More Information
Summary Overview
The Scott Islands are at the south edge of Queen Charlotte Sound, northwest of Vancouver Island. Queen Charlotte Strait is a southward extension of Queen Charlotte Sound between mainland British Columbia and northern Vancouver Island.Thirty-four species of rockfish are found in British Columbian waters.Salmon are present in nearly all the streams and bays in the area, so the strait is an important part of their migratory pathway.More than 400,000 pairs of Cassin’s auklets nest on Triangle Island in the Scott Islands, comprising the world’s largest colony. The threatened marbled murrelet occurs in the protected waters, feeding on forage fish. Blue, humpback, killer, gray and minke whales also frequent these waters.
Site Overview
The Scott Islands are at the south edge of Queen Charlotte Sound, 15 to 40 kilometers (9 to 25 miles) northwest of Vancouver Island. Approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) long and 25 kilometers (15 miles) wide, Queen Charlotte Strait is a southward extension of Queen Charlotte Sound between mainland British Columbia and northern Vancouver Island. This semi-protected water body is no more than 200 meters (660 feet) deep. Island-strewn, it is bordered by rugged coastlines with countless glacier-sculpted inlets.
Underwater, Queen Charlotte Strait’s eelgrass and kelp forests serve as nursery and foraging habitats for myriad marine animals. Hydrocorals and gorgonian corals are found in Queen Charlotte Strait and rockfishes abound. Thirty-four species of rockfish are found in British Columbian waters: quillback (Sebastes maliger), tiger (S. nigrocinctus), yellowtail (S. flavidus), yelloweye (S. ruberrimus) and widow rockfish (S. entomelas) are a few that seek refuge on high-relief rocky seafloors. Yellowmouth, rougheye, silvergray (S. brevispinis) and canary rockfish (S. pinniger) are targeted by trawl and hook-and-line fisheries. Bottom-dwelling lingcod are also sought after by recreational and commercial fishermen, and sablefish support a trap fishery. Eulachon spawn in the surrounding inlets and rivers. There are also many invertebrates, such as geoduck clams and an assortment of shrimps and crabs. Salmon are present in nearly all the streams and bays in the area, so the strait is an important part of their migratory pathway.
This area is critical for seabirds. More than 400,000 pairs of Cassin’s auklets nest on Triangle Island in the Scott Islands, comprising the world’s largest colony (Bertram et al. 2000), while others nest around the Queen Charlotte Strait. Triangle Island is also home to some 40,000 pairs of rhinoceros auklets and 26,000 pairs of tufted puffins (Bertram et al. 2001). Other nesting seabird species in this PCA include Common murre, thick-billed murre (Uria lomvia), pelagic cormorant, glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens) and various species of storm petrels (Oceanodroma spp.). The threatened marbled murrelet occurs in the protected waters, feeding on forage fish. Steller’s sea lions and harbor seals are regularly sighted. Sea otters, once locally extirpated, are still rare visitors to this area, despite their reintroduction on Vancouver Island. Blue, humpback, killer (both transient and resident), gray and minke whales also frequent these waters.
Fact Sheet
Scott Islands are a candidate for British Columbia’s first National Marine Wildlife Area, Environment Canada
sea otter, killer whale, blue whale, humpback whale, northern right whale, gray whale
pink-footed shearwater, xantus' murrelet
World’s largest colony of Cassin’s auklet (more than 400,000 pairs) is in the Scott Islands
Area is critical for seabirds, including transboundary species
Major salmon migratory corridor north to Alaska
Threats
| PCA | Extratction of nonrenewable resources | Exploitation of renewable resources | Coastal land use change | Pollution at coast/at sea | Damagin recreational use | Physical alteration of coastline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scott Islands/Queen Charlotte Strait (Canada) |  |  | |  |  |  |
MSCCC
MSCCC Mammals: sea otter, killer whale, blue whale, humpback whale, northern right whale, gray whaleMSCCC Birds: pink-footed shearwater, xantus' murrelet
Other Priority Conservation Areas
Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs) are areas of trinational importance due to their ecological significance, threatened nature and opportunities for conservation.
