Ocean Based Economy in Pncima

There are a variety of ways people interact with and depend on the marine environment, and ways in which the environmental and economic values of Pncima intersect.

The ocean is a major economic driver in BC. Activities that rely on marine environments contribute $11 billion to GDP and close to 170,000 person years of employment. This all amounts to between 7 and 8 per cent of the provincial economy. The most significant components of the ocean-based industries in order of economic contribution are: recreation-boating, cruise ship tourism, ferry travelers, whale watching, etc. (33%), transport (29%), and seafood which includes fishing and aquaculture (12%)¹.

Ensuring there is a sustainable marine economy for the benefit of the people and communities that rely on Pncima requires an integrated approach. The current project by project approach is inadequate for managing conflicts between users and does not take into account the cumulative impacts of the various activities on the systems that sustain them.

This is especially important now. Economic activity in Pncima is expected to grow significantly over the next 10 years. About 25 ocean based projects are proposed, adding up to roughly 37 billion in potential investment and resulting short and long term jobs. While not all of the projects will proceed it is clear that a planning process that can consider each proposal with a view to its place within Pncima as a whole, and how it will work with existing and other proposals is necessary.

1. GSGislason & Associates Ltd. (2007). Economic Contribution of the Oceans Sector in British Columbia. Vancouver, BC: Canada/BC Oceans Coordinating Committee; MacConnachie, S., Hillier, J., & Butterfield, S. (2007). Marine Use Analysis of the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2677. Nanaimo, BC: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Oceans, Habitat and Enhancement Branch.