Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area

Infobox protected area
name=Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area
iucn_category=II
established=October 25, 2007
governing_body=Parks Canada
location=Northwestern Ontario, Canada

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nearest_city= Nipigon, Ontario, Canada
area=10,000km²
locator_x=150
locator_y=190The Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area is a future national marine conservation area on the north shore of Lake Superior, announced by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on October 25, 2007 at a press conference in Nipigon, Ontario.Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/10/25/harper-marine.html|title=Harper announces creation of protected marine park|publisher=CBC News|date=2007-10-25|accessdate=2007-10-25] Although there have been previous national marine "parks", this is the first area in Canada to be designated as a "National Marine Conservation Area", as defined by the Marine Conservation Areas Act.Cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com/News/article/270200|title=PM expected to unveil marine conservation area|last=Ditchburn|first=Jennifer|publisher=Toronto Star|date=2007-10-24|accessdate=2007-10-25] It will be the largest freshwater marine protected area in the world.Cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com/News/article/270716|title=Harper and key recruit announce marine park|last=Lambert|first=Steve|publisher=Toronto Star|date=2007-10-26|accessdate=2007-10-26]

The area extends convert|140|km|mi|0 eastward from Thunder Bay, from Thunder Cape in the west, at the tip of Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, to Bottle Point in the east, and stretches southward to the Canada-US border, linking with Isle Royale National Park.cite web|url=http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/greatlakes/Programs_and_Services/Action_Plan_2000-2005/Government_of_Canada_Partners/Parks_Canada_Agency-WS77A5F523-1_En.htm|title=Great Lakes Action Plan 2000-2005|publisher=Environment Canada|date=2004-07-06|accessdate=2007-10-26] It also anchors existing protected areas to the north, including the Nipigon River, Lake Nipigon, and the Wabakimi Wilderness Park.cite web|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jV5wUUkH_NxhNSdrOOzUlh8c872A|title=Canada creates world's biggest water reserve|publisher=Agence France-Presse|date=2007-10-25|accessdate=2007-10-26]

Designation process

Proposals to protect the area were first suggested in the mid-1990s and formal plans were first announced in 2002.

The marine conservation area was established after discussion with provincial and First Nations representatives. The First Nations in the area, represented by Wilfred King, the regional grand chief of the northern Superior region, endorsed the proposal once they were satisfied that it respected the Robinson Superior Treaty of 1850.

Parks Canada distributed questionnaires to local residents as a public consultation. 67% of respondents supported the "largest possible designation area," with 13% opposing any NMCA designation, and the remaining supporting some form of NMCA.

Ecology

The zone will cover roughly convert|10000|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on of lakebed, its overlaying freshwater, and associated shoreline on convert|60|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on of islands and mainland. The area is home to numerous species including herons, peregrine falcons, and bald eagles. The spawning and schooling waters of deep coldwater fish, such as whitefish, lake herring, walleye, and lake trout will be protected by this zone.Citation | last = Turk | first = Linda | title =What's in a Name? Some Believe a New Designation Can Protect the North Shore | journal =Lake Superior Magazine | volume =22 | issue = 3 | pages = 38 | date =June - July | year = 2000 | url = http://www.lakesuperior.com/online/223/223nmca.html ] Caribou foraging and calving areas are located on shore.cite web|url=http://www.wwf.ca/NewsAndFacts/NewsRoom/default.asp?section=archive&page=display&ID=1558&lang=EN|title=A Superior day for Canada|publisher=World Wide Fund for Nature Canada|date=2007-10-25|accessdate=2007-10-26] Lake Superior is home to about 70 fish species.cite web|publisher=Parks Canada|url=http://www.pc.gc.ca/progs/amnc-nmca/systemplan/itm4-/gla2_e.asp|title=Lake Superior|accessdate=2007-10-27]

The official designation prevents resource extraction or other operations which may damage the aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems in the conservation area.Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/10/24/superior-conservation.html|title=Ottawa to create protected zone in northern Lake Superior|publisher=CBC News|date=2007-10-24|accessdate=2007-10-25] However, per the agreement with the First Nations, it does not exclude all commercial marine activity, such as shipping, and commercial and sport fishing.cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKN2554415420071025|title=Canada sets largest freshwater conservation area|publisher=Reuters|date=2007-10-25|accessdate=2007-10-26]

History

Historic shipwrecks lie on the seabed of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area,cite web|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hYA86Sz88YH4hh-TUnw_M3S3pJrA|title=Canada to Have Large Marine Area at Lake|publisher=Associated Press|date=2007-10-25|accessdate=2007-10-26] including the Gunilda at Rossport. The shores have two areas of First Nation pictographs and Sibley Peninsula has archaeological sites from Paleoindian, arachaic, and woodland settlements.

References

External links

*cite web | title = Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area Proposal | work = National Marine Conservation Areas of Canada | publisher = Parks Canada | date = 2006-11-17
url = http://pc.gc.ca/progs/amnc-nmca/proposals/LS_proposal_E.asp | accessdate = 2007-10-27
*cite web | title = Lake Superior | work = Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas System Plan | publisher = Parks Canada | date = 2006-11-17 | url = http://www.pc.gc.ca/progs/amnc-nmca/systemplan/itm4-/gla2_e.asp | accessdate = 2007-10-27