September 28, 2004 for immediate release

The University of Northern British Columbia today released A Review ofthe State of Knowledge of Marine and Shoreline Areas in the QueenCharlotte Basin, the second in a series of publications about BCoffshore oil and gas.

By combining scientific data with the personal knowledge of localresidents, the researchers have estimated the extent to which the QueenCharlotte Basin is used by marine species, commercial and sportfishers, tourists, First Nations, and others. The report, produced inpartnership with LGL Ltd. Environmental Research Associates, includesmore than 130 maps. It has also develped a model to fill gaps inknowledge.

“Every scientific review of BC offshore oil and gas issues has placedhigh priority on identifying special and sensitive areas prior to anydevelopment,” noted Norman Dale, Program Manager with UNBC’s NorthernCoastal Information and Research Program (NCIRP). “This report providesa powerful set of tools for doing this, and in a way that can integratelocal and traditional information sources with scientific data.”

This research report is the second in the series, UNBCCommunity-Collaborative Studies on British Columbia Offshore Oil andGas. The NCIRP publications will allow the people of BC, andspecifically residents of the Queen Charlotte Basin, to better informthemselves and take a greater role in discussions and decision-makingaround offshore oil and gas.

NCIRP is a research program of UNBC’s Northern Land Use Institute.Funding for the program was provided by the BC Ministry of Energy andMines.

Copies of A Review of the State of Knowledge of Marine and ShorelineAreas in the Queen Charlotte Basin as well as other NCIRP publications,can be downloaded from www.unbc.ca/nlui/ncirp or ordered at cost fromPeggy Crough: fax (250) 960-5545 email croughp@unbc.ca. The firstpublication was A Citizen’s Guide to Offshore Oil and Gas.