ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book provides examples of how sensitive regions under economic pressures can be successfully managed to the benefit of all stakeholders. The Sound is indeed one of the most important and diverse ecosystems along coastal British Columbia. It has multiple ecological and biological roles providing key ecosystem services to a wide diversity of marine, freshwater and terrestrial flora and fauna. The shellfish industry currently is having a significant negative impact on the Sound with plans for even further expansion in the future. Other threats to the Sound including the seaweed harvest and pollution are increased urbanization and the cumulative impacts that come from an increasing human population. The industry has had longstanding, unregulated access to the Sound which has led to the continued development of the region for shellfish farming in the absence of sound ecological and biological practices.
