Musquash Estuary Marine Protected Area (MPA)

At-A-Glance

Location

Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick; Scotian Shelf Bioregion

Approximate size (km²) contribution to Marine Conservation Targets

7 km²

Approximate % coverage contribution to Marine Conservation Targets

<0.01%

Date of Designation

December, 2006

Conservation Objectives

• Maintain productivity of harvested species;
• Maintain biodiversity of individual species, communities, and populations within the different ecotypes; and
• Safeguard habitat, including the physical and chemical properties of the ecosystem, by maintaining water and sediment quality.

Prohibitions

The Musquash Estuary MPA Regulations prohibit activities that disturb, damage, destroy or remove from this Area living marine organisms or any part of their habitat, unless listed as exceptions in the Regulations or approved by the Minister.

Environmental Context

Musquash Estuary Marine Protected Area (MPA) is located 20 km southwest of Saint John, New Brunswick; its boundary is defined by the water level at low tide. Musquash is unique among Bay of Fundy estuaries due to its size, expansive salt marshes, and natural condition. It is the largest, ecologically-intact estuary in the Bay of Fundy. This productive habitat is home to many birds, mammals, fish, invertebrates, and marine plants.

Estuaries are often surrounded by low-lying coastal grasslands, called salt marshes, which are frequently covered by the tide. These salt marshes perform a variety of functions. They filter sediment and pollutants, buffer coastal lands from storm surges and floods, prevent erosion, and stabilize shorelines. In the Bay of Fundy, more than 85% of the original salt marshes have been altered by humans over the past 300 years.

Ecosystem

An estuary is a partially-enclosed body of coastal water into which freshwater flows from rivers and streams, mixing with the saltwater from the ocean. Estuaries are considered one of the Earth's most productive ecosystems, hosting several habitat types that support a diverse range of wildlife. They are often surrounded by low-lying coastal grasslands, called salt marshes, which are frequently covered by the tide.

These salt marshes perform a variety of functions. They filter sediment and pollutants, buffer coastal lands from storm surges and floods, prevent erosion, and stabilize shorelines. In the Bay of Fundy, more than 85% of the original salt marshes have been altered by humans over the past 300 years.

Musquash is unique among Bay of Fundy estuaries due to its size, expansive salt marshes, and natural condition. It is the largest, ecologically-intact estuary in the Bay of Fundy, and exhibits an abundance of wildlife and commercial fisheries. The estuary's location, shape, and oceanographic characteristics support diverse habitat and high marine biological productivity.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is committed to conserving and protecting the Musquash Estuary MPA and intertidal area and the species that thrive there. It is aided in its efforts by owners and managers of the surrounding land, including Ducks Unlimited Canada, Eastern Habitat Joint Venture, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Province of New Brunswick, and Government of Canada. The Conservation Council of New Brunswick, through its advocacy work, also contributes to the conservation and protection of the Musquash Estuary ecosystem.

Management and Conservation

The boundary of the Musquash Estuary MPA is defined by the water level at low tide. Most of the intertidal area – the area exposed to air at low tide and underwater at high tide – is administered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and is referred to as the Administered Intertidal Area. DFO works to conserve and protect the habitats and species that thrive in this ecosystem.

Conservation and protection of the ecosystem is the primary goal of management, and specific conservation objectives have been established.

The Musquash Estuary encompasses unique habitats, and areas of high biological diversity and biological productivity, and is an area of importance for a variety of commercial and non-commercial fisheries. These characteristics provide the foundation for conservation and protection objectives for the MPA and Administered Intertidal Area ecosystem.

The conservation objectives are to ensure no unacceptable reduction or human-caused modification in:

• Productivity, so that harvested species remain healthy and abundant;
• Biodiversity, so that the diversity of individual species, communities, and populations within the different ecotypes are maintained; and
• Habitat, to safeguard the physical and chemical properties of the ecosystem by maintaining water and sediment quality.

The conservation objectives will be achieved by addressing management priorities and through the implementation of management actions outlined in the management plan.

The Musquash Estuary MPA Management Plan guides management of the MPA and Administered Intertidal Area. The management plan provides details on:

1. the purpose and scope;
2. the legislative authority in the Musquash Estuary, the transfer of administration and control of lands to the Government of Canada from the Province of New Brunswick and the federal authority to manage the estuary;
3. the background to the designation as an MPA;
4. the management vision, guiding principles, conservation objectives and management priorities
5. the Musquash Estuary MPA Regulations and approach for managing activities within the administered intertidal area under the Fisheries Act;
6. and, the governance structure.

The Musquash Estuary MPA Advisory Committee (MAC) facilitates dialogue between DFO and MPA rights holders and stakeholders concerning management plan implementation. MAC members represent government, non-government organizations, industry, First Nations, and community groups with an interest in the MPA. They provide skills, knowledge, and experience related to the ecology, management, conservation, and general use of the MPA.

Musquash Estuary: A management plan for the marine protected area and administered intertidal area

Evaluation and Reporting: A review of Musquash Estuary MPA management [PDF] was recently conducted to measure DFO’s progress towards meeting the commitments laid out in the Musquash Estuary MPA management plan and other Oceans Act MPA program guidance and policies. The findings are being used to inform the review and revision of the Musquash Estuary MPA Management Plan.

Progress Report: A Progress Report [PDF] is available that provides the management and research highlights since designation.

Musquash Estuary Marine Protected Area Regulations.

Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement [PDF]

Activity application for Musquash Estuary MPA

Scientific, educational, archaeological, commercial tourism and habitat restoration activities are allowed in the Musquash Estuary MPA if a proponent submits an activity plan to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) for Ministerial approval.

Learn more about the activity plan process

Public Access Points

The Musquash Estuary is open to the public to enjoy, but remember:

• Weather, wind, waves, and tides can rapidly change;
• Shorelines can be slippery;
• Old marine vessels and structures may be unsteady; Shoals, debris, fishing equipment, and navigational aids may be hidden at high tide.

View 7 days Tidal Predictions for the tide times and heights in this area.

Awareness brochure [PDF]

All Musquash Estuary access points can be reached from the Trans Canada Highway 1. Coming from Saint John, New Brunswick, follow the Trans Canada Highway 1 West. Coming from St. Stephen or St. Andrews, New Brunswick, follow the Trans Canada Highway 1 East. See this map for the location of areas described below.