Wednesday October 22, 2025
SeafoodSource —
The Haida Nation will work with the Canadian government to manage two new marine refuges designed to protect salmon species, as well as other marine life like sea birds, herring, and harbor seals.
The G̲aw K̲áahlii Marine Refuge and X̲aana K̲aahlii Marine Refuge are located in Haida Gwaii, an archipelago in the province of British Colombia. The G̱aw Ḵáahlii Marine Refuge will encompass 22.42 square kilometers, while the X̲aana K̲aahlii Marine Refuge will encompass another 7.16 square kilometers.
The new protected areas were established under the Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence (PFP), an initiative launched in June 2024 to foster Indigenous-led marine conservation along the country’s west coast. As such, they will be co-managed by the Council of the Haida Nation and the Canada Department of Fish and Oceans (DFO).
“G̲aw K̲áahlii and X̲aana K̲aahlii hold great significance to the Haida Nation,” Council of Haida Nation President Gaagwiis Jason Alsop said in a release. “Guided by knowledge shared by Elders and knowledge holders during the Haida Marine Traditional Knowledge Study, G̲aw K̲áahlii and X̲aana K̲aahlii were identified as key areas to protect.”
Alsop said the inlets support salmon, herring, and other marine life that “are important for Haida and local food security.”
“Because of this, we have a sense of Gin ‘laa hl isdaa.uu | ʹLaa guu ga k̲anhllns Responsibility to ensure future generations are able to continue to enjoy the bounties of the ocean,” Alsop said.
In the announcement, DFO said the marine refuges will support implementation of both the Haida Gwaii Marine Plan and the Northern Shelf Bioregion Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network Action Plan. The Canadian government has set a goal of protecting 30 percent of marine and coastal areas by 2030.
“Protecting our marine environment is a key priority for the Government of Canada as are our commitments in implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA). Working in partnership with the Council of the Haida Nation, these new marine refuges are a concrete step under the Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence. They will safeguard the Northern Shelf Bioregion, support sustainable harvests, and leave a strong legacy for people who rely on these waters today and in the years ahead,” Canada Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson said in a release.