Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area

Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
Location in British Columbia
Location	Scott Islands, British Columbia
Nearest city	Port Hardy
Coordinates	50°45′00″N 129°15′00″W
Area	11,570.65 km2 (4,467.45 sq mi)
Designation	National Wildlife Area
Designated	2018
Governing body	Canadian Wildlife Service
Website	Scott Islands Marine NWA

Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area is a National Wildlife Area off the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Covering an area of 11,570.65 km (7,189.67 mi), it is the second largest protected area in British Columbia after Offshore Pacific Seamounts and Vents Closure and is the largest national wildlife area in Canada.

Geography

The national wildlife area protects a large area of the Pacific Ocean and Queen Charlotte Sound surrounding Cape Scott and the Scott Islands. The islands themselves are already protected by the provincially-designated protected areas of Lanz and Cox Islands Provincial Park, Beresford Island Ecological Reserve, Sartine Island Ecological Reserve, and Anne Vallee Ecological Reserve.

Ecology

Flora

The waters surrounding the islands host kelp beds.

Fauna

The Scott Islands provide critical breeding and nesting habitat for 40% of British Columbia's seabirds. Bird species of note include tufted puffin, short-tailed albatross, black-footed albatross, Cassin's auklet, rhinoceros auklet, common murre, marbled murrelet, ancient murrelet, pink-footed shearwater, sooty shearwater, and bald eagle.

Resident mammal species include sea otter, northern sea lion, orca, humpback whale, and gray whale.

See also

• Cape Scott Provincial Park