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HALIFAX, N.S. – The Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced the designation of the Gully Marine Protected Area (MPA) under Canada’s Oceans Act. Located on the edge of the Scotian Shelf near Sable Island, the Gully is the largest marine canyon in the western North Atlantic.
"The Gully is a marine area of national and global significance," stated Minister Regan. "Very few of the world’s marine protected areas lie beyond the sight of land. This makes the designation of the Gully MPA all the more exceptional. The long-term protection provided by the Gully MPA will safeguard its diverse and productive ecosystem, and serve as a conservation legacy for all Canadians."
An MPA is an area of the ocean that is designated for special management and protection under the Oceans Act. The Gully is the first MPA to be designated under the Oceans Act off Canada’s east coast, and the second in Canada, following the designation of the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents MPA off the Pacific coast in 2003. There are currently eleven other marine areas throughout Canada being considered for MPA designation.
"The designation of the Gully MPA is an important step forward in the creation of a national system of Marine Protected Areas," the Minister said. "The Government recently renewed its commitment to Canadians to develop a new Oceans Action Plan to maximize the potential of our oceans. Working with our partners and stakeholders to protect the health of our oceans represents a solid investment in the future. The Marine Protected Areas program is one of the key instruments that the Government has for working with Canadians in this regard."
The MPA encompasses 2,364 square kilometres of ocean area and is approximately 80 kilometres long, 50 kilometres wide and more than 2,500 metres deep at the canyon mouth. The Gully boasts a rich diversity of marine species, including deep-sea corals, a variety of commercial and non-commercial fish species, numerous dolphin and whale species, and a complex range of habitat types. The deep-water portion of the canyon provides important habitat for the Scotian Shelf population of northern bottlenose whales. Proposed listing of this species under the Species at Risk Act will undergo public consultations later this year.
"The Gully MPA regulations protect the ecosystem while allowing for a limited number of human activities that are consistent with our conservation objectives," said Minister Regan. "These regulations formalize a range of pre-existing protection measures put in place by both government and industry. In effect, we have been managing the Gully during the last several years as if it were a protected area. DFO will continue to work with affected interests, including the multi-stakeholder Gully Advisory Committee, in the development of an MPA management plan and supporting management activities."
The Gully MPA regulations prohibit the disturbance, damage, destruction or removal of any living marine organism or habitat within the Gully. The MPA contains three management zones, each providing varying levels of protection based on conservation objectives and ecological vulnerabilities. Zone 1, the core deep-water portion of the MPA, provides full ecosystem protection with a complete restriction on extractive activities. Zone 2 provides a high level of protection for the canyon head and sides, the trough and upper feeder canyons, and deep-water area of the continental slope. Zone 3 is defined by the shallow banks on either side of the canyon. These banks are subject to highly dynamic oceanographic processes and regular natural disturbance, such as storms.
An ecosystem approach has been applied in the design of the MPA wherein human activities are assessed against the ecosystem features being protected. Currently, fishing for halibut, tuna, shark and swordfish is allowed in Zones 2 and 3. Scientific research and monitoring may also be permitted in all three zones provided it meets all regulatory requirements. Proposals for other activities will be considered for Zone 3 on a case-by-case basis through a rigorous plan submission and approval process.
In addition to controlling activities and environmental impacts within the MPA boundary, the regulations prohibit damage and disturbance to the MPA from human activities taking place outside of the boundary. These regulations recognize that such activities, including the depositing, discharging or dumping of substances, can cause harmful impacts within the MPA.
More information on the Gully MPA can be found online at:
http://www.mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/e/essim/essim-gully-e.html.
Minister's Speech:
Designation of
Gully Marine Protected Area
Backgrounder:
The Gully Marine Protected Area
Factsheet:
Facts about the Gully
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