Botanical Beach will be closed 24 hours to the public this weekend for a day of Indigenous tradition.
The beach will be closed to provide "time, space and privacy for members of the Pacheedaht First Nation to harvest marine resources and reconnect with an important part of their territory," announced the Ministry of Environment and Parks on May 20.
Recreational visitors will be able to visit the beach until 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 24 when the beach will close until 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 25.
"To Pacheedaht, Botanical Beach is known as 'Big Wave Beach,' and the marine and intertidal resources it supports are at the heart of Pacheedaht territory and culture," the ministry said in their announcement.
"Historically, Pacheedaht had a village called li:xʷa, located just above Botanical Beach. The village facilitated Pacheedaht's stewardship of the area and its rich marine resources that continue to sustain Pacheedaht culture. These resources are now challenging for members to access due to the popularity of Botanical Beach."
Found near Port Renfrew, Botanical Beach is one of four large beaches in Juan de Fuca, including Mystic, Sombrio and China beach which span 47 km along the southern coast of Vancouver Island.
The beach is famous for its tide pools offering habitat to a large variety of marine flora and fauna, including red, purple and orange starfish, sea urchins and white gooseneck barnacles, sea anemones and cucumber among many other species.
The closure is the result of a joint initiative by BC Parks and the Pacheedaht First Nation to collaboratively manage Juan de Fuca Park.
For an update on the status of Juan de Fuca Park's beaches, parks, and trails, visit bcparks.ca/juan-de-fuca-park.
