NR-HQ-01-58E

Dhaliwal Announces Waters Surrounding Leading Tickles and Glovers Harbour Identified as Area of Interest Under Marine Protected Areas Program

June 8, 2001

St. John’s, Newfoundland – Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced that the waters surrounding Leading Tickles and Glovers Harbour have been identified as an Area of Interest in the Marine Protected Areas Program (MPA) under the Oceans Act.

"The people of Leading Tickles and Glovers Harbour have benefited from the rich marine resources of this area for generations and the commercial fishery remains the basis of the local economy,"said Minister Dhaliwal. "They recognize the importance of conserving the marine environment for the future. The Government of Canada will work closely with the communities involved to achieve MPA status for the area."

Identification of a site as an Area of Interest is the first step in a comprehensive MPA evaluation process. MPAs are established to conserve and protect living marine resources and their habitats, areas of high biodiversity or productivity, endangered or threatened species and unique habitats.

In 1997, the Town of Leading Tickles, with the support of the Leading Tickles-Glovers Harbour Fisherpersons Committee, presented a proposal to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to consider marine waters surrounding Leading Tickles and Glovers Harbour as a Marine Protected Area. The Department worked closely with the communities to develop Leading Tickles as a candidate area.

"The identification of these waters as an Area of Interest illustrates Canada’s commitment to conserving the marine environment while sustaining economic interests in our ocean resources," Minister Dhaliwal said.

The Town of Leading Tickles is located on the northeast coast of Newfoundland, approximately eighty-five kilometers from Grand Falls-Windsor. The Leading Tickles Area of Interest is approximately fifty square kilometers. The waters surrounding Leading Tickles support a vast array of marine diversity including various species of groundfish, pelagic fish, shellfish, marine mammals and aquatic plants.

The backgrounder related to this announcement is attached.