Pemsɨk

Pemsɨk is proposed as a Tier 1 site for the Marine Conservation Network in the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy Bioregion.

Parks Canada is interested in collaboratively exploring the possibility of establishing a National Marine Conservation Area for the marine component of the Pemsɨk conservation mosaic. As proposed by L’sitkuk (Bear River First Nation), the Indigenous-led vision for Pemsɨk, is of a coordinated and collaborative conservation mosaic in the Kespukwitk district of Mi’kma’ki. This work aims to bring together existing initiatives and organizations to fill current gaps in terrestrial and marine protection.

Pemsɨk (Port-Joli) is one of Canada's most important archaeological and cultural sites. It is also in one of Canada's priority areas for biodiversity conservation, as one of the most intact, natural coastal environments in Nova Scotia.

On this page

• Location
• Size
• Features
• Species
• Use

Location

Pemsɨk is located along the south shore of Nova Scotia and encompasses the Sable River, Port L'Hebert, Port Joli and Port Mouton inlets, the waters adjacent to Kejimkujik National Park Seaside and three nearby Migratory Bird Sanctuaries. This site extends 100 km offshore onto the southern Scotian Shelf.

Size

5 290 km²

Features

• Area of high cultural significance to Mi'kmaq people
• Important foraging area for seabirds, sea ducks and shorebirds
• Significant concentrations of salt marsh and marine plants
• Spawning area for Atlantic herring
• Area of high naturalness
• Overlaps with critical habitat for Piping Plover and an Important Bird Area
• Includes part of the UNESCO South West Nova Biosphere Reserve
• Nearby terrestrial protections, including:
• Port Joli Migratory Bird Sanctuary
• Port L'Hebert Migratory Bird Sanctuary
• Sable River Migratory Bird Sanctuary
• Haley Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary
• Kejimkujik National Park
• Thomas Raddall Provincial Park
• Port L'Hebert Nature Reserve
• Peppered Moon Nature Reserve
• private conservation lands held by well-established and community-driven land trusts
• Shallow bays, salt marshes and beach dunes shelter productive tidal estuaries
• Representative example of inlets and offshore bank and basin habitats

Species

This area supports species, including:

• White shark (listed as endangered under SARA)
• Soft shell clam
• Atlantic herring
• American eel (assessed as threatened by COSEWIC)
• Depleted groundfish populations, such as:
• Atlantic cod (assessed as endangered by COSEWIC)
• Cusk (assessed as endangered by COSEWIC)
• American plaice (assessed as threatened by COSEWIC)
• Atlantic wolffish (listed as special concern under SARA)
• Seabirds, sea ducks and shorebirds, such as:
• Piping plover (listed as endangered under SARA)
• Harlequin duck (listed as special concern under SARA)
• Barrow's goldeneye (listed as special concern under SARA)
• Eelgrass, bull kelp, rockweed, Irish moss, saltmarsh grasses and marram grass

Use

• Shell middens in the Pemsɨk area are some of the most concentrated in the province, and provide evidence of a Mi'kmaq presence as far back as 12,500 years ago.
• Current fisheries include bluefin tuna, crab, groundfish (fixed and mobile gear), hagfish, herring (fixed gear), lobster, mackerel, scallop and swordfish.
• Blood worm, shellfish, rockweed and Irish moss harvesting also occur.
• Licences issued to First Nations and Indigenous communities provide access to this area to fish for food, social and ceremonial purposes.
• Recreational activities include:
• wildlife observation
• surfing
• beach going
• kayaking
• camping