Marine Planning in the outer Bay of Fundy

The government of Canada has joined a global initiative and set a goal of conserving 30% of our marine and coastal areas by 2030. This project aims to make sure that local perspectives and community knowledge are included and considered during marine planning efforts for the outer Bay of Fundy. The focus of this project extends from Musquash to Passamaquoddy Bay to Grand Manan Island.

Outreach

Community outreach initiatives will help to build local understanding about the marine planning process. ECW’s efforts will encourage community participation as the process unfolds in our region while showcasing the variety of forms local marine protection could take. Community partners are so important in achieving these goals. We are working with Hemmings House Pictures, a local film production company, to create a short documentary to highlight the significant biodiversity and diverse community perspectives of the outer Bay of Fundy. We also sit on the Southwest Fundy Progressive Protection Council as environmental advisors.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MARINE PLANNING?

Throughout this winter we will be sharing infographics that give details on what marine protected areas and other marine conservation areas can look like, the value of maintaining healthy marine areas, and what that may mean for Canada and for us in New Brunswick. Check back here or on our social media to catch the next two infographics when they come out.

Data

Through discussions with individuals and organizations who have knowledge of the region we are collecting information that should be included for consideration during local planning efforts. We will also develop a sampling plan for conducting marine research to address identified knowledge gaps in the region.

Some of the groups we have consulted with so far include: local divers, small-scale fisheries, academic institutions, ecotourism companies, the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, and others. We have also collected data from several different community and research databases including: iNaturalist, REEF.org, OCEARCH, and Whale Alert.

ECW would like to thank the Oceans Management Contribution Program, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for their support for this project.