Parks Canada Heralds Bay of Fundy Study

Parks Canada kick-starts Bay of Fundy study
03 Feb 10
Februar 3rd, 2010



HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA – CPAWS-NS is encouraged by Parks Canada’s initiative to conduct a study to identify representative marine areas in the Bay of Fundy. “This is an important milestone to protect the Bay of Fundy. We hope that a robust study will set the scientific basis for the conservation and sustainable management of the Bay of Fundy, in addition to the historical and cultural context that make up the local communities.” says Rodrigo Menafra, Marine Conservation Coordinator for CPAWS-NS.



Parks Canada has recently posted a Request for Proposals for a “Study to Identify Preliminary Representative Marine Areas for the Bay of Fundy Marine Region.” This is an important step towards Parks Canada’s commitment to set up a national system of marine protected areas, the National Marine Conservation Areas (NMCA) system, to represent the full range of marine ecosystems found in Canada's Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific oceans, and the Great Lakes.



The Bay of Fundy study will identify preliminary Representative Marine Areas (RMAs) which portray the diversity of physical oceanographic, biological and geological features, as well as its historical and cultural characteristics. Once RMAs have been indentified, extensive local consultations will be undertaken and the candidate sites will undergo a feasibility study to determine the most suitable site for establishing an NMCA.



The Digby Neck and Islands area on Nova Scotia’s Fundy coast has many features that would make it an ideal NMCA candidate site – its high conservation value, its culture and history, and some early indications of local support for the idea. An NMCA, essentially a marine National Park, can provide the Digby Neck and Islands with opportunities for ecotourism and growth in local businesses, improved infrastructure and sustainable local fisheries; diversifying the local economy without jeopardizing the natural and cultural heritage of the area.



An opportunity now exists in the Bay of Fundy for the creation of a Parks Canada National Marine Conservation Area, perhaps in the Digby Neck and Islands region, and CPAWS-NS will continue to work with local communities and stakeholders to help empower them for the challenge ahead.



Contact information:



Rodrigo Menafra

Marine Conservation Coordinator

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS-NS)

Nova Scotia Chapter

marine@cpawsns.org

www.cpawsns.org

(902) 446-4155