After more than a decade of tireless effort, 2025 marks a historic milestone as the Great Bear Sea Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network enters its site-implementation phase. This achievement is a powerful testament to collaborative governance, led by First Nations working alongside the federal and provincial governments. The network stands as the world’s largest Indigenous-led, co-developed MPA system—a model for ocean conservation everywhere.

While this progress is momentous, the work continues. As an active stakeholder in the conservation sector, Pacific Wild is working to ensure that both new and existing MPAs are backed by strong protections. Resistance from some industry groups persist, making public education about the long-term benefits of MPAs more important than ever. MPAs are not about shutting fisheries down, they are about safeguarding their future.

The science is clear: well-designed and well-enforced MPAs protect critical ecosystems, rebuild fish stocks, and sustain healthy fisheries for generations.

Learn more about our push for greater marine protection:
https://pacificwild.org/campaign/marine-protection/