Environmental Trends 2002

Habitat

Area Under License for Use or Managed for Conservation in 51 Coastal Estuaries

SOURCES: Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, 2002; Crown Land Registry, 2002; Ministry of Energy and Mines, 2002; Laracorp Land and Resources Analysis, 2002. NOTES: Bar graph is based on biased selection of 51 coastal estuaries, not likely representative of the changes in use/designation for the province as a whole. Data are accurate to the end of 2001. Aquaculture includes shellfish, finfish, and other fishery facilities. Other Commercial/ Industrial includes marinas, commercial wharfs, Commercial type A and type B, heavy industrial and light industrial uses. Public/Private includes residential, private moorage, public wharf, roadway, utilities, ferry terminals, and military bases. Analysis does not include adjacent lands, and was almost exclusively confined to areas under provincial jurisdiction.

How are estuaries used and managed in British Columbia?

• Estuaries are the unique interface of terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats that are essential habitat for many species, including fish, marine birds, and terrestrial and marine mammals.

• This analysis is based on only 51 (combined area of 29,000 hectares) of the hundreds of estuaries in British Columbia that have not yet been assessed.

• Estuaries were selected based on known importance to wildlife species and degree of associated threats.

• Between 1986 and 2001, commercial and public use of estuaries increased from 600 hectares affected (2.1% of total area) to 1375 hectares (4.7% of total area). The primary use of these estuaries in 2001 is log storage and handling (604 hectares).

• During this time the area managed for conservation increased from 23% of total area (6,700 hectares) to 69% (20,300 hectares). Most of this increase (80%) is accounted for by conservation efforts on the Fraser River estuary, including Roberts and Sturgeon Banks, and Boundary Bay.

• Areas managed for conservation include land designated under a number of provincial statutes, all of which provide differing degrees of protection.

For detailed information, including graph data, see In-Depth report [pdf].