Videos highlight protecting British Columbia’s coastal treasures

A new video series highlights the importance of establishing a code of conduct to protect British Columbia’s coast.

The videos and codes released this month add updated information to Marine Trails’ original Code of Conduct.

“The code was developed to minimize negative impacts on British Columbia’s coast,” said Sam Cutcliffe, communications and administration coordinator for BC Marine Trails.

In response to the unique environmental challenges associated with redesigning the province’s coastline, BC Marine Trails worked with dedicated researchers over four years to develop the groundbreaking Marine Trails Code of Conduct, released in 2018, Cutcliffe said.

“The code and videos released this month are (more) specifically tailored to the British Columbia coast,” he said.

The code, which has undergone rigorous professional peer review, is specifically designed to mitigate the environmental impacts of oceanfront recreation and offers tailored guidelines that go beyond general strategies such as Leave No Trace, Cutcliffe noted.

The code’s seven principles include managing campfires, respecting First Nations territory, disposing of human waste, reducing the environmental footprint, managing greywater, minimising disturbance to wildlife and maintaining the natural state of the coast.

In addition to these individual policy videos, two summary videos were produced to provide a comprehensive overview that will be invaluable to anyone recreational on British Columbia’s coast, including paddlers, hikers and small boaters, Cutcliffe said.

“By following the guidelines set out in the code of conduct, recreational users can help reduce environmental degradation and preserve the natural beauty and ecological health of the coast for future generations,” he said. “It is more than just a set of guidelines. It is a commitment to stewardship and respect for British Columbia’s coastal environment and the First Nations who have cared for these lands for millennia.”

The BC Marine Trails Network is a non-profit charity dedicated to ensuring long-term public access to British Columbia’s coast.

The organization’s mission is to work with First Nations and stakeholders to build, protect and promote a public network of waterways that enable recreational boating along British Columbia’s coast with minimal impact on the environment.

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