The Race Rocks Ecological Reserve was established in 1980 by the Canadian provincial government of British Columbia after receiving a proposal from students and faculty members of the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific, which conducts educational and research activities at the small archipelago.
The archipelago, located 17 kilometers southwest of Victoria, meets the ecological reserve designation criteria as a special natural ecosystem ideal for increasing human understanding. Provincial authority extends only to the terrestrial area and seabed.
Designation of the ecological reserve prohibited ocean dredging, dumping and extraction of non-renewable resources. In 1991, commercial fishing and some forms of recreational fishing were prohibited by the federal Division of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
In 1998, the ecological reserve was selected by the federal government as a pilot area for creation of a no-take Marine Protected Area (MPA) that would be part of a proposed national network of MPAs.
In 1999, a 14-member Race Rocks MPA Advisory Board was created to involve stakeholders, including First Nations bands, who have certain legal rights to fish and hunt for food. After recommendations were made by the Advisory Board, native First Nations bands repudiated their representatives, saying they did not have proper standing to negotiate. The process stalled in 2002.
In 2009, a new planning process was begun. Negotiations with the First Nations bands are being handled through a separate process directly with the DFO. Creating a no-take area would not apply to First Nations’ traditional needs, according to the reserve management plan.
Mission
The Race Rocks Ecological Reserve serves the following missions:
Objectives
The management plan approved in 2002 establishes a series of overarching objectives including:
Lead Organizations
Key Parties
Planning for the creation of a Marine Protected Area at the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve involved:
Ecological Reserve
The Race Rocks Ecological Reserve is managed by faculty of the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific under an agreement with BC Parks.
Race Rocks Marine Protected Area Advisory Board
After the federal Division of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) restarted the process to plan a no-take Marine Protected Area (MPA) at the ecological reserve, the advisory board was reconstituted in 2009 to serve the following functions:
The 24 members include representatives of:
A liaison to the First Nations bands also sits on the advisory board, though the DFO is conducting a separate discussion directly with the First Nation bands.
The Race Rocks area has long been recognized for its role as a biological nursery and as a research subject.
The Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific, located in Victoria, has used the archipelago as an outdoor classroom and research facility since the 1970s with permission from provincial authorities. Creation of the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve was sought by college faculty and students, who were advised by provincial authorities.
In 1980, the reserve was established in accordance with the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act and the Ecological Reserve Act of 1971. Passage of the Ecological Reserve Act had led to hundreds of applications for the designation of reserves.
The Ecological Reserve Act can apply to areas that include any of the following criteria:
Additionally, provisions of the Park and Recreation Area Regulation apply to the Race Rocks area.
Ecological Reserves are managed by British Columbia Parks, though college officials, under a permit, have acted as the wardens of the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve. Ecological reserves are not designed for recreational activities.
Federal agencies, who manage activities in the water column as well as marine transportation and are charged with providing enforcement, have increasingly agreed that the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve is deserving of greater protections. In 1991, commercial fishing and shellfishing was prohibited by the federal Division of Fisheries and Oceans. Recreational fishing also was prohibited, except for salmon and halibut fishing.
In 1998, the federal government announced that the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve had been selected as one of four pilot areas for the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) under the authority of Canada’s Oceans Act of 1997. This move required the development, through collaborative processes, of integrated ocean management plans and MPA networks.
The Race Rocks MPA would be a no-take area with the same boundary as the ecological reserve. As part of the pilot project, voluntary guidelines were developed to address concerns related to boating, diving and whale watching. The dive community prepared guidelines for appropriate diving practices to lessen impacts from mooring and minimize disturbance to marine life. The whale watching operators also developed guidelines stating best practices.
Ecosystem
The Race Rocks Ecological Reserve is located at the transition between the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the southern Gulf Islands. It is exposed to such extreme tidal and weather phenomena that it is legendary for shipwrecks and a lighthouse began operating on the Race Rocks Islets in 1860.
These extreme conditions support a large number of diverse species and limit human activity in the area, including:
Threats
The 2002 Race Rocks Ecological Reserve Management Plan identified the following threats:
Establishment of the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve promulgated regulatory controls by the provincial and federal authorities to prohibit dredging, dumping, commercial fishing and certain types of recreational fishing. The latest management plan for the reserve, which was approved in 2002, recommends harm-prevention and regulatory strategies to be conducted in partnership with federal authorities and stakeholders. Particular recommendations include:
The environmental biology and systems faculty and students of Lester B. Pearson College provide monitoring and reporting on the biological characteristics of the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve. The management plan recommends increased monitoring, including:
In addition, external researchers visit the Race Rocks area. BC Parks and the college evaluate proposals from external researchers to determine suitability; the guidelines established by the reserve state that preservation of ecological integrity takes precedence over the provision of research facilities.
Race Rocks Ecological Reserve: http://www.racerocks.com/
Race Rocks Advisory Board: http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/admin/rrab/rrab.htm