PROCEEDINGS • 1 Public Process and the Creation of the Race Rocks Marine Protected Area
This research project evaluates the successes and shortcomings of the consensus process associated with the proposed XwaYeN (Race Rocks) Marine Protected Area, near Victoria, BC. Known as the Race Rocks Advisory Board, this process included government, aboriginal and stakeholder representatives, and...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.505.9053 http://www3.telus.net/LeRoy/Sean/Research_archive_files/10b_leroy.pdf |
| Summary: | This research project evaluates the successes and shortcomings of the consensus process associated with the proposed XwaYeN (Race Rocks) Marine Protected Area, near Victoria, BC. Known as the Race Rocks Advisory Board, this process included government, aboriginal and stakeholder representatives, and was successful at negotiating consensus recommendations in support of designation. Among the recommendations were provisions for the creation of a no-take zone, and for the co-management of Race Rocks by First Nations, BC and Canada. The boundary of the no-take zone was a political compromise that gave only cursory consideration to scientific studies. The provision for co-management was a bold attempt to create a highly protected MPA that still respects aboriginal and treaty rights. Once submitted, these recommendations were misrepresented in the federal government’s regulatory approval process, leading to protest by various First Nations and a halt to final designation. It is recommended that future consensus processes be jointly convened by Canada, BC and First Nations, and include more comprehensive representation from the federal government. In effect, this would be a co-managed consensus process — an experiment with public engagement, which is in keeping with the learning-by-doing approach endorsed by federal policies for the creation of MPAs. |
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