Famous for its tourism and an important shipping channel for Canada, the zone is subject to intense human activity which has damaged ecosystems.

The large and increasing population in nearby coastal areas, including the major centres of Vancouver and Seattle, exerts significant strain on the natural habitats within this ecozone.

[1] The large rivers flowing from the Rocky Mountains are a source of nutrients for this ecologically diverse region.

[2] They enter the shallow waters over the continental shelf, which underlays the entire ecozone and represents the edge of the North American tectonic plate.

The Alaska Peninsula also inhibits the flow of cold Arctic currents from entering this zone, ensuring that throughout its extent, there is little variation in temperature.