ExxonMobil has relinquished the exploration permits it held offshore British Columbia, Canada, including two permits within or bordering the Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area. The permits were granted more than 50 years ago.
WWF-Canada and the David Suzuki Foundation, represented by lawyers from Ecojustice Canada, disputed one of the permits in a court challenge launched in July 2022. Following ExxonMobil’s relinquishment, the groups have discontinued the challenge against the company.
The court challenge also asserts the federal government has unlawfully kept 50-year-old offshore exploration permits held by Chevron Canada Limited on the books. These permits lie within the Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area and Hecate Strait/Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area. The environmental groups continue to dispute these permits through their court challenge.
Jay Ritchlin of the David Suzuki Foundation noted in a statement that “the relinquishment by ExxonMobil is an encouraging move to bring sensitive BC marine habitat in line with best practices and minimum standards announced by Canada at IMPAC5.”
The Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area surrounds an archipelago of five islands off the northwest tip of Vancouver Island. The region supports the highest concentration of breeding seabirds on Canada’s Pacific coast.
The area is also recognized by Fisheries and Oceans Canada as an Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area, one of the most diverse marine ecosystems on Canada’s west coast.
The Hecate Strait/Queen Charlotte Glass Sponge Reef Marine Protected Area is home to rare large colonies of glass sponges estimated to be 9,000 years old.
