A Marine Park in Quebec 

The Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park

In 1998, after a consultation process that lasted nearly ten years, the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park was legally created. It is the first park in Quebec to exclusively protect the marine environment. It is also the first park to be co-managed by the Canadian government, through Parks Canada, and by the Quebec government, through the Société de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec (FAPAQ).

It was essentially the desire to protect critical beluga whale habitat along as well as exceptional geographical and oceanographic conditions at the mouth of the Saguenay River that are behind the creation of a park in this area. The Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park covers a representative area of the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Saguenay Fjord. Its total area extends over 1 246 km².

Its objectives:

• the conservation of ecosystems and species present in the marine environment;
• education and public awareness;
• scientific research;
• promotion of the natural and cultural resources;
• harmonizing the marine park with the region.

In order to ensure proper presentation of the natural and cultural wealth along with its integration into the region, the Marine Park has set up the Discovery Network. This network includes all interpretation sites that are situated around the Marine Park, be they in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean area, the Charlevoix region, on the North Shore or the Lower St. Lawrence area.

One of the important issues for this park is managing the whale watching activities. Since 2002, regulations control these activities within the confines of the Park.

I want to know more

Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park web site

On Whales Online :
Marine Park zoning: a balancing act between protection and exploitation

Other actions

Boundaries of the marine park

Click on map to enlarge