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Love Our Oceans

The mission of the SCCA is to seek protection for lands and waters of significance to the preservation of biological diversity and to undertake public education about the importance of preserving and enhancing biological diversity. Our work applies to both marine and freshwater ecosystems, nearshore and shoreline habitats.

What's At Stake

The marine and foreshore ecosystems of the Sunshine Coast face growing threats from climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, and coastal development. Rising sea levels, degraded water quality, and the spread of invasive species are putting pressure on wildlife and coastal habitats. Shoreline armouring, marine debris, and industrial activities further erode ecosystem health.

Through our Love Our Oceans campaign, the SCCA is working to protect these vital ecosystems and the biodiversity they support.

Sunshine Coast Ocean Festival

Every year on June 8th - the United Nations' World Oceans Day -  people around the world celebrate the many ways the world's oceans benefit our lives. That week, the SCCA hosts an annual Sunshine Coast Ocean Festival, in collaboration with Rhizome UP! Media and the Green Film Series.

June 1- 8, 2025, festival launch, coming soon!

Watch past NEMO talksshort films, and feature films from the 2024 festival on the Sunshine Coast Ocean Festival website.

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What We've Achieved So Far

Join the wave ~ Sunshine Coast Ocean Festival ~ June 8-14, 2026

5 May 2026

From June 8-14, the Sunshine Coast will once again come alive for the Sunshine Coast Oceans Festival, aligning with United Nations World Oceans Day and the national movement of Ocean Week Canada.

Spring Forage Fish Sampling

17 April 2026

Across the Sunshine Coast, volunteers gather on local beaches to search for the tiny eggs of surf smelt and Pacific sand lance—small fish that play a critical role in our marine ecosystems.

Speak Up for Southern Resident Killer Whales

3 April 2026

Public Comment Open Until April 21 The Government of Canada is proposing amendments to the Marine Mammal Regulations that would increase protection for endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW). This is a necessary and long-overdue step, and it should be implemented without delay. At the same time, this is not the end of the work. […]

Help Create This Year’s Sunshine Coast Ocean Festival

13 February 2026

The Sunshine Coast Ocean Festival (SCOF) is an annual, community-powered celebration of the ocean that sustains us. Coordinated by the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association (SCCA) and RhizomeUp!MEdia, in collaboration with local partners, SCOF brings together education, storytelling, science, and action to deepen our connection to the marine and nearshore ecosystems of the Sunshine Coast. As […]

Federal Bill C-15: Buried Clauses Erode Environmental Protections

29 January 2026

Environmental laws are the backbone of conservation. We need environmental laws because ecosystems collapse, species disappear, and communities are harmed when decisions are made without science, accountability, or limits. That is why the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association (SCCA), alongside environmental organizations and democracy advocates across Canada, is raising the alarm about dangerous clauses buried deep […]

Conservation Initiatives to Watch in 2026

15 January 2026

As 2026 gets underway and we begin to settle into the work ahead, it becomes clear that this is not a year to sit back or rush in, but a year to pay close attention and engage meaningfully when the moments arise. Across the Sunshine Coast, several major conservation and land-use initiatives are moving into […]

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