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T H E S C O T T I S L A N D S
A Profile of the Scott Islands
The Scott Islands are rocky, windy, and remote. The five uninhabited islands and associated rocks are located off the Pacific Coast of British Columbia, Canada. The islands extend in a northwesterly direction off the northwest tip of Vancouver Island, 315 kilometres northwest of the City of Vancouver. From east to west, the chain of islands includes: Cox, Lanz, Beresford, Sartine and Triangle.
The islands consist of high rocks or dense woodland, offering little comfort or protection. High waves and gale-force storms are common. It is often impossible to even land a boat and winds have been known to reach hurricane strength. Historically, the islands were visited by Aboriginal hunters, and from 1910 to 1920 the federal government operated a lighthouse on Triangle Island.
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Gulls on a rocky islet |
Though uninhabited by humans, the islands are ideal for seabirds. Seabirds spend up to 90% of their lives on the ocean, and are accustomed to waves, wind, beach and rock. They come ashore solely to reproduce, breeding in burrows, on the ground, or on cliff ledges. For these birds, the turbulent Scott Islands are well suited for breeding. In fact, the islands host some of the most important seabird breeding locations in the world. Over two million seabirds nest annually on the Scott Islands, more than 95% breeding on Triangle Island. The islands are inhabited by 12 species of seabirds in globally or nationally significant numbers. Eleven of these species are designated as provincial species of concern, due to their vulnerability and concentration in one small site.
The islands are also important to many other birds, including loons, grebes, cormorants, murres, guillemots, storm petrels, waterfowl, eagles, falcons, gulls, and shorebirds. Landbirds that breed on the islands include crows, ravens, fox and song sparrows, winter wrens and orange-crowned warblers. Triangle Island has BC's only ground nesting bald eagles and several Peregrine falcon eyries. Many other migrating birds from as far away as Australia feed in the rich marine region around the Scott Islands.
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Steller sea lion |
The Steller sea lion, a marine mammal, also inhabits the area. In fact, one of only four BC Steller sea lion rookeries can be found on Triangle Island. It is the largest rookery in Canada and second largest in the world. Many other species of marine mammals live in the nearby waters, including several that are designated nationally at risk in Canada: humpbacks, blue whales, orcas (offshore, transient West Coast, resident North Coast), and sea otters. The waters surrounding the islands support much marine life, including clams, shellfish, crabs, urchins, sponges and other invertebrates. The rich marine ecosystem is also inhabited by an abundance of fish species and plankton.
All five islands are part of the Scott Islands Provincial Park. The three outermost islands are designated as Ecological Reserves managed by BC Parks, and are off-limits to the public. Boats are permitted to land on Cox and Lanz, but the islands offer no facilities or camping sites. The entire span of the five islands is just over 6,000 hectares. The islands are also considered an Important Bird Area (IBA), through a international program that recognizes globally significant ecosystems supporting bird species.
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Pacific white-sided dolphins
off the coast |
The marine waters around the Scott Islands support this diverse array of seabird species and other marine wildlife. The Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) of Environment Canada is working to designate these waters a Marine Wildlife Area – the first one in Canada. CWS has identified a large study area of 2.7 million hectares in which the proposed MWA will be established. This initiative supports Environment Canada's responsibilities under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy, the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI), national and regional seabird plans, and the Pacific Marine Heritage Legacy Program. The MWA will also fulfill objectives of the Species at Risk Act by protecting habitat for several nationally designated species at risk. It also supports the collaborative work of federal and BC government agencies under the Memorandum of Understanding Respecting the Implementation of Canada's Oceans Strategy on the Pacific Coast of Canada. |
