February 8th, 2023

Articles: The new agreement for cooperative management of Tang.ɢwan — ḥačxʷiqak — Tsig̱is Marine Protected Area

Covering 133,019 square kilometres, the proposed Tang.ɢwan — ḥačxʷiqak — Tsig̱is Marine Protected Area is home to extraordinary seafloor features, including more than 46 underwater mountains, known as seamounts, and all known hydrothermal vents in Canada. These deep-sea biological “hotspots” are globally rare and support deep-water species unique to this area. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement has been reached between Canada and the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, the Council of the Haida Nation, Pacheedaht First Nation, and Quatsino First Nation to cooperatively manage the proposed new MPA – a historic step in a multi-year process by Canada and First Nations to protect this important space.

This region was included in the Ocean Decade Activity Northeast Pacific Deep Sea Diversity Expedition in 2022.

Find out more about the future Tang.ɢwan — ḥačxʷiqak — Tsig̱is marine protected area in these full articles:

  • Canada is set to make a massive protected area official — and it’s underwater –Jimmy Thomson on The Narwhal

  • Canada’s Newest Marine Protected Area Is Dark, Massive, And Rich With Marine Life – Geoff Meggs on Westcoast Now

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