Management of Marine Activities
Various human activities are carried out in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, including shipping, commercial and subsistence fishing, tourism, aquaculture, energy exploration and scientific activities. These activities place significant pressure on the marine ecosystem and can disrupt the balance of coastal and marine areas and their resources, potentially resulting in habitat or biodiversity loss or disturbance of marine wildlife.
To protect the marine environment while at the same time taking account of the needs of ocean users, Fisheries and Oceans Canada oversees the development of integrated management plans and implements various initiatives to improve the health of marine ecosystems. The management and protection of marine ecosystems is carried out within the context of Canada's Oceans Strategy, in keeping with Canada's Oceans Act, in response to the need to optimize the economic potential of the marine environment while maintaining the biological diversity, health and productivity of ecosystems for present and future generations.
Additional information on Canada's oceans is available on Fisheries and Oceans Canada's national website and on the Oceans Portal.
Marine Protected Areas
Under the Oceans Act, Fisheries and Oceans Canada promotes the sustainable development of resources and the protection of sensitive or unique marine ecosystems by establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) which are part of Canada's network of marine protected areas. They are established following a systematic and collaborative approach under Federal Marine Protected Areas Strategy. A marine protected area is first and foremost a tool for ensuring more effective governance of human activities, certain aspects of which can pose a threat to a sensitive or unique marine species or habitat. Marine protected areas thereby contribute to the improved health, integrity and productivity of marine ecosystems and to integrated ocean management.
Marine Protected Areas
Fisheries and Oceans Canada – national website
Canada's Network of Marine Protected Areas
Fisheries and Oceans Canada – national website
Fisheries and Oceans Canada establishes marine protected areas and identifies areas of interest, which are at various stages of the designation process. Areas of interest are ecologically significant areas, with species and/or properties that require special consideration. In Quebec, two areas of interest, the St. Lawrence Estuary and the American Bank, have been proposed for the creation of marine protected areas. The designation of an area of interest is the first step towards establishing a marine protected area.
St. Lawrence Estuary
St. Lawrence Estuary Area of Interest
Fisheries and Oceans Canada – regional website (Quebec)
American Bank
American Bank Area of Interest
Fisheries and Oceans Canada – national website
Gulf of St. Lawrence Integrated Management
For the Gulf of St. Lawrence Integrated Management, Fisheries and Oceans Canada proposes a risk-based management approch. The Gulf of St. Lawrence Integrated Management Plan encourages improved integration of decisions related to human activites within the Gulf. A review of interactions between ecosystem components and human activities allowed the identification fo the Plan's key management themes. The Plan covers a vast maritime region of Eastern Canada that encompasses the entire Gulf of St. Lawrence, including the Upper and Lower St. Lawrence estuaries.
The Gulf of St. Lawrence Integrated Management Plan is the result of a review conducted by federal government departments, provincial governments and Aboriginal organizations. The approach included identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas, ecologically significant species, and science-based conservation objectives for the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
A review of the interactions between human activities and ecosystem components led to the determination of eight main themes identified by the federal government departments and the provincial governments. These themes will serve as a framework for determining priority ecosystem management issues.
The Gulf of St. Lawrence integrated management initiative provides for the coordination and consistency of initiatives carried out by the various governments involved in protecting the marine environment in keeping with their respective legislative and regulatory jurisdictions.
The process involves:
- Identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas;
- Identification of ecologically significant species;
- Identification of conservation objectives;
- Inventory of human activities and assessment of their impact on significant areas and species;
- Identification of key management themes;
- Analysis of management measures already in place and their gaps;
- Development of action plans designed to resolve specific problems.
During the development of action plans, key Aboriginal organizations, industry representatives, and other stakeholders with vested interests in the projects or initiatives will be consulted in order to take into account their social, cultural, ecological and economic values into the management of human activities in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
To learn more about key issues and integrated management tools for the Gulf of St. Lawrence, please visit the following sites or documents.
Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence Marine Ecosystem Overview and Assessment Report (PDF)
Technical Report – 2007
Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSA) in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence: Identification and Characterization(PDF)
Science Advisory Report – 2007
Conservation Objectives for the Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSA) of the Estuary and Gulf of St.Lawrence (PDF)
Science Advisory Report – 2009
Synopsis of the social, economic, and cultural overview of the Gulf of St. Lawrence
Social, economic, and cultural overview of the Quebec Region
Social, economic and cultural overview of the Gulf region
Social, economic and cultural overview of western Newfoundland and southern Labrador
State-of-the-ocean report for the Gulf of St. Lawrence Integrated Management (GOSLIM) Area
State of the Ocean 2008: Physical Oceanographic Conditions in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
Capelin Spawning Observation
Capelin is a small fish that plays a major role in the ecosystem of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. It consumes large quantities of plankton, and is the main food source of many species of fish (cod), birds and marine mammals (whales). In a context of integrated marine ecosystems management, it is therefore critical to have a good understanding of its habitat and to protect it from threats due to human activity. You can help us to locate capelin spawning sites by reporting your observations to the Capelin Observers Network(CON).
Links of Interest
Federal legislation and policies:
Federal Marine Protected Areas Strategy
Protected areas:
Spotlight on Marine Protected Areas in Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Protected Areas of Quebec
Ministère du Développement durable, de l'environnement et des Parcs du Québec
Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence:
St. Lawrence Plan – For a Sustainable Development
Governments of Canada and Quebec
St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Contact us
Oceans Management Division
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
850, De la Mer Road, Box 1000
Mont-Joli, Quebec, G5H 3Z4
Telephone : 418-775-0848
E-mail : oceans-qc@dfo-mpo.gc.ca