Conservancy overview
Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy protects forested lands, protected bays and coves, small islands, and cliffs, and supports a natural and scenic setting for visitors.
The conservancy is located in the Johnstone Strait, directly across from the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve, a reserve that protects key habitat for killer whales and prevents their harassment.
The Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy was identified for consideration as a protected area as a result of the Central Coast Land and Resource Management Plan planning process. Following Government to Government discussions between the Province and First Nations, the central coast land use decisions (February 7, 2006) confirmed that Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay would become a conservancy. The area was legally designated as Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy in Spring 2007.
The conservancy contains a rustic campground and picnic sites used by small boaters, especially kayakers. A seasonal killer whale monitoring and research camp is also present as well as anchorages at Boat Bay and just outside the entrance to Growler Cove for recreational and commercial boaters.
Advisories
The conservancy occupies the western end of West Cracroft Island in the Johnstone Strait and is 72 km southeast of Port Hardy, 103 km northwest from Campbell River, and 300 km northwest of Vancouver.
Learn more about this conservancy
Conservancy details
- Date established: May 22, 2007
- Size: 1,375 hectares (639 ha upland and 736 ha foreshore)
Nature and culture
The Conservancy is within the traditional territories of the Mamalilikulla-Qwe’Qwa Sot’Em, ‘N|u/u|mg̱is and Tlowitsis First Nations.
Sources of fresh water and protected beaches made the Boat Bay area an important stopover site for First Nations’ journeys requiring travel through the key transportation corridor between the northern and southern Kwakwaka’wakw’ First Nation communities. Marine and terrestrial resources such as salmon, crab, ground fish, wildlife, medicines, berries, and cedar were conveniently available to First Nations travelling through the area.
Visitors to the conservancy are often attracted by its proximity to the whale activity and other wildlife in the region. High shoreline cliffs in the conservancy provide excellent viewpoints for observing whales in the strait.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.