The Harbour is Open

Overlooking Burgeo from Maiden Tea Hill - Melissa Mills

A question on a lot of people’s minds in Burgeo is a simple one: "Am I still going to be allowed to go to my cabin?"

While this question deserves a straight answer, it also deserves a better frame. A National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) is not designed to turn our beautiful ocean into a museum. It's designed to keep the ocean usable and thriving by keeping it healthy for the long run.

Zoning is a Chart, Not a Fence

Here's the crucial detail that often gets lost in the chatter: Zoning does not mean locking everything up. It is a flexible plan that requires at least one zone for ecologically sustainable use and another zone to fully protect the most sensitive ecosystem features.

Think of it like driving along a coastal road. Most of the road is open for everyone, but a few stretches might have a “slow”, “yield”, or “no stopping” sign because there’s a good reason. We get to use most of it wisely, and a few small parts that need protecting are being protected.

Parks Canada’s flexible approach is shaped by both our local ecology and community input, moving away from a rigid, one-size-fits-all template. For anyone with a boat and a routine, this means your default setting is access.

Vessel Access - What the Process Actually Supports

One claim that’s circulating is that an NMCA will restrict vessel access for years. The reality is that vessel traffic for fishing, recreation, and tourism is allowed in most zones. Restrictions, when they exist, are typically limited to sensitive ecological areas and are clearly spelled out on a management map. A rule you can read on a map is different from a rule that lives in a rumour. Sensitive areas, such as seabird nesting sites or eelgrass beds, might have a targeted 'give this space' rule, but never a blanket shutdown of the entire harbour.

It also matters that these plans are not ‘set and forget’. NMCA management plans are reviewed and updated with public input and oversight.

Who Decides?

Anxiety sometimes stems from distrust in distant decision-makers. People may worry that an NMCA signals that the federal government is taking over. This couldn't be further from the truth.

The reality is an NMCA is a multi-party agreement where our town, the Town of Burgeo, has a full voice. NMCAs are intended to be co-managed with local, provincial, Indigenous, and federal partners. Cooperative management is operational, not theoretical, and your local input is vital to shaping the outcome.

What you Can Do Right Now

Another damaging rumour to retire is the idea that an NMCA is the same as privatization. It is the opposite: NMCAs remain public, accessible places, focused on long-term stewardship rather than expropriation.

You can help by bringing your real life to the table. Share your regular routes, your cabin travel patterns, seasonal timing, and the places you think need extra care.

The Southwest Coast Fjords NMCA is a shared commitment to a thriving marine ecosystem, ensuring our traditional ways of life - from fishing to recreation - remain viable for generations to come. Your ongoing input is the most vital part of making this future a reality.