Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, National marine conservation area reserve in British Columbia, Canada

Gwaii Haanas is a national marine conservation area reserve covering 3,400 square kilometres of water around the southernmost Haida Gwaii, 130 kilometres off mainland British Columbia. It lies next to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, and its waters are a primary feeding habitat of the North Pacific humpback whale. The seabed includes drowned tundra plains with river channels and lake terraces, and the shelf drops west to about 2,500 metres.

The area was designated as a National Marine Conservation Area Reserve by the Canadian parliament in 2010. This recognition came after years of discussion between government and local Haida communities.

Haida Watchmen live on the islands and share their traditions with visitors through stories and personal encounters. This ongoing presence keeps the connection between people and land alive, which has been central to Haida life for generations.

Access is only by boat or seaplane, and visitors must obtain permits and complete orientation sessions beforehand. Planning ahead is necessary since arrival options are limited.

The area is jointly managed by Parks Canada, the Haida Nation Council, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, an unusual partnership arrangement. This collaboration demonstrates how protected areas can be governed by government agencies and Indigenous nations working together.