British Columbia’s iconic coast extends for tens of thousands of kilometres and is relied upon by millions of people. It is one of the largest coastal jurisdictions in the world. Yet, despite the importance of the coast to BC’s culture and economy, many are surprised to learn that we don’t have a comprehensive provincial coastal strategy or law to care for the coast.
By contrast, most other coastal provinces, states, and many other countries have coastal management strategies and laws. If they can do it, why can't we?
This brief by West Coast Environmental Law and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) looks at examples of coastal strategies and laws developed by other jurisdictions within and outside of Canada, providing valuable lessons for BC to develop its own coastal protection strategy and legislation.
In addition to the brief, we've produced a table demonstrating the gaps in current BC laws when compared to other coastal jurisdictions.