See a current map
of Ucluelet Harbour
(pdf)
Local and visiting boaters: please read our Green
Boating Guide (pdf)
Introduction
Ucluelet Harbour is a sheltered inlet situated
on the outer mid-west coast of Vancouver Island. The name “Ucluelet”
comes from the Nuu-chah-nulth word meaning “safe landing place”.
There are five residential areas situated on the harbour: Ucluelet First
Nation, Toquaht First Nation, Millstream and Port Albion (both part of
the Alberni–Clayoquot Regional District), and the District of Ucluelet.
The
harbour is approximately 7 km long. At is mouth it is roughly a half a
kilometer across, at the back it widens to ~1.5 km. There are over 20
km of shoreline in the harbour. Over one third is in the Municipal District
of Ucluelet (pop ~1800), about one quarter is in Ucluelet First Nations
reserve (Ittatsoo). The remainder of the shoreline is in Area C of the
Regional District of Alberni Clayoquot (which includes the sub-divisions
of Millstream and Port Albion).
The
Ucluelet Harbour Project (UHP)
represents a partnership of the communities and First Nations around the
Ucluelet harbour. The vision of the UHP is to ensure “a healthy
and sustainable working harbour”.
The project started with a “clean-up” that resulted in 280
tons of garbage being removed from the harbour. A biological inventory
was initiated with information collected on sensitive habitats and species
to assist in planning and development around the harbour. A report, the
Shorekeepers Survey (pdf), presents
the results of the initial inventory and mapping work done in 2001, as
well as updated survey work done in 2003.
In May of 2001 the Ucluelet Harbour Project received funding from HRDC to carry out “Phase 1” of an ongoing Harbour Management Program. The main objective of Phase 1 was to assess the past and current uses of the Ucluelet Harbour in order to identify the actions necessary to bring the harbour back to a healthy condition.
The purpose of Phase 2 is to further develop and implement the “Ucluelet Harbour Project: Community Action Plan”.
