What Is Hakai Magazine and What Kind of Content Does It Publish?

Updated

Hakai Magazine is a publication about coastal science, society, and the environment, known for narrative journalism that highlights coastal life and phenomena. The site now serves as an archive of ten years of award-winning journalism; the magazine ceased publishing at the end of 2024, and its team continues to publish new ocean and coast stories at bioGraphic. It is a useful source if you want in-depth, story-driven coverage of coastal communities, marine science, and ocean policy rather than breaking news or data services.

What topics does it cover?

The publication's stated focus is the intersection of science, society, and the environment along coastlines. Its featured articles show the range of that focus:

  • Indigenous coastal communities and disaster response — "The First First Responders" reports on Indigenous rescuers who are often first on the scene when disasters strike British Columbia's coast, and on government initiatives formally recognizing that work.
  • Traditional maritime craft and history — "The Canoe in the Forest" uses an unfinished boat hidden on a remote Alaskan island to illuminate a missing chapter in Haida and Tlingit canoe-building history.
  • Fisheries and treaty rights — "The Personal Toll of Canada's Broken Fishing Promises" covers Indigenous fishermen on the Atlantic Coast and their generations-long effort to get the government to uphold treaties made in the 1700s.
  • Ocean governance and deep-sea mining — articles examine how the International Seabed Authority's Mining Code is being negotiated and whether deep-sea mining could benefit all of humanity.

In short, expect long-form narratives about people and places on the coast, with science and policy woven into the storytelling.

How is the content formatted?

Articles are narrative features, and the site lists reading time and word count for each piece—for example, "The First First Responders" runs 4,600 words (about 23 minutes), while deep-sea mining pieces run 850–900 words (about 4 minutes). Feature articles are also available as audio through the Hakai Magazine Audio Edition, which is useful if you prefer listening.

What is the site's current status?

The site explicitly states that it archives ten years of award-winning journalism from Hakai Magazine, which ceased publishing at the end of 2024. The final featured piece, "So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish," is dated December 27, 2024. For new stories about oceans and coasts worldwide, the team points readers to bioGraphic.

When should you use it—and when not?

Your need Is Hakai Magazine a good fit?
Deep, narrative reporting on coastal communities, fisheries, or Indigenous maritime history Yes—this is the archive's core strength
Understanding ocean policy debates such as deep-sea mining Yes, as background and context from a journalism perspective
The latest ocean news published after 2024 No—go to bioGraphic instead
Raw data, datasets, or scientific papers No—the site publishes journalism, not primary data

The site's own materials do not mention subscription prices or login requirements, so check the site directly if access terms matter to you.