Gully to become Atlantic Canada’s first Marine Protected Area

“This announcement is extremely significant,” says Dr. Robert Rangeley, WWF-Canada’s Director of Marine Conservation for the Atlantic Region. “This will be the first Marine Protected Area (MPA) to be established on the Atlantic coast. WWF has worked hard for 10 years to put the Gully on the map building on strong local support in the region. Thanks to the commitment and resolve of Ottawa and Maritimes Region staff at Fisheries and Oceans, as well as the vision of Minister Thibault, the dream of a protected Gully is now a reality.”

Dr. Hal Whitehead at Dalhousie University was one of the key scientists leading the research to help make the case for the Gully to be designated an MPA. “The Gully is a real jewel in Canada’s ocean crown. As an MPA under the Oceans Act, there will finally be some insurance that neither current nor future industrial development will harm the Gully and the endangered bottlenose whales that call the Gully home.”

Located 360 kilometres east of Halifax, at more than 2,000 square kilometres in size and in some places over two kilometres deep, the Gully is the largest underwater canyon on the east coast of North America. This spectacular canyon, that cuts 65 km into the Scotian Shelf, has long been recognized for its high biological productivity and its habitat diversity. It is known for its diversity of fishes as well as the highest diversity of ancient deep-sea coral species in Atlantic Canada. Large numbers of whales are attracted to the area, including an endangered population of northern bottlenose whales.

Today’s announcement means that the federal cabinet has approved the regulations to designate the Gully a marine protected area, and, as part of the final process for the designation to be finalized, the government must allow a 30-day public consultation period. Barring the emergence of any unforeseen issues, which is unlikely given that discussion about protecting the Gully has gone on for ten years, the Gully will formally become an MPA early in the New Year.

As important as the announcement might be, this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, according to WWF-Canada President Monte Hummel. “Protecting the Gully is the first of a series of steps that the federal government has committed to regarding maritime conservation in the Atlantic Region, as well as the West Coast and the North,” says Hummel. “We are celebrating this announcement, and we also want to build on this momentum to work with government and coastal residents to link this vision for the Gully to a broader conservation vision for Canada’s marine ecoregions.”

With an office and team of researchers and staff in Halifax, WWF-Canada is well-positioned to continue the drive to protect, manage and restore the diversity of Canada’s Atlantic marine life. WWF’s Dr. Robert Rangeley points out that none of this would be possible without supporters such as Donald Sobey, who Chairs WWF’s Atlantic Council, and who is a strong supporter of conservation on the East Coast.

“This kind of announcement validates the work that we’ve done, but it also motivates us to strive for well-planned, systematic protection of important ecological and fisheries values combined with rigorous long-term sustainable practices everywhere,” says Rangeley. “It is within our grasp to achieve big things for marine conservation in Canada. Healthy oceans will only mean good things for local communities and local economies.”