Comments and feedback are being sought on the North Vancouver Island draft Marine Plan at a series of open houses and public meetings in Campbell River, Port McNeill and Port Hardy, as part of the Marine Planning Partnership (MaPP) initiative for the North Pacific Coast.

If you care about the ocean environment, or your living depends on the ocean, then the Nanwakolas Council and the Province of British Columbia want to hear from you at three upcoming public meetings:

MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2014 Maritime Heritage Centre, 621 N Island
Highway Open House: 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Presentation and Questions: 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

PORT McNEILL - TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014
Haida Way Motor Inn, 1817 Campbell Way
Open House: 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Presentation and Questions: 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

PORT HARDY - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014
Seto's Wok & Grill, 9040 Granville St.
Open House: 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Presentation and Questions: 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Comments and feedback can be provided online by visiting the MaPP website at: http://mappocean.org/north-vancouver-island/draft-plan-for-input/
The public review period for the North Vancouver Island draft Marine Plan is from April 9 to May 15, 2014.

The MaPP initiative is a co-led partnership between the Province of British Columbia and 18 member First Nations (http://mappocean.org/about-mapp/partners/) working to create plans for marine uses and long-term ocean health on the North Pacific Coast. The North Vancouver Island plan area lies between northern Vancouver Island and the mainland - and includes the communities of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Alert Bay, Sayward and Campbell River.

The draft plan was developed following extensive consultation with stakeholders with expertise in a range of marine sectors. In addition, a science advisory committee has provided expert technical and scientific knowledge and advice in the development of background material that has informed the draft sub-regional plans.

This draft plan is not intended to address management of uses and activities that the province considers to be federal government jurisdiction. However, where there is overlap or shared jurisdiction, ecosystem-based management priorities or marine spatial planning priorities, these topics are discussed. The intent is that issues requiring federal government involvement would be subject to consultations with the federal government.

The North Vancouver Island draft Marine Plan focuses on marine areas and uses where, as between the Government of British Columbia and Canada, the Government of British Columbia has legal jurisdiction and regulatory authority-namely the foreshore (i.e., the intertidal zone), coastal "inland waters" on the outer coast, and the lands covered by these waters. The Nanwakolas Council member nations are responsible for ensuring that natural and cultural heritage of their traditional territories is passed on to future generations.

Members of the Nanwakolas Council and partners in the MaPP initiative are: Mamalilikulla-Qwe'Qwa'Sot'Em, Tlowitsis, Da'nakda'xw-Awaetlatla, Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw, Wei Wai Kum, Kwiakah and the K'ómoks First Nations.

The North Vancouver Island draft Marine Plan will provide recommendations for key areas of marine management-including uses, activities and protection-and will inform decisions regarding the sustainable economic development and stewardship of North Vancouver Island's coastal marine environment.

The final plans for all four sub-regional plans (Haida Gwaii (http://mappocean.org/haida-gwaii/), North Coast (http://mappocean.org/north-coast/), Central Coast (http://mappocean.org/central-coast/) and North Vancouver Island (http://mappocean.org/north-vancouver-island/)) and a regional management framework are scheduled for completion by June 2014.

The MaPP initiative promotes collaboration between governments and sectors on all planning products. Public engagement and input are central to this process. Find out more at: www.mappocean.org

Media Contacts:

Grieg Bethel
Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261

Scott Harris
Nanwakolas Council
250 949-7234