Protecting our coast for everyone's future: Indigenous and scientific knowledge support marine spatial protections proposed by Central Coast First Nations in Pacific Canada

We, the Haíłzaqv, Kitasoo Xai'xais, Nuxalk and Wuikinuxv First Nations, are traditional stewards of our territories in Central Coast British Columbia, Canada. Our laws obligate us to manage protect for current future generations. Spatial management is inherent cultures through Hereditary Chief governance system, which specific people within a lineage inherit rights responsibilities stewarding areas. Since 19th century, we have been experiencing cultural disruptions caused by settler colonialism, now worsened declines marine species vital cultures. These reflect fishery impacts exacerbated climate change. Western fisheries focuses on maximum sustained yields (MSY), ignoring body size that disrupt food webs diminish population productivity vertebrate invertebrate taxa, thereby eroding resilience The worldview encompassed MSY framework—take most you can without compromising exploitation while assuming no environmental change—is antithesis ours—take only what need leave lots ecosystem. Furthermore, standard stock assessments do not account uncertainties change effects distributions productivity, many by-catch unassessed. Consistent with knowledge, scientific evidence indicates protected areas (MPAs), coupled other measures reduce fishing mortality, restore exploited species, safeguard biodiversity contribute sustainability. In 2000s, paired Indigenous knowledge science develop spatial plans. plans foundational contribution ongoing development Marine Protected Area Network Canada's Northern Shelf Bioregion (MPAN-NSB), co-governance partners 14 Nations governments Canada Columbia. proposed protections MPAN-NSB encompass important taxa corals, sponges, eelgrass beds carbon stores. Their implementation would fill conservation gaps persisted under management. Given history culturally appropriate way forward territories. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.