First Nations along British Columbia鈥檚 coast have announced with the Canadian government the designation of the country鈥檚 largest marine protected area.

A statement from Fisheries and Oceans Canada says the ecologically unique ocean area is located about 150 kilometres off the west coast of Vancouver Island.

The spanning more than 133,000 square kilometres stretches from the U.S. territorial boundary to approximately the mid-point between Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii.

It covers 鈥渆xtraordinary seafloor features,鈥� including more than 47 underwater mountains, known as seamounts, and all of the confirmed hydrothermal vents in Canada. The department says the deep-sea vents are 鈥渂iological hotpots鈥� that support rare and unique species that are both 鈥渞emarkable and culturally important.鈥�

The new designation makes it the largest marine protected area to be recognized under Canada鈥檚 Oceans Act in partnership with the Council of the Haida Nation, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Pacheedaht First Nation and Quatsino First Nation.

Fisheries and Oceans says the area was first identified for protection in May 2017, leading to measures preventing bottom-contact fishing activities.

In 2023, the First Nations and the Canadian government signed a memorandum of understanding on how to collaboratively manage the new protected area.

The name of the area, Tang.Gwan 鈥� hacxwiqak 鈥� Tsigis, consists of a Haida word meaning deep ocean, a Pacheedaht word meaning deepest part of the ocean and a Quatsino word referring to a monster of the deep, the department says.

鈥淭oday we are taking a giant step forward in protecting Canada鈥檚 oceans,鈥� Fisheries and Oceans Minister Diane Lebouthillier wrote in a statement Thursday.

鈥淭he designation of this MPA brings us halfway to our goal of conserving 30 percent of our oceans by 2030.鈥�

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