Johnstone-Bute Coastal Plan

• 1.0 Introduction
• 2.0 Physical and Oceanographic Features
• 2.0 Biological Features
• 2.0 Socioeconomic Profile
• 3.0 Plan Framework and Direction
  • Planning Unit Direction
• 4.0 Plan Assessment
• 5.0 Summary and Follow Up
• Appendices

The Johnstone–Bute Coastal Plan Area addresses provincially administered foreshore and nearshore areas from Johnstone Strait through to Okisollo Channel; including the foreshore and near shore areas of Vancouver Island, the mainland coast and the associated islands and islets within this area. In total, the Plan Area extends approximately 102 km from east to west, encompassing 1099 km of shoreline and 83,996 ha of marine area.

The Johnstone Bute Plan Area includes the traditional territories of several First Nations, and is important both for tradition and culture, and for business development. The waters and shoreline of the Plan Area support a wide range of uses and activities, including First Nation current and traditional uses, commercial and public recreation, aquaculture, recreational and commercial fishing, sports fishing lodges, log handling and storage, marine transportation and navigation.

The primary purpose of the Johnstone-Bute Coastal Plan is to provide a framework for a range of economic activities in the area without impairing the long term viability of the area’s supporting biophysical values. To achieve this objective, a technically oriented planning process was lead by MSRM and involved targeted and efficient stakeholder consultation and cooperation and collaboration with other Ministries, local governments, communities and area First Nations, in particular the Xwémalhkwu (Homalko). The federal Department of Fisheries of Oceans worked closely with Ministry planning staff on the development of the plan and will build upon this product in the course of further Integrated Management planning.