Marine Protected Area To Be Set Up In St. Anns Bank: A Welcome Initiative By Canadian Government

The government of Canada took the decision to declare St. Anns Bank as a Marine Protected Area, in order to preserve and protect its marine ecosystem and biodiversity. The decision was taken under the Oceans Act and it aims to safeguard a number of marine species nearing extinction in that region, such as the Atlantic wolffish, leatherback turtle, deep-sea corals and sponges.

The proposed Marine Protected Area is the habitat of many rare fishes including the Atlantic cod, white hake, redfish and witch flounder. It is also the summer foraging region for leatherback turtle and Atlantic wolffish.

According to a press release published in Digital Journal, Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, made the announcement of the Marine Protected Area proposal and informed that the 45-day public consultation period will end on Jan. 31, 2017. The comments given by the public will be considered before taking the final decision of setting up the Marine Protected Area.

In the meantime, the decision of establishing the Marine Protected Area is highly appreciated among environmentalists and general public, including the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS).

Sabine Jessen, National Ocean Program Director of CPAWS, said that, "With the high standards of protection proposed for St. Anns Bank, this Marine Protected Area will make an important contribution to Canada's target of protecting 10 per cent of our ocean by 2020."

The proposal was welcomed by the general public as the government tried to conserve the endangered fishes while allowing fishing and low impact recreational activities in some parts of the proposed Marine Protected Area.

According to Herald News, three out of the total four zones of the Marine Protected Area permit fishing of snow crabs, lobsters and halibut. In addition, oil and gas activities will be completely prohibited to reduce pollution in the region.

Chris Miller, Nova Scotia-based national conservation biologist for CPAWS, informed that, "We have a long way to go to catch up," and "St. Anns Bank is an important site for conservation on its own, but it also moves Canada in the right direction toward achieving our national biodiversity conservation targets."

The Canadian government plans to expand its work and establish more Marine Protected Area in the coming future.