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Hi Paov,
My name is Stephanie Hewson and I’m a staff lawyer on West Coast Environmental Law’s Marine team. Today is World Ocean Day — a day to recognize the vital role marine ecosystems play in ensuring a healthy future.
Here at West Coast, our Marine team works year-round for the ocean and coastal ecosystems — through public education, advocating for co-governance with Indigenous nations, and pressing decision-makers to enact stronger laws to protect the coast and curb pollution.
Here are just a few of the ways we’ve been sticking up for marine ecosystems recently:
West Coast's Guide to Marine Conservation Law
Our legal experts have spent years documenting the legal tools available to our governments to protect marine and coastal ecosystems, and now that work is available to the public on bookstore shelves.
We wrote this guide to serve the growing community of people working to protect the coast and ocean in BC, to support work that leads to real and lasting protection on the water.
Although the cumulative impacts of climate change, overfishing, and pollution seem overwhelming, Protecting the Coast and Ocean demonstrates that Indigenous, federal, provincial, and local governments have the legal tools to protect coastal and marine ecosystems, reverse species extinction, and plan for a resilient ocean.
Protecting the Coast and Ocean is available to download for free, or to purchase in hardcover.
Get Your Free Copy Now
Blueprint for the Coast
Did you know that BC is one of the few coastal jurisdictions in North America that does not have a coastal law or strategy?
With escalating problems threatening coastal areas such as rising sea levels, declines in wild salmon, and increased marine pollution, BC can address this long-standing gap in its legal framework and show national leadership in coastal marine management.
That’s why West Coast is working on building a Blueprint for the Coast, co-designed with Indigenous nations, to ensure marine life and coastal communities get the future they deserve.
Learn More About Blueprint for the Coast
Stronger Regulations for Cruise Ships
West Coast Environmental Law co-authored a report that showed Canadian regulations regarding cruise ship pollution were much weaker than regulations in Washington State and Alaska. These lax regulations incentivize cruise ships to dump their pollution in Canadian waters.
In response to our report, Transport Canada stated that they would be introducing mandatory measures in 2023 to protect the coast from cruise ship pollution.
It’s 2023…but where are those mandatory measures? West Coast is continuing to press the federal government for the regulations needed to safeguard the ocean from harmful cruise ship waste.
Help Us By Writing a Letter to Your MP
Paov, if you enjoyed learning about our recent ocean work this World Ocean Day, I encourage you to sign up for our Law Aquatic e-newsletter.
We'll send you updates four times a year, about developments in marine law and policy, and changes that impact life in and around our seas.
Get The Law Aquatic
Thank you, Paov, for caring so deeply about marine and coastal ecosystems.
Happy Ocean Day!
Sincerely,
Stephanie Hewson
Staff Lawyer
West Coast Environmental Law700-509 Richards Street
Vancouver, BC
V6B 2Z6 phone: 604.684.7378
fax: 604.684.1312
toll-free in BC: 1.800.330.WCEL
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