SAB: Coastal Programs
BC Marine Ecological Classification
In response to the need to develop coastal planning tools for coastal planning, coastal management, and marine protected areas candidate identification, Integrated Land Management Bureau developed the BC Marine Ecological Classification (BCMEC).
The BCMEC is a hierarchical classification consisting of four nested divisions based on physiographic and oceanographic properties, and a fifth division based on current, depth, substrate, bottom relief, salinity, temperature, stratification, and wave exposure. The fifth division - termed ecounits - was created at a considerably larger scale (1:250,000), and is the first example of a large-scale marine classification applied over a large area (453,000 km2). The ecounits were developed to evaluate the boundaries and homogeneity of the four larger divisions, as well as for the application to coastal management and marine protected areas planning.
The BCMEC was first developed in 1995 and in 2000 the classification was updated to incorporate new data collected since 1995 and ensure consistency with classifications developed on the east coast of Canada.
The British Columbia Marine Ecounits has now been updated to include salinity, temperature, stratification, and slope. Depth was revised and with the use of new data the bottom relief was also identified. The updated Final Report describes the methodology followed for each of the new data layers and for the creation of the benthic and pelagic ecounits. The update British Columbia Marine Ecounits are expected to be posted on this website by Spring 2002.
