Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area

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Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area
LocationNorthwestern Ontario
Nearest cityNipigon, Ontario
Area10,000km²
EstablishedOctober 25, 2007
Governing bodyParks Canada

The Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area is a future national marine conservation area on the north shore of Lake Superior, announced by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on October 25, 2007 at a press conference in Nipigon, Ontario.[1] Although there have been previous national marine parks, this is the first area in Canada to be designated as a "National Marine Conservation Area", as defined by the Marine Conservation Areas Act.[2] It will be the largest freshwater marine protected area in the world.[3][4] Proposals to protect the area were first suggested in the mid-1990s and formal plans were first announced in 2002.[2]

The marine conservation area was established after discussion with provincial and First Nations representatives. The First Nations in the area, represented by Wilfred King, the regional grand chief of the northern Superior region, endorsed the proposal once they were satisfied that it respected the Robinson Superior Treaty of 1850.[2]

The area extends 140 km eastward from Thunder Bay,[3] from Thunder Cape in the west, at the tip of Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, to Bottle Point in the east, and stretches southward to the Canada-US border, linking with Isle Royale National Park.[5] It also anchors existing protected areas to the north, including the Nipigon River, Lake Nipigon, and the Wabakimi Wilderness Park.[4]

The zone will cover roughly 10,000 km² of lakebed, its overlaying freshwater, and associated shoreline, and 60 km² of islands and mainland,[5] home to numerous species including herons, peregrine falcons, and bald eagles.[2][6] The spawning and schooling waters of deep coldwater fish, such as whitefish, lake herring, walleye, and lake trout will be protected by this zone.[6][7] Caribou foraging and calving areas on located on shore.[7][1]

The official designation prevents resource extraction or other operations which may damage the aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems in the conservation area.[8] However, per the agreement with the First Nations, it does not exclude all commercial marine activity, such as shipping, and commercial and sport fishing.[9]

National marine conservation areas balance environmental protection with responsible economic activity. They protect key elements of the ecosystem, while preserving the livelihoods of local residents who work in marine industries.

— Stephen Harper, announcing the creation of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area[10]

Historic shipwrecks lie on the seabed of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area,[11] including the Gunilda at Rossport.[6] The shores have two areas of First Nation pictographs and Sibley Peninsula has archaeolgical sites from Paleoindian, arachaic, and woodland settlements.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Harper announces creation of protected marine park". CBC News. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2007-10-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d Ditchburn, Jennifer (2007-10-24). "PM expected to unveil marine conservation area". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2007-10-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b Lambert, Steve (2007-10-26). "Harper and key recruit announce marine park". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2007-10-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b "Canada creates world's biggest water reserve". Agence France-Presse. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2007-10-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ a b "Great Lakes Action Plan 2000-2005". Environment Canada. 2004-07-06. Retrieved 2007-10-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b c d Turk, Linda (June - July), "What's in a Name? Some Believe a New Designation Can Protect the North Shore", Lake Superior Magazine, 22 (3): 38 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  7. ^ a b "A Superior day for Canada". World Wide Fund for Nature Canada. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2007-10-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Ottawa to create protected zone in northern Lake Superior". CBC News. 2007-10-24. Retrieved 2007-10-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Canada sets largest freshwater conservation area". Reuters. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2007-10-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Harper announces Lake Superior marine park". CTVglobemedia. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2007-10-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Canada to Have Large Marine Area at Lake". Associated Press. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2007-10-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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