Marbled Murrelets in B.C. are currently estimated to number 55,000 - 78,000 birds, and numbers appear to be declining in parts of the province. Marbled Murrelets were listed as Threatened by COSEWIC (Committee on Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada): in 1990 and that designation was re-evaluated and confirmed in 2000. Threatened status was applied due to the high rate of loss of nesting habitat in coastal old growth forests and marine threats such as fisheries bycatch and oil spills. Provincially, the Marbled Murrelet is on the Red-list ( Conservation Data Centre) . The Marbled Murrelet is also one of the species designated within the Forest Practices Code Act as requiring special consideration and protection. The Identified Wildlife Management Strategy mandates the creation of Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHAs) and associated General Wildlife Measures for the protection of Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat.

The Marbled Murrelet has legal protection under the federal Migratory Bird Convention Act . It is also protected under numerous Provincial Acts in British Columbia (Wildlife, Museums, Parks, Ecological Reserves, Forest Practices Code of British Columbia, Fisheries and Firearms). The federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) was proclaimed in June 2003, and the Marbled Murrelet is included on the official list of species at risk (see SARA Registry ).