Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has worked with partners and ocean users to develop a draft conservation network plan for the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy Bioregion. This work led to the 2017 draft conservation network plan. The draft plan was updated after targeted consultations from 2021 to 2022. The latest draft reflects new science information on climate change, updated human-use activities (such as fisheries data), and feedback from consultations.

This dataset includes the latest existing and proposed conservation sites in the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy Bioregion.

Existing sites:

-Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

-Marine refuges

-Migratory bird sanctuary, National Wildlife area and National Park with marine components

Proposed sites:

-Areas of Interest (AOIs) and their lead agency

-Tier 1 sites – higher priority for implementation and are among the sites that could be selected for advancement by 2030. These sites have high conservation value based on the confirmed presence of key ecological features. The lead federal agency is specified for all tier 1 sites.

-Tier 2 sites - are important to create a representative conservation network but will not be considered for advancement by 2030. These sites require more research and information on ecological features and human uses before implementation.

-Other sites have also been identified through network planning. These are not considered part of the conservation network plan at this time.

Proposed conservation sites:

1. Cobequid Bay

2. Southern Bight

3. Chignecto Bay

4. Salmon Rivers

5. Bay of Fundy Horse Mussel Aggregations

6. West Isles and Passages

7. Long Eddy

8. South Grand Manan

9. Brier Island

10. Chebogue

11. Eel Bay

12. McNutts Island

13. Pemsɨk

14. LaHave Islands

15. Sambro Ledges-Prospect

16. Martinique Beach and Musquodoboit Harbour

17. St. Mary’s (Napu’saqnuk) River and Estuary

18. Country Island

19. MacNamaras Island

20. Canso Ledges-Sugar Harbour Islands

21. Fleur-de-Lis Coast

22. Bird Islands

23. Ingonish

24. Aspy Bay

25. Bras d’Or Lake

26. Southwest Bank

27. Western Jordan Basin

28. Georges Bank

29. LaHave Basin

30. Scotian Gulf

31. Central Scotian Slope, Rise, and Abyss

32. Inner Shelf Sea Pen Field

33. Sable Island Bank

34. Logan Canyon

35. Canso Bank and Channels

36. Misaine Bank and Laurentian Channel

37. Eastern Shoal

38. Cold Seeps

Boundaries are preliminary and subject to change following public consultation.