Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)[1]
Map showing the location of Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area
Map showing the location of Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area
Location in British Columbia
LocationScott Islands, British Columbia
Nearest cityPort Hardy
Coordinates50°45′00″N 129°15′00″W / 50.75000°N 129.25000°W / 50.75000; -129.25000Coordinates: 50°45′00″N 129°15′00″W / 50.75000°N 129.25000°W / 50.75000; -129.25000
Area11,570.65 km2 (4,467.45 sq mi)
DesignationNational Wildlife Area
Designated2018
Governing bodyCanadian Wildlife Service
WebsiteScott Islands Marine NWA

Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area is a National Wildlife Area off the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Covering an area of 11,570.65 km (7,189.67 mi), it is the second largest protected area in British Columbia after and is the largest national wildlife area in Canada.[2]

Geography[]

The national wildlife area protects a large area of the Pacific Ocean and Queen Charlotte Sound surrounding Cape Scott and the Scott Islands. The islands themselves are already protected by the provincially-designated protected areas of Lanz and Cox Islands Provincial Park, , , and Anne Vallee Ecological Reserve.

Ecology[]

Flora[]

The waters surrounding the islands host kelp beds.[3]

Fauna[]

The Scott Islands provide critical breeding and nesting habitat for 40% of British Columbia's seabirds. Bird species of note include tufted puffin, short-tailed albatross, black-footed albatross, Cassin's auklet, rhinoceros auklet, common murre, marbled murrelet, ancient murrelet, pink-footed shearwater, sooty shearwater, and bald eagle.[2][3]

Resident mammal species include sea otter, northern sea lion, orca, humpback whale, and gray whale.[3]

See also[]

  • Cape Scott Provincial Park

References[]

  1. ^ "Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area". Protected Planet. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b Canada, Environment and Climate Change (24 March 2011). "Scott Islands marine National Wildlife Area". aem. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Environment, Ministry of. "Lanz and Cox Islands Provincial Park - BC Parks". bcparks.ca. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
Retrieved from ""