Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park

Scientific Research

An Open-Air Laboratory

Protecting a given environment starts with understanding that environment. This is why scientific research is an essential tool to protect biodiversity. It allows to measure the effectiveness of protection measures and helps to mitigate the effects of human activities on the marine environment.

The answers are right in front of us

Each year, scientists from academia, Parks Canada and Sépaq and other valued collaborators show no shortage of patience, curiosity and observation skills. Through their work, they push the frontiers of the unknown. Whether it lasts for a few months or a few years, the monitoring carried out is an important source of knowledge.

Keeping an eye on the beluga

In collaboration with Sépaq, a Parks Canada team is studying the beluga whale in two specific areas of the Marine Park: at the mouth of the Saguenay River and in Baie Sainte-Marguerite, where pods of adult belugas and their calves spend a substantial part of the summer. The knowledge thus acquired and invaluable support of the local population will help us to better protect this magnificent marine mammal.

The St. Lawrence Beluga and Humans at a Crossroads — Google Arts & Culture

Studying the little ones to understand the giants

On board “L’Alliance”, Parks Canada researchers navigate the Marine Park waters to find out what’s on the menu for whales, seals, and birds. Their equipment is specially designed to detect krill and fish below the surface. Understanding the available food of endangered species such as the beluga and the blue whale is invaluable to better protect their habitat. The first results of this study have contributed to the identification of the feeding grounds most used by baleen whales.

Making A Difference, Together

With the information gathered by the research teams, the shipping industry has agreed to collaborate by reducing the speed of ships in the main feeding areas to reduce the risk of collisions with whales

At the initiative of Parks Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, a working group designed specific measures for the protection of whales. The pilots of merchant and passenger vessels are asked to adapt their sailing in areas frequented by whales. They pay particular attention to the presence of animals, slow down in feeding areas and avoid sailing in the area most frequented by blue whales.

Focus groups play an important role. They contribute to further discoveries and to finding and implementing solutions to enhance whale protection.

Navigate – Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park / Marine Activies Regulations

VÉRONIK DE LA CHENELIÈRE ET ISABELLE GAUTHIER
LE MINISTÈRE DES FORÊTS, DE LA FAUNE ET DES PARCS ET LA PROTECTION DU BÉLUGA DU SAINT-LAURENT

EMILIEN PELLETIER
LE PARC MARIN DU SAGUENAY–SAINT-LAURENT : CRÉATION ET GESTION PARTICIPATIVE INÉDITE AU CANADA

ERIK LANGEVIN
SEPT MILLÉNAIRES DE NAVIGATION SUR LA RIVIÈRE SAGUENAY.

FRANÇOIS BOLDUC
LE SUIVI DES OISEAUX MARINS ET DE LA SAUVAGINE À L’INTÉRIEUR DU PARC MARIN DU SAGUENAY-SAINT-LAURENT

GASTON DERY
L’ÎLE-AUX-POMMES ET LE RÔLE IMPORTANT DES PROPRIÉTAIRES TERRIENS DANS LA MISE EN VALEUR DU SAINT-LAURENT

GBAMP
LES AIRES MARINES PROTÉGÉES

JONATHAN VERREAULT
LES POLLUANTS CHEZ LE BÉLUGA ET LE PETIT RORQUAL DU SAINT-LAURENT : UN COCKTAIL TOXIQUE QUI ÉVOLUE

JORY CABROL
LE KRILL : UN ACTEUR TROP SOUVENT OUBLIÉ EN CONSERVATION ET POURTANT SI IMPORTANT

LAURENCE LÉVESQUE
ORIGINE, AIRES DE CONCENTRATION ET CROISSANCE DE LARVES DE HARENG ATLANTIQUE DANS L’ESTUAIRE MOYEN

MANUELA CONVERSANO
15 ANS DE SUIVI AU PROFIT DE LA SCIENCE ET DE LA CONSERVATION

MARIE GUILPIN
DE QUELLES DENSITÉS DE KRILL LE RORQUAL BLEU A-T-IL BESOIN DANS LE SAINT-LAURENT ?

MARIE JULIE ROUX
VERS UNE UTILISATION DURABLE DES RESSOURCES HALIEUTIQUES DANS L’ESTUAIRE ET LE GOLFE ST-LAURENT

NADIA MENARD
SUIVI DES PROIES PÉLAGIQUES AU PARC MARIN DU SAGUENAY–SAINT-LAURENT

PETER GALBRAITH
CIRCULATION ET RENOUVELLEMENT DES MASSES D’EAU DU FJORD DU SAGUENAY

SÉBASTIEN RENARD
QUEL EST L’ÉTAT DU PARC MARIN DU SAGUENAY–SAINT-LAURENT?

SONIA GIROUX
IMPLICATION DE L’INDUSTRIE MARITIME À LA COLLECTE DES DONNÉES SUR LES MAMMIFÈRES MARINS

SOPHIA FERCHIOU
MODÈLE CHIMIQUE DE LA DIÈTE RÉCENTE DU BÉLUGA DU SAINT-LAURENT

STEPHANE LAIR
ÉVOLUTION DES CAUSES DE MORTALITÉS DES BÉLUGAS DU SAINT-LAURENT AU COURS DES 35 DERNIÈRES ANNÉES

TINMCA
TALLURUTIUP IMANGA (DÉTROIT DE LANCASTER) AIRE MARINE NATIONALE DE CONSERVATION

VÉRONIQUE NOLET
UN PROGRAMME DE CERTIFICATION ENVIRONNEMENTALE POUR AIDER À MIEUX CONCILILER INDUSTRIE MARITIME ET PROTECTION DE L’ENVIRONNEMENT

VERONIQUE LESAGE
ÉVOLUTION DE L’ÉTAT DE LA POPULATION DE BÉLUGAS DU SAINT-LAURENT