Establish Salish Sea sanctuary
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to establish a Salish Sea Migratory Bird Sanctuary linking Victoria Harbour and Shoal Harbour MBS to protect migratory birds, wildlife and coastal habitat along this shoreline.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would connect two federal MBS to create contiguous protected shoreline, better safeguarding migratory stopover, breeding and foraging habitat.
- It aims to slow declines of shorebirds and other taxa cited in the petition by protecting critical habitat used year‑round and seasonally.
- Designation supports Indigenous stewardship goals and aligns with the internationally recognized Sidney Channel Important Bird Area.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Creating a new sanctuary may require federal funding, administration and regulatory changes that have budgetary and jurisdictional implications.
- Designation alone may not address underlying threats like pollution or climate change and could give a false sense of protection without enforcement or restoration.
- Local stakeholders may face restrictions or conflicts over access, development or existing uses; alternative measures (restoration, management plans) could be more targeted.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada Whereas: Coastal areas are critical wildlife habitat used by birds for migration stopovers, overwintering, breeding, foraging and roosting; The Greater Victoria area is on the Pacific Flyway, a major flyway for migratory birds from Alaska to Patagonia; This coastal area supports many taxa including waterfowl, loons, grebes, gulls, shorebirds, raptors and passerines: some species are nationally threatened (Marbled Murrelets) and nationally vulnerable (Great Blue Herons); Migratory birds face increasing pressures and significant, widespread population declines due to climate change, pollution and habitat loss; Canadian shorebird populations have declined 42% since 1980 (Birds Canada/ECCC, 2024); Migratory Bird Sanctuaries (MBS) are established under the five-nation Migratory Bird Convention Act to protect migratory birds and their nests, and studies confirm that migratory birds use habitat within all three MBS in the region both year-round and seasonally; Greater Victoria hosts three MBS under federal authority: Victoria Harbour, Shoal Harbour, Esquimalt Lagoon; A significant gap exists between the Victoria Harbour and the Shoal Harbour MBS; This entire shoreline falls within the traditional territories of the WSÁNEC and Lekwungen Nations, who seek to strengthen their Indigenous marine stewardship rights and responsibilities through guardian programs; and The internationally-designated Sidney Channel Important Bird Area recognizes the importance of MBS in maintaining global bird populations. We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: Establish a new Salish Sea Migratory Bird Sanctuary connecting the Victoria Harbour and Shoal Harbour MBS, to protect the millions of migratory birds and other wildlife and habitat along this shoreline.
Government response
No government response is available yet.