Why is the Bay of Fundy so significant?

The Bay of Fundy is significant for many natural, cultural, and socioeconomic reasons. From a conservation perspective, the Bay offers a number of outstanding natural values:

•    Highest tides in the world generate rich upwelling zones
•    Critical habitat for the endangered North Atlantic Right whale
•    Large concentration of whales, including humpback whales, fin whales, minke whales, and even the occasional orca or blue whale
•    Provides habitat for several species of dolphins, including Atlantic white-sided dolphin, striped dolphin, bottle-nosed dolphin, and Saddle-backed dolphin
•    Important stopover area for nearly 2 million migratory shorebirds each year
•    Rich tidal salt marshes; some of the most productive ecosystems on Earth
•    Presence of deep-sea corals and important marine life
•    Large species diversity, including hundreds of species of fish and shorebirds and over 20 species of marine mammals
•    Home to the largest known horse mussel reefs in the world

 

If the Bay of Fundy is so significant, why isn’t it already protected?

It is not entirely clear why better protection is not yet in place, though Canada has a poor track record of establishing marine protected areas across the country. There are several protected areas located along the coastline of the Bay of Fundy, such as Musquash Estuary and Fundy National Park in New Brunswick, and Cape Chignecto Provincial Park in Nova Scotia, but the vast majority of the marine environment is not currently protected. This leaves the significant majority of the Bay of Fundy ecosystem vulnerable to human disturbances, particularly the rich upwelling zones in the outer Bay of Fundy where most whales tend to congregate each year. There’s certainly no shortage of support amongst Canadians for protecting the Bay of Fundy.


What are some of the threats facing the Bay of Fundy?

Industrialization is occurring in the Bay of Fundy before adequate conservation measures have been put in place. This threatens the very ecosystems and wildlife that make the Bay so special. The types of threats that the Bay of Fundy faces include:

One of the biggest threats facing the Bay of Fundy, however, is government inaction.  The failure to implement a proper network of marine protected areas has left the ecosystems and wildlife of the Bay of Fundy unnecessarily vulnerable to increasing industrial pressures and further degradation.


I heard they moved the shipping lanes to save the whales. Isn’t that enough?

In 2003, the main shipping lane through the Bay of Fundy to the Port of Saint John was moved to avoid an area with the highest concentration of endangered North Atlantic right whales. This change seems to have helped the right whales significantly and it is certainly a welcome conservation effort.  By itself, however, the change in the shipping lane is not enough to protect the full range of natural diversity and wildlife in the Bay of Fundy. 


What is a marine protected area?

A marine protected area (MPA) is a place in the ocean that is legally designated for conservation. They are created to provide long-term protection for marine ecosystems, natural processes, habitats, and species. When several MPAs are designated as a group, this is referred to as an MPA network. A marine protected area is supposed to be a place where human impacts are minimized in the marine environment to ensure the natural environment is maintained well into the future. 


Why do we need marine protected areas? Isn’t the Bay of Fundy ecologically resilient?

Ecosystem resilience is the capacity for an environment to maintain its normal patterns after damage from disturbances. Some of the patterns that are important for the Bay of Fundy are the flow of nutrients, or the food chains that make the Bay so productive for fish. The Bay of Fundy’s highest tides in the world create rich upwelling zones that stir food from the bottom to the surface of the ocean, then back down again. The Bay is still vulnerable to disturbances from things like climate change and industrialization that interrupt these natural patterns.

We are seeing a serious impact on biodiversity in the Bay, with certain species in rapid decline, such as plankton, while others are increasing at a rapid rate, such as lobsters, which is not predicted to last.* More marine protected areas could help ensure the environment can support an abundance and variety of wildlife in the Bay of Fundy. This variety of life is what helps make natural areas more ecologically resilient and robust. 

The benefits of marine protected areas are well studied. Benefits include:

·         Conserving plants and animals and the habitat they need

·         Protecting geological features or processes (to help prevent erosion or chemical weathering)

·         Increasing the commercial and recreational fishing catches in surrounding areas

·         Providing opportunity for co-governance with Indigenous Nations and protection of cultural values

·         Protecting coastlines and helping mitigate the effects of climate change

·         Increasing resilience and maintenance of ecosystem services (for pollution control, tourism, cultural services)

The ecological benefits of MPAs translate into economic, social and cultural benefits as well as opportunities for scientific research and more effective education programs that help to foster greater appreciation for the marine environment. Marine protected areas provide multiple benefits to nature as well as people. With more MPAs, we can increase the Bay of Fundy’s ecological resilience and protect it for generations to come.

*Climate change causing dramatic shift in Bay of Fundy fisheries - CCNB (conservationcouncil.ca)

What are the minimum standards for MPAs?

Oceans Act MPAs in Canada must meet at least these minimum standards:

·         No Dumping

·         No Bottom Trawling

·         No Mining

·         No Oil and Gas exploration or extraction

The Minimum Standards for MPAs are based on recommendations from the National Advisory Panel on MPA Standards. The purpose of having MPA protection standards is to have greater consistency and clarity on activities that are prohibited in federal MPAs.  For more information check out the DFO website.


What impact would marine protected areas have on fisheries? Can fishing still occur inside a marine protected area?

A healthy Ocean requires a variety of management tools and MPAs can play a significant role in making fisheries management more sustainable long term. MPAs help ensure the survival of older and larger fish that are the drivers of reproduction and population growth. These areas can also benefit fisheries by acting as nursery areas for commercial species that then move into areas outside the MPA itself.

An MPA can be zoned to allow for some low-impact fishing to occur within its boundary. The existing marine protected area at The Gully, near Sable Island, has zones for fishing activity, as does the designated area of St. Anns Bank MPA near Cape Breton, which contains specific zones that allow for crab pots and halibut fishing. However, the most ecologically significant portions of an MPA should be zoned for conservation as the first priority with little to no commercial activities. 

MPAs are becoming increasingly recognized as an important tool in developing truly sustainable fisheries. When combined with strong fisheries management outside of strongly protected MPAs, it will lead to extensive benefits for fisheries as well as conservation.


How would a marine protected area for the Bay of Fundy affect the existing tourism business and operations?

Tourism is big business in the Maritimes, accounting for billions of dollars in economic activity every year. The Bay of Fundy is often featured in these tourism campaigns, providing signature visitor experiences on both sides of the Bay and employing thousands of people. This includes ecotourism industries, such as whale-watching, marine tours and deep-sea fishing, and recreational businesses such as sea kayaking and diving.

Marine protected areas can help safeguard the natural areas local tourism businesses need to thrive and protect the marine biodiversity upon which they depend. A network of MPAs for the Bay of Fundy is consistent with this existing ecotourism industry, and will help sustain a multi-million dollar industry and thousands of local jobs.


What impact is tidal energy having on the Bay of Fundy?

A lot of research is being undertaken right now to determine the potential environmental impacts of tidal energy on the wildlife and habitats of the Bay of Fundy. For the most part, the location of marine protected areas and most tidal energy projects would likely be in entirely separate areas of the Bay of Fundy. Several scientific studies examining conservation opportunities within the Bay of Fundy have prioritized the Outer Bay, where whales tend to congregate, as well as the Inner Bay, where vast mudflats and tidal salt marshes are important for migratory birds. 

These areas are spatially separated from the mid-portion of the Bay of Fundy, which is of greatest interest for tidal energy, particularly the narrow channels where flow rates are greatest and most consistent. One area that is the focus of much research is the Minas Passage, a narrow opening between Cape Spilt and Cape Sharp leading to the Minas Basin.



Who is responsible for creating marine protected areas in Canada?

Marine protected areas in Canada are usually created by the federal government, either as Oceans Act MPAs or National Marine Conservation Areas (NMCA) by Parks Canada, or as Marine Refuges, also known as Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECM), which are both administered by DFO. Additional marine protection designations include National Marine Conservation Areas (NMCA) by Parks Canada, or marine National Wildlife Areas (mNWA) by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) through the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS).

Although MPAs are usually created by the federal government, support from the provincial government is crucial for an MPA to be successully established. Some provinces also have provincially designated marine protected areas in nearshore waters. For the Bay of Fundy, Parks Canada has completed a study looking at high priority conservation areas within the Bay. Additionally, DFO is working on a draft Conservation Network Design that includes the Bay and the CWS is leading a conservation process for the Inner Bay of Fundy.



What might a marine protected area network for the Bay of Fundy look like?

An effective network of marine protected areas in the Bay of Fundy would need to conserve the most ecologically significant areas, including a combination of larger sites in the outer Bay of Fundy and smaller sites closer to shore toward the Inner Bay. The MPA network would need to include areas where whales congregate, as well as important bird areas, rich mudflats and some tidal estuaries. Selecting the location of the marine protected areas must be based upon best available science and Indigenous Knowledge. It must be done in an inclusive way with a genuine dialogue with local communities, including the tourism sector, inshore fishermen, and academic researchers working on the Bay.

Different areas have unique needs based on the ecosystems and species present as well as any commercial fishing activities that may be taking place. Different methods of protection can be used to achieve conservation, either using different zones or using different laws. It can be thought of as a mosaic of conservation measures that offer varying layers of protection. A conservation mosaic will be key to meet the goals of marine conservation and protection in the Bay of Fundy.

What about Indigenous-led Conservation?

Indigenous-led conservation may take different forms. One option that is being explored is Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA).

IPCAs are lands and waters in which Indigenous governments have the primary role in protecting and conserving ecosystems. This is done through Indigenous laws, governance, and knowledge systems. IPCAs vary in their governance and management objectives, but there are generally three essential elements:

·         IPCAs are Indigenous led

·         IPCAs represent a long-term commitment to conservation

·         IPCAs elevate Indigenous rights and responsibilities

IPCAs are a way to continue working towards the ongoing process that is reconciliation, as well as further protection in the Bay of Fundy. For more information on IPCAs, visit the “Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership” website.


How can I help?

1)      Participate in the public consultation for the network by filling out the survey on the DFO website when it becomes available.

2)      Send a letter to the Ministers of DFO and ECCC (also responsible for Parks Canada) to add your voice to those calling on the federal government to establish a network in the Bay of Fundy once and for all. Check out our Speak Up for Nature Action Toolkit for letter writing tips.

3)      Sign up to our e-news, to receive more information on the Bay of Fundy and other marine areas we are working to protect.

4)      Make a donation to support CPAWS’ efforts to establish marine protected areas in the Bay of Fundy. You can donate to CPAWS New Brunswick and CPAWS Nova Scotia.