Ocean Watch Task Force History
BACKGROUND
Early in 2017, the Vancouver Aquarium’s Coastal Ocean Research Institute published the OceanWatch-Howe Sound Edition Report. The report gave scores on issues of ecological, socioeconomic, cultural, and governance aspects of ecosystem health. At the end of each section are 30 Action Items that would contribute to improving the scores and protecting the health of the Sound.
Following the Howe Sound Community Forum in May 2017, an OceanWatch Task Force was created to:
Identify which actions in the Ocean Watch Action Plan are within the mandate and reach of member communities.
Focus on the identifying selected actions by Local Governments for implementation and
highlight potential actions that include policy integration and collaboration between
member Local governments and First Nations;Contribute information on what action local governments and Squamish Nation are already undertaking toward the goals.
Recommend a process through which the selected actions get done.
The task force’s recommendations were taken forward to the Howe Sound Community Forums and from there each local government voted on those recommendations. To-date the task force has recommended support for Fisheries and Oceans Canada move to protect thirteen Glass Sponge Reefs in Howe Sound, and a contribution towards funding the development of a Marine Resource Guide.
The task force members include representatives from Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative, Ocean Wise, David Suzuki Foundation in addition to representatives from local governments. The task force receives presentations on topics relevant to advancing the action items.
PRESENT
At the October 2019 Howe Sound Community Forum the Task Force reported it has completed the first three items in its Terms of Reference and continues to work on prioritized strategies for regional enhancement of the marine environment by local government.
There is consensus that a representative group continues to meet in order to continue to A) advance the strategies as outlined, maintain the Action Tracker and support the Marine Reference Guide as the Leadership Team and B) Act as an Atl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound regional voice to advocate for specific issues and support marine enhancement opportunities as they arise. (i.e. marine debris clean-up, Ocean Watch – Howe Sound 2.0, UBCM motion to support cumulative effects in the marine environment)
NEXT STEPS
The Ocean Watch Task Force recommended to the Howe Sound Community Forum that:
1. a new Terms of Reference be developed by members of the Howe Sound Community Forum that defines a governance structure for a new Ocean Watch Task Force (or similar body) that provides for a more focused follow-up of the Strategic Plan actions, continues the role as Leadership Team for the Marine Reference Guide, and provides opportunities to advocate on marine issues on a regional basis;
2. this new Terms of Reference be developed in a ½ day workshop, tentatively hosted by the Town of Gibsons at a date to be determined (before the end of the year), with representation from Forum members and participating NGOs; and
3. consideration be given to the provision of ongoing financial support to the Ocean Watch Task Force from Forum members to enable appropriate coordination of strategic actions.
A planning workshop to develop next steps is being planned for early in 2020.