Marine Based
The BC economy was built around marine based resource industries, notably ship building, marine transport, fishing, and coastal logging. Today these traditional activities have been joined by emerging sectors such as ocean recreation and marine technology development as drivers of the provincial economy.
The ocean is an important contributor to the BC economy. Marine-based activities employed 167,805 people and produced $7.6 billion in labour income in 2005. The jobs and income give rise to substantial economic spin-offs as goods and services are purchased from other sectors and wages are re-spent. In 2005 analysis suggested that the ocean economy comprises in the order of 7 to 8 per cent of provincial economic activity when these broader effects are included.
| Subsector | Value ($ billions) |
| Ocean Recreation | $3.8 |
| Marine Transport | $3.3 |
| Seafood | $1.4 |
| Ocean High Tech | $1.1 |
| Federal Government | $0.9 |
| Other | $1.1 |
| Total | $11.6 |
Ocean high tech, marine recreation, and ports and shipping are expected to continue as fast-growing areas over the next decade. This growth will be driven by global technology demands, BC’s strategic location on the Pacific Rim, and greater awareness of our ocean amenities among British Columbians and visitors to the province.
Source: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/omfd/reports/BCs-Ocean-Economy.pdf
BCs Ocean Economy: link to our past, bridge to our future.
Marine Based Industry in Squamish
The Squamish area has a rich history with economic benefits from Marine based activities. Substantial activity remains including a rail connection to a vital deep sea port, tug operations, 60 marina slips, and consistent summer winds that fuel a burgeoning wind sports community.
The community of Squamish is currently redeveloping its oceanfront area and is establishing a new foundation for significant growth in local Marine Based Industries in Squamish. This growth includes:
- Pocket Cruise Ship Terminal – Pocket cruises tend to open up new destinations and the success of this venture will depend on location/itinerary logistics as well as port offerings.
- Tourist Boat Dock – Facilitating the accessibility of the Oceanfront to tourist uses will stimulate offerings such as day cruises, short excursions, boat rentals, and heritage installations such as tall ship construction.
- Boat Works Yard – Nurturing a boat works yard for boat repair, boat building, and boat parts will fuel job growth and local spending.
- Sailing (wind sports) Centre – Working with a strategic partner organization to build a sailing (wind sports) centre on the Oceanfront will animate the waterfront with action. Squamish’s legendary consistent winds will strengthen its position it as a wind sports centre including sailing, kite boarding, and windsurfing.
- Marina – With the excess demand for moorage in Vancouver, Squamish is positioned to develop its water lots and capture a critical mass of up to 300 slips.
Squamish Commitment
The business plan for Squamish Oceanfront development allocates space to accommodate significant growth in the marine sector. The lands propose to host over 80,000 square feet in eight buildings for employment relating to Boat Building, Marine Repair, Retail, Services and Training on 5.6 acres.
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