Important Fish Areas in Pacific North Coast Management Zone

Fisheries and Oceans Canada mapped Important Areas for key fish species to inform the selection of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs). The data covers the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA), with assessments conducted from 2004-2005 and 2009. Areas were identified by experts based on criteria including Uniqueness, Aggregation, and Fitness Consequences.

Use Cases

• Identify marine zones with high fish aggregation for conservation planning and EBSA designation.
• Analyze the spatial distribution of areas ranked for Uniqueness to prioritize habitat protection efforts.
• Compare Important Areas across different ecoregions like the Strait of Georgia and west coast of Vancouver Island for regional management strategies.
• Assess the overlap of areas identified for Fitness Consequences with other marine datasets to evaluate ecosystem health.

Strengths

• Data collection was coordinated by scientific experts from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, an authoritative government agency.
• The dataset is part of a series covering multiple taxa, including birds, cetaceans, and corals, enabling cross-ecosystem analysis.
• Includes project documentation and technical reports that provide context for the IA selection process.

Limitations

• The assessment methods, scientific advisors, and temporal extents differed between the 2004-2005 PNCIMA effort and the 2009 WCVI/SOG efforts, complicating direct comparisons.
• Data collection is considered complete, meaning the information may not reflect recent ecological changes unless new significant data emerges.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Expert assessment and spatial data collection based on criteria (Uniqueness, Aggregation, Fitness Consequences) to inform EBSA selection.

Time Range

Assessments conducted from September 2004 to March 2005 (PNCIMA) and in 2009 (WCVI and SOG).

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-24, though underlying assessments are from 2004-2009.

Geography

Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA), Strait of Georgia, and west coast of Vancouver Island in Canadian Pacific marine waters.