Modifications to Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park Regulations

Changes to specify how to behave in the presence of marine mammals.

 

October 19, 2016                          Tadoussac, Quebec                                         Parks Canada Agency

 

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, today announced amendments to the Marine Activities in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park Regulations (the Regulations). These changes to the Regulations will increase the protection of marine mammals as well as supervision of activities practiced in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park.

Every year, the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park welcomes nearly 400,000 visitors who access the park via pleasure boats, tour boats, cruise ships and sea kayaks. Changes to the Regulations are designed to ensure that the practice of these activities is carried out with the utmost respect for the mammals that frequent the Park. The modified Regulations provide, among other things, details of how to behave in the presence of endangered species, such the St. Lawrence beluga.

These regulatory improvements were carried out in consultation with and with the support of, among others, the Coordination Committee of the Marine Park, the Canada–Quebec Harmonization Committee, the Sociéte des établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq), tour boat operators members of the Eco-Whale Alliance as well as the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM).

Parks Canada is a recognized world leader in conservation. In managing national marine conservation areas, Parks Canada protects ecosystems and works to foster the ecologically sustainable use of marine resources while offering Canadians a high-quality visitor experience.

 

Quote

“The Marine Activities in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park Regulations, are a unique example in Canada of regulations that protect marine mammals by establishing rules for whale-watching tour companies and other marine park users. The amendments of the Regulations will ensure the ongoing protection of species-at-risk and conservation of the marine park. They will also contribute to ensure that the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park remains one of the best places in the world for marine mammal observation.”

Catherine McKenna
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada

 

Quick Facts

 Modifications to the Regulations (effective January 2017) will:

• Specify how to behave in the presence of a belugas. Existing regulations which prohibit anyone from voluntarily approaching a species at risk closer than 400 metres have not changed.
• Reduce the speed for tour boats and pleasure boats which pass through the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord.
• Ban the use of jet skis, hovercraft and towed water sports within the boundaries of the marine park.
• Specify the definition of disturbing marine mammals, and limit the number of boats in an observation zone between 200 and 100 metres.
• Put in place a certification system for tour boat operators and sea kayak guides, including attending a mandatory training session about the marine park and the new regulations, and taking an annual knowledge exam in order to receive certification.

 

Related Links

www.parkscanada.gc.ca

www.marinepark.qc.ca

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Contacts
Valentyna Galadza-Park
External Relations Manager
Saguenay–St. Lawrence Field Unit
418-235-4703 ext. 240
valentyna.galadza-park@pc.gc.ca

 

Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca