Proposed Tang.ɢwan—ḥačxwiqak—Tsig̱is MPA

Summary#

This is a proposed regulation to create the Tang.ɢwan — ḥačxwiqak — Tsig̱is MPA under the Oceans Act. If adopted, it would protect about 133 019 km2 of Canada’s offshore Pacific by banning activities that would damage the seafloor, while allowing some surface uses like shipping and certain kinds of fishing under depth limits. Public comments were invited within 30 days of the Canada Gazette publication on February 18, 2023.

What it does#

• Designates an offshore protected area of approximately 133 019 km2, including the water column, seabed and subsoil down to 1 000 m.
• Divides the MPA into three zones:
  • Union Zone (about 3 600 km2)
  • Dellwood Zone (about 3 600 km2)
  • General Zone (about 125 819 km2)
• Sets a general prohibition on activities that would disturb, damage, destroy or remove any living marine organism or part of its habitat.
• Lists specific exceptions and rules:
  • Vessel navigation and activities for public safety, defence or emergencies would continue.
  • Laying, maintenance and repair of submarine cables would be allowed.
  • First Nations food, social and ceremonial (FSC) fishing would be allowed if no bottom‑contact gear is used.
  • Pelagic hook-and-line fishing (for example, tuna) would be allowed provided gear does not go deeper than 100 m in the Union and Dellwood zones, and 500 m in the General Zone.
  • Midwater trawling would be allowed only in the General Zone and only if gear does not go below 500 m; vessels would need to monitor trawl depths to show compliance.
  • Scientific research, monitoring and educational activities could proceed only under an approved activity plan. The regulator would aim to decide on plans within 90 days; plans that risk key vent fields would be refused.
• Repeals the existing Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents Marine Protected Area Regulations and folds that area into the new MPA.
• Sets enforcement penalties for contraventions up to $8,000,000 (summary) or $12,000,000 (indictable).

Who's affected#

• Commercial fishers:
  • The Pacific albacore (tuna) fishery is expected to continue because it operates near the surface (noted in the record at about 1.5 m from the surface).
  • Fishers who use bottom‑contact gear are already largely restricted by earlier measures from 2017; the proposed rules keep that prohibition in place across the MPA.
  • Midwater trawl operators who fish in the area’s General Zone would need to monitor gear depth; the government estimates incremental costs for industry would be negligible.
• Indigenous groups and treaty partners who fish or have cultural ties to the area, including representatives from the Maa-nulth Fisheries Committee, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC), the Council of the Haida Nation (CHN), the Pacheedaht First Nation and the Quatsino First Nation — many of whom were consulted and have indicated interest in cooperative management (including a proposed MOU).
• Scientific, research and cable operators — research and cabled observatories (such as the NEPTUNE observatory) can continue but some activities will need approval.
• Government agencies — Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) would lead management and estimates a government cost of $3.4 million (present value over 10 years) for management, research and enforcement.
• Other industries likely not affected in the short term: there is little to no oil and gas activity in the area, and deep‑sea mining or large offshore energy projects are not currently operating there.

Why it matters#

• The area contains rare seamounts and all known Canadian hydrothermal vents — biological hotspots that host unique species found nowhere else. Protecting them preserves biodiversity and scientific value.
• The MPA would contribute toward Canada’s ocean conservation goals: the government’s target to conserve 25% of its oceans by 2025, with this MPA covering about 2.3% of Canada’s ocean area.
• Long-term protection aims to reduce risks from current and emerging activities (including potential future seabed mining or damaging fishing gear) and to provide more certainty than temporary measures.
• For fishers and coastal communities, stronger benthic protections may help sustain or increase fish stocks over time through spillover effects, while allowing surface fisheries like tuna to continue.
• The proposal follows multi-year consultation with Indigenous groups, industry, scientists and others; some First Nations have expressed interest in jointly managing the site.