On May 22, 2026, a huge new marine protected area was officially created on the Central Coast of British Columbia, near Prince Rupert. The Mia-yaltwa Ha’lidzogm hoon National Marine Conservation Area Reserve will cover roughly 6,700 square kilometres of ocean, islands, and fjords, an area larger than Prince Edward Island. It was established through a historic agreement between six coastal First Nations, the Government of Canada, and the Province of British Columbia.
The name Mia-yaltwa Ha’lidzogm hoon means “Realm of the Salmon, Home of the Salmon” in the languages of the partner Nations: Wuikinuxv, Nuxalk, Kitasoo Xai’xais, Heiltsuk, Gitxaała, and Gitga’at. For the first time ever, the area is recognized as both an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area and a national marine reserve. Kitasoo Xai’xais Chief Chris McKnight said, “I think this will be one of the strongest marine protected areas on the planet.”
Communities like Prince Rupert rely heavily on commercial fishing, port operations, and marine tourism. The good news is that fishing and tourism will still be allowed inside the reserve. A new zoning plan will be developed to manage activities, and bottom trawling, a method that scrapes the ocean floor, will be prohibited once the area is formally designated under federal law, a process expected to take several years. The goal is to keep local industries going for future generations while making sure the ocean stays healthy.
Signing the deal unlocks $167 million in federal funding over the next 11 years, plus just under $11 million every year after that for ongoing management. This builds on previous investments, including $60 million from British Columbia and a larger $335-million initiative called the Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence that started in June 2024. The money will support Indigenous-led stewardship programs and create new career paths for local youth.
The reserve stretches from Gil Island in the north down to just south of Calvert Island, taking in rich kelp forests, estuaries, and waters vital to salmon. It becomes Canada’s sixth national marine conservation area and the second in B.C., and it helps move the country closer to its goal of protecting 30 per cent of marine and coastal waters by 2030. For people in Prince Rupert and along the Central Coast, it means the waters that sustain their livelihoods and culture will be looked after for the long haul.
