The Bay of Fundy is a natural treasure, containing the world’s highest tides, an abundance of marine biodiversity, and rich coastal areas that support two million migratory shorebirds each year. It holds a special place in the hearts of many Canadians.

You might assume that a place as magnificent as this, that’s featured in so many tourist campaigns in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, would be properly looked after. It’s not.

The Bay of Fundy lacks a proper network of marine protected areas to conserve its ecological riches. Without habitat protection, species such as the endangered North Atlantic right whale will continue to be vulnerable to industrial activities. More needs to be done.

The rich upwelling zones of the Bay of Fundy provide crucial habitat for over a dozen species of whales. Humpbacks, fin whales, endangered North Atlantic right whales, and minke whales all travel great distances each year to feed and raise their young in the Bay of Fundy.  Nearly two million shorebirds rely on Fundy’s rich coastal marshes and tidal mudflats as a vital stopover area on their annual migrations.

The Bay of Fundy lies in the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’gmaq, Wolastoqiyik and Peskotomuhkati who have been and continue to be caretakers of the Bay. Communities along the shores of the Bay of Fundy depend upon the marine environment for their livelihoods. When we create marine protected areas or conservation zones in the Bay of Fundy, they need to be designed in a way that lifts spiritual and cultural connections, supports the local inshore fishery and benefits the local ecotourism industry.

It’s our collective responsibility to protect the Bay of Fundy and ensure that this amazing piece of the planet is not jeopardized by our activities. For too long, the federal and provincial governments have avoided making necessary decisions to establish marine protected areas in the Bay of Fundy. That needs to change, now.

The Bay of Fundy is facing increasing industrial pressures, from large-scale tidal turbine projects to an increase in shipping and cruise ship tourism to the Port of Saint John. This increased push for industrial activity is taking place before a proper conservation plan is in place for the Bay of Fundy. This increases the risks to the habitats and wildlife that allow the Bay to be productive and healthy.

Choosing sites for conservation must be done based on Indigenous Knowledge, leading scientific research and local community input. Fortunately, a wealth of knowledge already exists for the Bay of Fundy and a number of scientific studies are underway. A study completed by Parks Canada identifies marine conservation opportunities within the Bay of Fundy. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is working on a DRAFT Conservation Network Design in the area and the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) is leading an effort to identify critical wildlife habitats that should be conserved in the Inner Bay of Fundy.