Saanich has 30 kilometres of marine shoreline: from the beloved beaches of PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park), to Cadboro Bay and Ten Mile Point. We all know that calm feeling we get when we gaze over the ocean, sit and watch otters or seals or the occasional pod of orcas – these places are true jewels in this part of the world.
And yet, coastal and nearshore marine areas are facing many threats. Due to jurisdictional overlap (and gaps in coastal management), these threats have been neglected for a long time. A bright spot came last July, when the province released its first-ever Coastal Marine Strategy, which lays out a comprehensive management framework for coastal and marine areas.
Both Saanich and Langford councils voted unanimously to push the province to enshrine the Coastal Marine Strategy – currently a policy document – into law. This is critical if it is to fulfil its 20-year time horizon and lead to the kinds of long-term stewardship that our region’s coastal and marine areas need. Of the strategy’s 116 activities, there are many that have the potential to directly benefit Saanich.
For instance, we have all seen styrofoam on our shores. The Coastal Marine Strategy includes a plan to prohibit using polystyrene in future marine infrastructure and collaborate with the federal government to promote replacing existing polystyrene marine floats with alternatives.
Derelict vessels are another problem plaguing our beaches, with vessels drifting ashore, discharging pollution and posing risks to public safety. The Coastal Marine Strategy seeks to address abandoned and derelict vessels in the intertidal zone. It also seeks to protect nearshore habitat from the impacts of small vessels anchoring.
We’re feeling impacts from climate change with increasing frequency and severity. The strategy includes expanding the understanding of climate risks to coastal communities and providing this information to update regional climate action plans.
Historically, structures like seawalls were used to prevent erosion and flooding. However, these structures lead to “coastal squeeze,” in which important intertidal habitat is reduced with sea level rise – which is predicted to be one metre by 2100 in Saanich. Publicly accessible beaches will also be reduced.
In 2023, Tsawout First Nation declared the QEN'T Marine Protected Area in 155 square kilometres of its territory, spanning from south of Sidney to PKOLS. They intend to manage it for continued cultural, social, educational and economic benefit, and to reinforce their stewardship responsibilities.
With these and many other benefits for coastal communities like Saanich, it’s clear why local government leaders are taking notice. The Coastal Marine Strategy presents a blueprint for improving the health of the coast and backing it up with a coastal law will help ensure it can fulfil its long-term potential.
Erin Gray
Saanich
