Permits & Fees
Permits
Wilderness Reserves
The following permits are required in Wilderness Reserves.
- Entry Permit
- Every visitor to a wilderness reserve requires an entry permit. Application forms for these permits are available at a variety of locations around the province and are usually processed within 1 day.
- Commercial Operator Permit (pdf)
- All commercial operators, including outfitters and tour guides, whose activities take them inside a reserve's borders require a commercial operator permit.
- Educational Tour Permit (pdf)
- Any group, including school, university, or conference groups, conducting a tour within a wilderness reserve requires an educational tour permit.
- Scientific Research Permit (pdf)
- Anyone who wants to conduct scientific research in a wilderness reserve requires a scientific research permit.
Ecological Reserves
The following permits are required in Ecological Reserves.
- Entry Permit
- Entry permits are not required for access to most ecological reserves. The exception is seabird ecological reserves. Entry permits are not required for access to the marine portion of the reserve but they are required for the sensitive nesting areas of the reserve.
- Seabird Ecological Reserve Special Access Permit (pdf)
- Anyone wishing to land on Gull Island (Witless Bay Ecological Reserve) or Baccalieu Island Ecological Reserve and access the nesting colony for filming or photography requires a special access permit. The number of permits issued is limited and available on a first come first serve basis. Note: all visitors must be accompanied by a Guide.
- Seabird Ecological Reserve Guide Permit (pdf)
- Anyone who guides visitors to the terrestrial portion of Gull Island (Witless Bay Ecological Reserve) and Baccalieu Island Ecological Reserves requires a guide permit.
- For more information, see the Seabird Ecological Reserves Visitor and Scientific Access Policies and Information Manual.
- Commercial Operator Permit (pdf)
- All commercial operators, including tour boat operators, cruise ships, tourism operations (including outfitters and kayak operators), require a commercial operator permit to conduct activities in a reserve.
- Commercial Operator Permit - Tour Boat (pdf)
- All tour boat operators conducting tours in the marine portion of Witless Bay Ecological Reserve must have this permit. A maximum of ten permits are issued annually.
- Educational Tour Permit (pdf)
- Any group, including school, university, or conference group, conducting a tour within an ecological reserve requires an educational tour permit.
- Scientific Research Permit (pdf)
- Anyone who wants to conduct scientific research in an ecological reserve requires a scientific research permit.
Application forms for commercial operator, educational tour, scientific research, and seabird ecological reserve access permits should be submitted to the Parks and Natural Areas Division for processing (allow a minimum of two weeks).
Applications are reviewed on a first come first serve basis, with the exception of scientific research applications for seabird ecological reserves.
Seabird research is reviewed annually at the Seabird Ecological Reserves Advisory Committee meeting. All Scientific Research Permit application forms must be submitted by January 31. For guidelines and more information on this process, see Science and Research.
Fees
Entering a wilderness or ecological reserve is free, and there are no fees charged for permits.
There are charges for the guided tours offered by the Parks and Natural Areas Division at two ecological reserves on the Island of Newfoundland-Burnt Cape (on the Northern Peninsula) and Cape St. Mary's (on the southwestern tip of the Avalon Peninsula).
- Burnt Cape Ecological Reserve
- The guided tours for Burnt Cape Ecological Reserve are offered from June to late September (see Park Opening and Closing Dates for specific opening and closing dates). Tours can be arranged by calling the interpreter at (709) 454-7795.
- The fees for guided tours are:
- Adult $5
- Youth $2.50
- Family $10
- Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve
- There is an admission charge to enter the interpretation section of Cape St. Mary's Visitor Centre. Access to washroom facilities and gift shop is free.
- The visitor centre is open from May to October (see Park Opening and Closing Dates for specific opening and closing dates).
- The daily fees for the Visitor Centre are:
- Adult $5
- Youth (ages 6 - 18) $2
- Family $10
- Passes are sold for seasonal access to the Visitor Centre:
- Adult $12.50
- Youth $5
- Guided tours are available from May to September or early October. Please book ahead (call 277-1666).
- 1.5 hours - $7 per person
- Day-long group tours - $225 per group
