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The Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park is created at last
After 10 long years of planning, it was with great pride that federal and Quebec Environment Ministers Sheila Copps and Paul Bégin presided over a ceremony in Tadoussac on June 12, 1998, marking the official creation of the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park.
The agreement to create this new type of protected area was a first in Canada. This was the first park to be managed jointly by the two governments, each of which had to pass their own legislation to create the marine park. Both acts came into force at the same time, a few days prior to the Tadoussac ceremony.
The Park was also the first to protect an exclusively marine environment in Quebec. Any type of exploration, utilization and exploitation of resources for mining or energy production, as well as oil lines, gas lines or energy power transmission lines are prohibited inside the limits of the marine park. Regulations can also be made to protect whale habitats and ecosystems, thus facilitating the Beluga Recovery Plan announced in 1996. In addition, creation of a park approximately 1,200 square kilometres in size at the confluence of the estuary and the fjord makes it possible to raise public awareness of the rich natural heritage of this marine area, while also promoting a sustainable environmental tourism industry in the region. Before the Park was created, two public consultation exercises were carried out regarding its boundaries and development.
In addition to the small beluga population that has made its home in the area for 10,000 years, nine whale species feed in these waters each summer, including minke and fin whales and, occasionally, blue whales. Averaging 130 tonnes in weight and 30 metres in length, blue whales are the largest animals to have ever lived on earth.
Date modified: 2008/07/22 – Important Notices
