New Joint Marine Park Being Considered In Anticosti-Mingan Area

Published Date

November 28, 2023

The waters off Anticosti Island in Quebec are being considered for a marine park.

The waters off Anticosti Island (shown here in December 2018) in Quebec are being considered for a marine park/Jennifer Bain

The governments of Canada and Quebec have announced their intent to establish a new joint marine park in Quebec to protect the Anticosti Island area.

The area being considered is the marine area between Anticosti Island and the federal Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, which could result in a significant conservation gain with respect to the protected marine surface area by 2030.

This announcement is the first step towards the creation of a possible Anticosti-Mingan marine park. The two governments will jointly meet with all stakeholders. They will discuss and evaluate the environmental, social, ecotourism and economic benefits that could result from the creation of this park, as well as the best management methods.

Future public consultations may focus on the precise territory to be protected, and possible conservation measures to protect the marine environment while maintaining the quality of life of local communities and ensuring that they uphold the regional socio-economic vitality.

The preliminary area being considered for the marine park has rich biodiversity, both from an oceanographic and ecological perspective as well as a heritage and cultural perspective. There are vast algae forests and waters rich in phytoplankton. These valuable underwater habitats draw a large concentration of marine mammals, including increasingly endangered North Atlantic right whales. There are significant colonies of seabirds, areas of sponges and species at risk such as the American eel, Atlantic wolfish and cod.

The creation of a marine park would build on the site inscribed in September on the UNESCO's World Heritage List. This would also ensure a continuum of land-sea protection with existing protected areas, notably the provincial Anticosti National Park, Anticosti Biodiversity Reserve and federal Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve.

The marine park model has proven itself in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence area. Under the joint responsibility of the Quebec and federal governments, the management of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park is based on a participatory governance approach with the environment unique in Canada.

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