User guide: Map of protected areas in the Pacific Ocean

The interactive Map of protected areas in the Pacific Ocean helps you find select Canadian federal fishing restrictions in areas of the Pacific Ocean protected under Canada's Fisheries Act, Ocean Act or other regulatory processes in order to conserve our aquatic resources. Protected areas highlighted in this map include:

• Glass sponge reefs:
  • Fishery closures
  • Marine Refuges
• Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
• Marine Refuges
• Marine Strict Protection Zones
• Rockfish Conservation Areas

Location

The map does not offer a view of the entire earth. To select a location using the map:

1. Zoom in and out using the zoom buttons and drag the map to reposition it. As you zoom in, blue dots representing geographic reference points will appear.
2. Select any area in British Columbia or in Canadian Pacific waters or land in British Columbia. A pop-up window will appear on your screen.
3. Tap or click on the link in the pop-up window to find more information about current fishing restrictions and regulations in the selected location.

Layers

You can use this map to find information about a variety of different types of protected areas, as well as information about the Pacific Fishery Management Area Regulations, by selecting the appropriate map layer. If you select more than one layer, multiple types of areas may overlap on the map.

To show or hide a layer:

1. Select the layers button and then select or deselect the check box beside the layer.
2. Select any location in B.C. or in Canadian Pacific waters. A pop-up window will appear on your screen. If 2 or more types of areas overlap in your selected location, you can switch between them using the page select or select feature buttons on the pop-up window. The selected layer will appear highlighted on the map.
3. Tap or click on the link to find more information about fishing regulations.

Glossary of map buttons

Title	Description
	Brings you to more information about using this map.
	Closes the pop-up window and returns to the previous window.
	Shows the following ocean-related background maps you can choose from: Oceans: shows land and ocean floor topographies; this is the default map Maritime chart: shows common reference points on the water such as buoys and wharfs; this chart is not intended for navigational purposes Satellite: shows a satellite image Topographic and streets: shows land topographies and street names
	Closes a panel or pop-up window.
	Collapses or expands the pop-up window. The arrow will point up or down to collapse or expand the pop-up window depending on where the window is located on your screen.
	Resets the map to the default view.
	Moves the pop-up window to the right side of the screen.
	Displays the Layers window. Layers show the types of areas you can search by.
	Shows the colour and pattern assigned to each type of area on the map.
	Scrolls between area types. Appears in the pop-up window when 2 or more layers overlap in a selected location.
	Shows area types and allows you to select one. Appears in the pop-up window when 2 or more layers overlap in a selected location.
	Moves the pop-up window to the clicked or tapped location on the map.
	Brings you to information on how to effectively use this map.
	Zooms in and out on the map. Zooming in will show more geographic reference points.