The Gaspé Peninsula is renowned for its breathtaking scenery and outdoor activities. The sea is never far away, and the waters off the peninsula are home to a multitude of species, some of which are fished by coastal communities, such as lobster, while others are less well known, such as brittle stars and feathery anemones. This ecologically rich region is also visited by several marine mammals, including the North Atlantic right whale and the blue whale, both classified as endangered. In short, it's an area of great biodiversity that not only benefits coastal communities, but also has intrinsic value.
Why Protect This Area?
This region of the Gulf of St. Lawrence supports great ecological diversity, thanks to the nutrients brought in by the Gaspésie current and the unique underwater geomorphology of the area. The fish, crustaceans and shellfish found here are harvested by the communities that have inhabited this region for millennia. Closer to shore, there are also several blue carbon capture sites such as salt marshes, seagrass beds and seaweed beds, all nature-based solutions to climate change.
Off the coast of the Gaspé Peninsula, we already have the Banc-des-Américains marine protected area, which protects an underwater ridge bordered by plains, forming a whole that is home to a multitude of species. However, it is essential to ensure that a larger portion of this marine region is protected from damaging activities to preserve the ecosystems that sustain communities and represent the landscapes that are so characteristic of this region. In a context where climate change continues to affect marine environments around the globe, it is vital to reduce pressure on at least 30% of our oceans to ensure the resilience of these ecosystems, which provide us with a host of ecological services.
Image : ©Hunter Stevens
Image : ©Nick Hawkins
Image : ©Derek Keats
Key information
This region is visited by 18 species of marine mammals, including North Atlantic right whales, blue whales, humpback whales, minke whales, harbor porpoises and white-sided and white-nosed dolphins.
The Mi'gmaq have lived on the Gaspésie peninsula since time immemorial, and continue to use marine resources for traditional subsistence and commercial purposes.
Fishing has been at the heart of Gaspesian life for 3 centuries. The fishing capital of Quebec is Rivière-aux-Renards.
SNAP Québec's Work Off the Coast of Gaspésie
SNAP Québec has been involved in marine conservation in the Gaspé Peninsula region for several years, notably through the process of establishing the Banc-des-Américains marine protected area.
In February 2023, we identified the entire area off the peninsula as being of particular interest for conservation in our roadmap Cap vers 30% in the St. Lawrence.
Since then, we've been working in collaboration with MWIFMA (Mi’gmaq Wolastoqey Indigenous Fisheries Management Association), the Comité ZIP Gaspésie, and committed local citizens, which has enabled us to identify four more specific areas to propose as marine protected and conservation areas. The following four proposals were submitted to the Quebec government's Call for Protected Area Projects in October 2024:
- Haute-Gaspésie: aims to protect rare and fragile cold-water corals, the habitat of the threatened St. Lawrence blue whale and beluga whale, as well as important macro-algae beds and one of the region's rare estuarine salt marshes.
- Pointe de la Gaspésie: aims to protect a key area for biodiversity, frequented by a dozen species of whales, seabirds, large fish such as tuna and sharks, as well as world-renowned seascapes. It is also used by the Micmac First Nation for traditional harvesting activities.
- Côte de Gaspé: study area within which it will be proposed to identify a smaller local network of MPAs, while maintaining sustainable fishing and other low-impact economic activities.
- La Baie-des-Chaleurs: aims to protect seascapes, support food security and traditional harvesting activities, and protect an area rich in biodiversity (birds, fish, marine mammals) and blue carbon.
We will continue to work with our local partners to ensure that these marine protected area projects reflect the issues affecting local communities. The efforts of our partners, in raising awareness of the importance of protecting our marine and coastal environments, and in monitoring ecological indicators, for example, are essential to pave the way for further protection of these marine environments in the region. Together, we are working to ensure that marine protected areas by and for the communities of the Gaspé region come into being.
Take action
Protect the St. Lawrence
Useful Links :
- Download the roadmap "Cap Towards 30% Protection in the St. Lawrence" (2023 French)
- Read the Comic strip by the Gaspésie ZIP Committee on the importance of protecting coastal environments (French)