters, especially kayakers; a seasonal killer
whale monitoring and research camp; and, anchorages at Growler
Cove and Boat Bay for recreational and commercial boaters.
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Location
The conservancy is comprised
of 639 ha of upland. It occupies the western end of West Cracroft Island
in the Johnstone Strait and is 72 km southeast of Port Hardy, 103 km
northwest from Campbell River, and 300 km northwest of Vancouver.
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Nature & Culture
The Conservancy is within
the traditional territories of the Mamalilikulla – Qwe’Qwa Sot’Em
and Tlowitsis First Nations.
Sources of fresh water and protected beaches made the Boat Bay area an
important stopover site for First Nations’ journeys requiring
travel through the key transportation corridor between the northern
and southern Kwakwaka’wakw’ First Nation communities. Marine
and terrestrial resources such as salmon, crab, groundfish, wildlife,
medicines, berries, and cedar were conveniently available to First
Nations travelling through the area.
Visitors to the conservancy are often attracted by its proximity to the
whale activity and other wildlife in the region. High shoreline cliffs
in the conservancy provide excellent viewpoints for observing whales in
the strait.
Reservations
Any special features
will be listed here once data is available.
