Project Profile

Engaging fishermen to advance near-shore marine protection in Nova Scotia Halifax, NSCanadian Parks and Wilderness Society-Nova Scotia Chapter (CPAWS-NS): The mission of CPAWS-NS is to keep Nova Scotia wild. We protect, conserve, and restore biodiversity. We work towards collaborative and solution-orientated results to ensure the beauty and life-giving forces of wilderness persist into the future.

Need: $5000, Volunteers


"We need to empower fishermen to use their local knowledge and expertise to protect and restore local fisheries in order to support livelihoods for current and future generations." — Ashley Sprague, CPAWS NSNova Scotia is the only Canadian province without a coastal Marine Protected Area (MPA). With increasing threats of overfishing, industrial development, pollution and climate change, we urgently need to take steps to protect the productive waters around the province. Through collaboration with fishermen and government, our marine program has made significant progress to advance near-shore protected area planning in Nova Scotia.

Due in great part to community outreach, research and political pressure from CPAWS, Parks Canada is now assessing the Bay of Fundy to identify candidate National Marine Conservation Area sites. We are confident that Digby Neck and Islands will be among the final list of candidates. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is currently exploring options for coastal MPA designation, and Port Joli is a top site under consideration. Opportunities exist to advance near-shore Marine Protected Area establishment through community-led conservation planning. With your help, this project will advance community conservation planning, influence decisions made by government and help move these sites toward protection more quickly.

Our program works directly with fishermen in the communities of Port Joli and Digby Neck and Islands to explore conservation options. Our community-based approach has led to strong, trusting relationships with community members and a solid understanding of current and historical local fisheries, ecosystem threats and community dynamics. We are now further engaging fishermen and other stakeholders to identify conservation priorities and develop conservation plans to protect and restore key habitats and local fisheries, which will ensure resources will be available to support livelihoods for future generations.

Raised: $35
Needed: $4965

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