Magdalen Islands

Despite more than 40 years of work, studies and consultations, the project to establish a marine protected area in the Magdalen Islands was recently abandoned by the governments of Canada and Quebec.

However, the need remains: the marine environments of the Magdalen Islands deserve a clear, representative and participatory management framework in which all stakeholders can actively contribute to the reconciliation of the territory's various uses - whether to protect ecosystems, maintain local economic and recreational activities or continue traditional practices.

There are inspiring examples of marine protected areas around the world that have risen to this challenge, demonstrating that it is possible.

Why Protect the Magdalen Islands

Currently unrepresented in Quebec's network of marine protected and conserved areas, the marine environment surrounding the Magdalen Islands is home to exceptional biodiversity that supports numerous socio-economic and cultural activities characteristic of the lifestyles of the archipelago's residents.

Thanks to its unique oceanographic features and varied landscapes, the Magdalen Islands are home to a wide variety of wildlife species, some of which are rarely seen at these latitudes. Located in the heart of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, this archipelago is a paradise for numerous marine and avian species. Approximately 300 species of birds inhabit the archipelago or stop over during their migrations.

The marine environments around the islands are also a refuge for seals, which come here to feed and give birth. Many whale species can also be seen in the deeper waters off this archipelago. In addition, numerous species of fish, crustaceans and mollusks are at the heart of the region's local economy. Indeed, fishing, especially for lobster and crab, is one of the two main economic activities in the Magdalen Islands, alongside tourism.

By effectively protecting key large-scale areas of the Magdalen Islands from industrial or damaging activities (mining exploration and exploitation, energy production, bottom trawling, spills, etc.), we will help improve the resilience of this habitat on which so many species and communities depend.

In addition to strengthening the protection of marine environments and the biodiversity they harbor, marine protected areas provide management and governance frameworks for harmonizing the various uses of their territory. They also highlight a region's natural and cultural heritage and can contribute directly to the creation of added value for the resources exploited there. Marine protected areas are places for collaboration, research and innovation, on both environmental and human levels.

Did You Know?

The underwater plateau on which the Magdalen Islands rest spans several thousand square kilometers and constitutes the warmest marine region in all of Canada!

Key information

Species at risk: piping plover, horned grebe, blue whale, Atlantic right whale

Increased protection will help improve the resilience of marine ecosystems

The first steps towards establishing a marine protected area in the Magdalen Islands were taken over 40 years ago

SNAP Québec's Work in the Magdalen Islands

Over the past decades, SNAP Québec has organized meetings with Magdalen communities to explain the benefits and workings of marine protected areas. We also took part in a consultation process concerning the Île Brion ecological reserve, and encourage dialogue between stakeholders and the dissemination of information about the various protection tools available.

In 2019, the governments of Quebec and Canada announced a feasibility study for the Magdalen Islands MPA project. Stakeholder participation activities were therefore organized for this purpose, but these targeted the fisheries sector specifically, and therefore failed to represent the variety of interests and stakeholders affected by the project.

To open the discussion, in November 2024, SNAP Québec released a series of video clips about the project. There were three clips, respectively presenting the history of the marine protected area project on the islands, the criteria for establishing an effective marine protected area, and the importance of protecting the marine environments around the Magdalen Islands. The videos were accompanied by a petition asking the public to show their support for marine protection on the islands.

Since then, the governments of Quebec and Canada have announced that they are abandoning the project. The specific reasons given for this decision have not been specified.

Despite the governments' decision, SNAP Québec is not abandoning the protection of this territory. We can and must rethink this protection on a new basis, with transparency and respect for local communities. We will be there to support new initiatives in this direction.