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HALIFAX, N.S. – The Honourable Robert G. Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced the launch of final public consultations on the regulations to designate the Gully Marine Protected Area (MPA) under Canada’s Oceans Act. Public notice appeared in the Canada Gazette (Vol. 137, No. 49) on December 6, 2003. These consultations provide stakeholders and the Canadian public with a final opportunity to review and comment on the proposed regulations to protect and conserve the Gully ecosystem.
"This is the most important step in the process of designating this crucially important marine ecosystem," said Minister Thibault. "It represents the culmination of the efforts of many individuals and organizations."
Located offshore Nova Scotia east of Sable Island, the Gully is the largest submarine canyon in eastern Canada and it has a rich diversity of marine species and habitats. The proposed MPA is 2,364 square kilometres and encompasses important areas for deep-sea corals, fish and a variety of dolphin and whale species, including the at-risk Scotian Shelf population of Northern bottlenose whales.
The proposed regulations will establish the MPA boundary and management zones, and put in place general prohibitions on disturbance, damage, destruction or removal of any living marine organism or habitat within the Gully. The regulations will apply to activities occurring within and in the vicinity of the MPA that could have a harmful impact on the Gully, including the depositing, discharging or dumping of substances. The regulations will allow certain activities, such as specific types of fishing, to continue within parts of the MPA. Future activities in the MPA, including scientific research, will require approval from the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
"As we move toward more sustainable use of our oceans, we must keep in mind that some areas require special protection – the Gully is one of those areas," stated Minister Thibault.
The proposed regulations and supporting Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement can be found on the Canada Gazette website at:
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/index-e.html. Written comments can be submitted to DFO within 30 days of the December 6 publication date.
Backgrounder:
MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
REGULATIONS PROPOSED FOR THE GULLY MARINE PROTECTED AREA
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FOR MORE INFORMATION: |
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Communications Branch
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Maritimes Region
(902) 426-3550 |
Caroline Quinn
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
(613) 992-3474 |
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NR-HQ-03-116E |
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