{"id":2002,"date":"2024-09-27T13:55:28","date_gmt":"2024-09-27T17:55:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parcmarin.qc.ca\/consultations\/?page_id=2002"},"modified":"2025-11-19T10:44:13","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T15:44:13","slug":"project","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/parcmarin.qc.ca\/consultations\/project\/","title":{"rendered":"Project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Saguenay\u2013St. Lawrence Marine Park Expansion Project<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Territory<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The expansion project involves 4 administrative regions, 8 RCMs and 27 coastal municipalities. The Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation community will border the expanded Marine Park, in the same way that the Essipit Innu First Nation community does under the park’s current boundaries. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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As is the case for the current Marine Park, the planned expansion includes the water column and the seabeds. The area extends to the normal high-water marks, i.e. the maritime boundary delimitation of Quebec public lands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Elements of Ecological Interest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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In the estuary, the salt water of the Atlantic Ocean mixes with the fresh waters of the St. Lawrence River, giving rise to a mosaic of habitats that support a wide array of fauna and flora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project will help strengthen protection for:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Beluga<\/strong><\/h5><\/div>
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The St. Lawrence is home to the southernmost population of belugas on the planet. The beluga is the also only species of cetacean that inhabits the St. Lawrence year-round. This population is designated \u201cThreatened\u201d by the Government of Quebec and \u201cEndangered\u201d by the Government of Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, 37% of their critical habitat lies within Marine Park boundaries. Critical habitat comprises areas necessary for beluga survival. Including the beluga\u2019s entire critical habitat into the boundaries of the Marine Park will enhance the protection of one of this iconic species.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Belugas off the Charlevoix coast
\u00a9GREMM<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Rorquals<\/strong><\/h5><\/div>
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Every summer, blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales and minke whales travel thousands of kilometres to feed in the estuary\u2019s cold, nutrient-rich waters off the coasts of Quebec\u2019s C\u00f4te-Nord region. The area targeted\u200b for expansion encompasses many important rorqual habitats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A significant portion of this area, to the southeast of the existing Marine Park, corresponds to important fin whale habitat. Part of the territory targeted\u200b for expansion corresponds to the area most used by blue whales in the St. Lawrence Estuary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Humpback whales off La Haute-C\u00f4te-Nord<\/em>
\u00a9 M. Dupuis<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Coastal Herbaceous Areas<\/strong><\/h5><\/div>
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Coastal herbaceous areas are well represented in the waters of the targeted\u200b expansion. The Kamouraska, L\u2019Isle-Verte, L\u2019Isle-aux-Coudres and Longue-Rive sectors are particularly rich in this type of habitat. Being sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance, coastal herbaceous areas will benefit from being integrated into the Marine Park, which will help ensure their preservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exposed to the rhythm of the tides, coastal herbaceous areas are home to diverse and abundant fauna and flora. These areas represent breeding and feeding grounds for many types of fish, which in turn are consumed by a number of predatory species such as the beluga. For many species of birds, these areas also provide choice habitat for nesting, feeding and resting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A Kamouraska salt marsh
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Conservation Tools<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An overview of the tools that will be applicable in an expanded Marine Park.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Laws Concerning the Saguenay\u2013St. Lawrence Marine Park<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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As co-managers, the governments of Canada and Quebec have each adopted their own legislation for the Marine Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the Quebec\u2019s Act respecting the Saguenay\u2013St. Lawrence Marine Park, the following activities are prohibited under this law:<\/p>\n\n\n\n