Research is underway this summer as part of a University of Northern British Columbia-led research program on BC offshore oil and gas. Core teams have been selected to conduct four projects that follow up on issues and needs identified by the 2002 Scientific Panel and the BC Offshore Oil and Gas Task Force.

Coastal communities, including First Nations, will be taking part in the four projects, designed to establish how offshore activity would affect both people and the environment. The four initial projects and the core teams established to spearhead the work are:

- A baseline assessment of the "health of marine ecosystems" - by Golder and Associates, Haida Environmental (Old Massett) and the Nisga'a Lisims Government (Nass Valley)

- Identification of highly valued marine and shoreline areas within the basin - LGL Ltd. (Sidney)

- Review of Community and Socioeconomic Implications - Gardner-Pinfold (Sechelt); Cornerstone Planning (Sidney) and Haida Environmental (Old Massett)

- Development of an "Information, Knowledge, and Learning" system to ensure access to needed information among the communities - Jacqueline Booth & Associates (Saltspring Island) in conjunction with a network of non-profit organizations from Alert Bay, Bella Coola, Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlottes

UNBC is currently in discussion with a wide range of communities, non-profits, government agencies, university researchers and marine consultants to identify an array of further projects to address information needs. "Our aim" says UNBC Program Manager Norman Dale, "is to have substantially added to our understanding of offshore oil and gas by the fall and closure on most of our studies by early next year."

To facilitate the community engagement in the work, Dawn Webb, a long-term North Coast resident, has been hired as Community Research Coordinator. She will be coordinating contacts and information-gathering with communities around the rim of what petroleum geologists call the Queen Charlotte Basin, comprising Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait, Queen Charlotte Strait, and Queen Charlotte Sound. Dawn has been Fisheries Habitat Steward for the Lower Skeena Region and a Projects Coordinator with the Community Fisheries Development Centre in Prince Rupert. She will be based in Prince Rupert and serve all of the communities in the Queen Charlotte Basin.

The Province of British Columbia provided a $2 million grant to UNBC in May 2002 to follow through on key recommendations for further research and information sharing on future offshore oil and gas. In January 2003, the Province also established an "Offshore Oil and Gas Team" but the UNBC program is at arm's length from the Province's initiative. There has also been a separate process recently established by the Federal Government to look into future oil and gas development in the Queen Charlotte basin. This is under the authority of the Federal Minister of Natural Resources and is expected to include a panel of inquiry travelling along the Coast later this year.