Tuesday 13 March 2012

Eastport Marine Protected Area

The two marine protected areas in Newfoundland and Labrador are Gilberts bay (previously discussed) and Eastport. In 1995 a committee was established to address the decline in the lobster populations, called the Eastport Peninsula Lobster Protection Committee (EPLPC). Their goal was to conserve the lobster and manage the resources of the Eastport peninsula. In 1997 the EPLPC and the fisheries and oceans (DFO) agreed to limit the fishing in the community and close two areas that were prime lobster habitat. In 1999 the EPLPC approached the DFO to construct an MPA which would help them in sustaining the lobster population. In 2005 the Eastport MPA was established. The MPA consists of two know take reserves around two islands; duck and round island shown below in figure one and two. 




Figure 1: Duck Island Marine Protected Area (DFO, 2012)



Figure 2: Round Island Marine Protected Area (DFO, 2012)

A no take reserve means that no activity which will harm the water column or the substrate is permitted and there is no fishing of any sort within the designated areas around the islands. The only activity that would be allowed is if a scientist was to get a permit to do research within the MPA. The MPA is to help sustain the American lobster populations and to also ensure the conservation and protection of threatened and endangered species within the area, for example the wolfish. There is one concern that the management teams have about the Eastport MPA, which is about the size. Are the two islands large enough habitat or should the area be expanded and zoned like the Gilbert’s bay MPA. This has been taken into consideration but they have not made any such decision. At the moment studies show that the Eastport MPA is a success and the lobster populations and growing. For more information see the website and Paper by Janes below. 

References:

http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/marineareas-zonesmarines/mpa-zpm/atlantic-atlantique/factsheets-feuillets/eastport-eng.htm

Janes, J.M. 2009. Assessing Marine Protected Areas as a Conservation Tool: A decade later, are we continuing to enhance the lobster populations at Eastport Newfoundland? Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2832:vii+33p. 
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4 comments:

  1. Endagered Species Management -Terrestrial Recovery19 March 2012 at 09:40

    Based on the success rate from this management, how the lobster populations are growing steadily, other recovery programs out there that are not getting great results in their work can use this management as a setting stone

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  2. Marine Protected Areas8 April 2012 at 10:11

    That can be true other MPAs that are being established could use some of the management tools the Eastport MPA has used. Although the reason why the lobster population is increases is due to finding key habitat that the lobster occupy. If another MPA is trying to recover a specific species the life style and history needs to be known. The Eastport MPA could be more successful in incorporating other habitats and possibly establishing a network of MPAs and not just trying to conserve the lobsters.

    Ian and Carissa

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  3. Nick-Mike - Terrestrial Protected Areas9 April 2012 at 13:13

    Excellent post! General question for you. Currently Newfoundland has very few MPAs. Do you believe that there is a cultural connection with utilization of our oceans and this may have some reasoning for our hesitation to create permanent MPAs?

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    Replies
    1. Marine Protected Areas9 April 2012 at 16:17

      I do believe there is a culture connection with our oceans. Since we have been fishing from them for hundreds of years, some people might hesitate or be against the idea of placing new MPAs. However, there comes a point when we need to realize that there has to be zones set aside and restrictions set in place in areas if we ever want be able to continue fishing in the future. I think it is more a matter of research, funding and public support that need to increase. With more public education, people are more understanding about the importance of MPAs and hopefully less people are going to be hesitant towards MPAs.

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