Marine Planning Office
Click here for current coastal plans
The Province of British Columbia (BC) along with federal and local authorities, is responsible for the management of over 29, 500 km of shoreline and seabed in the inshore and nearshore waters of BC.The Coast and Marine Planning Branch (CMPB) has direct responsibility with regional offices for the design and delivery of coastal planning along with the coordination of policy related to coastal and marine issues within MSRM and among other provincial agencies.
Coastal Plans developed by CMPB focus primarily on the provincial jurisdiction of the foreshore areas and address economic development and diversification, environmental threats, land and resource conflicts, First Nations issues, and support informed decision making in coastal areas.
Coastal zone planning may occur at two distinct levels:
- Strategic level coastal plans (eg. 1:250,00 scale) designed to
identify broad goals, objectives, and strategies for coastal and
marine resources ( eg.
Kalum LRMP, Central
Coast LRMP)
- Local level coastal plans (eg. 1:50,000 to 1:5,000 scale). Local level plans fall into three general types:
- Coastal plans designed to identify a range of land tenure opportunities to guide decision makers. (Current Plans of this type are: North Island Straits Coastal Plan, Kyuquot Sound Coastal Plan)
- Issue resolution plans, designed to resolve specific conflicts or issues associated with coastal land uses and activities (Current Plans of this type are: Baynes Sound Shellfish Aqaculture Plan, Cortes Island Shellfish Aquaculture Plan)
- Special management plans that provide more detailed direction for management of specific uses or distinct areas (eg. Nanaimo Estuary Plan).
