$60 million in provincial funding is on the way to help protect marine waters along northern B.C.’s coast.
This is being administered through the Coast Conservation Endowment Fund Foundation with the hope of bringing in an additional $200 million from the region.
The funding would be gained through creating the Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence initiative (PFP) in partnership with First Nations, the federal government, and others.
Part of the grant would also go towards expanding First Nation marine stewardship.
“People in British Columbia share a deep connection to our coastal waters,” said Premier David Eby.
“They are a source of beauty, food and economic opportunities. Through sustainable conservation financing, we will help secure the future of our marine ecosystems, fisheries and coastal communities.”
The Great Bear Sea area stretches from the southern part of the Alaska Border to just south of Vancouver Island’s northern point.
It also extends west to encompass Haida Gwaii.
The PFP works on pairing conservation and economic development in the area and is expected to deliver thousands of permanent jobs.
“B.C.’s world-leading, collaborative approach will protect our precious marine areas and grow a sustainable economy with good jobs building on work that B.C., First Nations and Canada have undertaken together over many years,” said Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.
A similar model is in place for the adjacent Great Bear Rainforest which has created 439 conservation projects and 1,250 jobs since 2008.