The Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park is a National Marine Conservation Area, one of three in the Canadian national park system, located where the Saguenay River meets the maritime estuary of the St. Lawrence River. This park is jointly managed by Parks Canada (Government of Canada) and Sépaq (Government of Quebec). It is the first park in all of Canada to protect a purely marine environment, and covers a surface area of 1,245 km2. The area that is now the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park is a part of the Innue Essipit First Nation's land claim, and a treaty resulting from this claim could impact activities that are practiced within the park. The region surrounding the park is an important part of the history of Canada, being one of the first points of contact between Indigenous Peoples and European explorers and the birthplace of the intercontinental fur trade.
The Maritime estuary of St. Lawrence begin at the Saguenay Fjord this meeting form a distinct ecosystem for the species in the park. Different species of whales in particular are drawn to the rich food supply stirred up by the mixing of these waters. One of these species is the St. Lawrence Beluga whale, which is endemic to Canada and a species at risk. The most popular activity in the park is whale-watching. The park provides a variety of opportunities on and off the water for visitors to see them. There are several human impacts that threaten the park such as climate change, noise pollution, chemical pollution, and overfishing, many of which are not fully understood.
History The Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region and surrounding areas are home to a rich and important part of Canadian history. The land has long hosted an abundance of natural resources such as fish, game, and berries, that played a large role in the survival of nomadic populations for generations. The region was occupied for at least 8,000 years prior to European contact. Findings from many archeological sites confirm the ancient peoples' seal hunting activities, and there is evidence that the Indigenous peoples of the region were a part of a network that extended from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Coast. Over the centuries, subsistence activities and trade evolved. The region became a crossroad for trade between the Indigenous peoples of the region and European explorers when their fur trade was woven into the existing Indigenous trade network in the 16th century through the establishment of the first settler trading post in 1600 by Pierre de Chauvin. Trade between the Indigenous peoples of the region and Basque fisherman can be traced back as early as 1580. The Basque were the first Europeans to work in the St. Lawrence Estuary. An alliance between the French and the Indigenous peoples in and around Tadoussac was created in 1603 led by Samuel de Champlain. This agreement led to the establishment of Québec City in 1608.
In the 17th to the 19th century, Indigenous peoples relied on marine wildlife for subsistence, fishing for salmon and hunting seals and seabirds. They traded their furs and oils made from sea mammal fat at the trading post in Tadoussac, located at the mouth of the Saguenay River. The establishment of beluga fisheries began in 1701, until 1979 when beluga hunting was banned.
In the 19th century, demand for fish rose due to a boom in the forestry industry that led to a rapid increase in the French Canadian population as more sawmills were built. As the population increased, the land was transformed in order to house the new residents, impacting the nature and Indigenous peoples who had relied on this land to support them for centuries. The Innu saw a drastic decline in the hunting and fishing grounds which raised the first notions for land to be set aside for them in the form of reserves. The first conflicts between marine environmental users, as well as concerns for the preservation of those marine environments were raised. As the French continued to colonize the land, the region became a popular place for vacationing and sport fishing. In 1864 the first hotel was established in Québec City, setting the stage for the tourism industry in the Saguenay region. This was supported by progress in steam navigation that led to the rapid expansion of the region's tourism industry. Vacationers raised concerns for the impact that industry had had on the wildlife and landscape, leading to the first legislation to preserve salmon habitats in 1860.
In the 20th century Saguenay entered the industrial era, rapidly expanding their forestry industry to include pulp and paper plants, as well as developing into the hydroelectric and aluminum industries. This industrialization led to the urbanization and modernization of the region, expanding upstream. The rising concern for the environment near the end of the 20th century led to a revival of the tourism industry with a new focus on nature and cultural heritage, and eventually the creation of the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park. Ecotourism remains one of the most important economic activities in the region to this day, generation lots of economic benefits for surrounding communities.
Ecology Wildlife The Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park provides habitat for a high diversity of species. According to the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park Management Plan (2010), over 1,000 species of flora and fauna have been estimated to live there. The St. Lawrence Beluga whale and the harbour seal are the two marine mammal species that are residents of the park year-round. Other species that migrate to the marine park during different seasons are the blue whale, minke whale, fin whale, humpback whale, killer whale, long-finned pilot whale, northern bottlenose whale, sperm whale, North Atlantic right whale, white-beaked dolphin, Atlantic white-sided dolphin, harbour porpoise, harbour seal, and the grey seal. High krill and capelin concentrations make the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park an essential feeding site for several of these species. Zooplankton is also abundant in this area. Additionally, the islands of the estuary are recognized as crucial locations for various bird species to nest. Aside from whales, seals, and birds, the marine park contains several hundred varieties of benthic and pelagic organisms, including numerous species of algae. The marine park also provides ideal habitat for food, rest, and wintering of several bird species.
Species at risk There are 13 species deemed at risk by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) that live in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park or migrate there seasonally. One of these species, the St. Lawrence beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) was designated as endangered in 1983 by COSEWIC. The St. Lawrence beluga whale status was then changed to threatened in 1997. However, in 2014, the designation was re-examined and changed back to endangered. Up until the early 2000s, the population was growing at a rate of 0.13% each year. Since then, the population has been decreasing at around a rate of 1% each year. This beluga population is currently approximately 900 individuals, and is endemic to Canada. Additionally, this population is geographically and reproductively isolated from other populations because it is at the southernmost end of the species' range. The St. Lawrence beluga population faces various threats, including underwater noise, habitat degradation, and pollution. The population has demonstrated evidence of significant demographic shifts since the middle of the 2000s, including an increase in neonatal deaths and a decrease in the number of young individuals in the population. Other at-risk species include the fin whale, the blue whale, harbour porpoise, the North Atlantic right whale, and the Barrow's goldeneye.
Ecosystem The Saguenay-St.Lawrence Marine Park contains three distinct ecosystems, including the upper estuary, lower estuary, and the Saguenay-Fjord. Each is hard to define by strict boundaries due to the nature of water, but it is the unique combination of all three that allows the park to support a large range of biodiversity. While each ecosystem differs in its temperature, salinity, sea floor, and depth, there are some processes that occur across the entire marine park. Most significantly, the continuous upwelling of cold water throughout this ecosystem bring fresh nutrients to the surface. The uneven underwater topography also supports producers, creating a strong ecological foundation for the park.
Upper and Lower Estuary The Upper Estuary takes up the most area of the park, making up approximately 53%. It is characterized by wide flats, islands, and strong tides. It is the shallowest and warmest region, and has a rough sea floor. The water is high salinity-wise, but good circulation in this area mixes it well with freshwater. Despite the Upper Estuary being over 50% of the park, it has not been well-researched. The park management plan states the present data only indicate that the area supports species reproduction. The lower estuary accounts for 30% of the marine park. It is composed of saltwater from the Laurentian Channel, and is much deeper than the Upper Estuary. Considered a 'stable' region, marine life is plentiful despite contaminants from upstream. It also serves the Saguenay Fjord with oxygen-rich water.
Saguenay Fjord The Saguenay Fjord is the final 17% of the marine park. It is over long and deep. Mammals such as whales frequent the region due to its depth and supply of nutrients. Despite the fjord being rich in nutrients, it is the least stable region, with its health considered unstable. Fish populations have been declining, which is one indicator of the fjord's poor health. Historically, major contaminants such as mercury and lead have been a problem for the fjord, but these have been greatly reduced. Organic contaminants such as organochlorines are bigger threats to current marine life.
Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park management plan On April 6, 1990, the governments of Quebec and Canada signed an agreement to create the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park. The management plan was originally drafted in 1995, and the park was officially created in 1998. This was the first time that Quebec and Canada worked together to create a marine protected area (MPA). Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park was the first park in Canada to be dedicated to preserving a marine environment. The Saguenay-St Lawrence Marine Park is the product of years of coordinated conservation efforts between the two governments and is part of a larger endeavour to protect Canada's marine environment. There was no transfer of land, so each government continues to act within the scope of their jurisdictions within the park. The park was created to increase the level of protection of a representative portion of the ecosystems present in the Saguenay River and St. Lawrence estuary. This was done with the goal of benefitting the present and future generations, for conservation purposes and to encourage its use for education, science and recreation. Two rounds of public consultations were conducted in order to determine the boundaries of the park and to present the management plan.
Management of the park is done following the principles of environmentally sustainable use, where ecosystems are used according to their limits regarding providing ecosystem services and resources. This ecosystem-based management method takes into account the renewal rates of marine resources. As well, protects endangered populations and habitats and aims to reduce the impact that human activities have on the operation of ecosystems.