Protecting the Migratory Bird Habitat at Malpeque Bay, Prince Edward Island: an Identification of the Management Needs
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Protecting the Migratory Bird Habitat at Malpeque Bay, Prince Edward Island: An Identification of the Management Needs By Sarah Wilkin Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Marine Management at Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia August 2012 © Sarah Wilkin, 2012 Dalhousie University, Marine Affairs Program Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada The undersigned hereby certify that they have read and recommend to Marine Affairs Program for acceptance a graduate research project titled “Protecting the Migratory Bird Habitat at Malpeque Bay, Prince Edward Island: An Identification of the Management Needs” by author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Marine Management. Supervisor: Irene Novaczek Signature : __________________________ Dated: _____________________________ ii Dalhousie University Date: August 15th, 2012 Author: Sarah Wilkin Title: Protecting the Migratory Bird Habitat at Malpeque Bay, Prince Edward Island: An Identification of the Management Needs School: Marine Affairs Program, Faculty of Management Degree: Master of Marine Management Convocation: October Year: 2012 _____________________________ Signature of Author The author reserves other publication rights, and neither the graduate project nor extensive extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author’s written permission. The author attests that permission has been obtained for the use of any copyrighted material appearing in the thesis (other than the brief excerpts requiring only proper acknowledgment in scholarly writing), and that all such use is clearly acknowledged. iii To my partner, Brad, who has gone above and beyond to support me throughout this past year. Thank you. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES ....................................................................................................... vii ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................................... viii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS USED ...................................................................................................... ix ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................... x CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Prince Edward Island ....................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Early history of the Mi’kmaq on PEI ............................................................................... 1 1.3 Malpeque Bay Ramsar Site ............................................................................................. 3 1.4 Importance of wetlands .................................................................................................. 4 1.5 Purpose of this study ....................................................................................................... 5 1.5.1 Document structure and methodology .......................................................................... 6 CHAPTER 2 SETTING THE CONTEXT ............................................................................................... 8 2.1 Political factors ..................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Economic factors ................................................................................................................ 12 2.3. Social factors ...................................................................................................................... 13 2.4 Technological factors .......................................................................................................... 15 2.5 Environmental factors ........................................................................................................ 17 CHAPTER 3 THREATS .................................................................................................................... 25 3.1 Climate change ................................................................................................................... 25 3.2 Industrial threats ................................................................................................................ 28 3.2.1 Aquaculture and fisheries ............................................................................................. 28 3.2.2 Runoff from agriculture, forestry, and industrial processing ....................................... 31 3.2.3 Wind energy development ........................................................................................... 33 3.4 Direct human disruption .................................................................................................... 35 3.4.1 Land clearance and development ................................................................................ 35 3.4.2 Recreation ..................................................................................................................... 36 3.4 Invasive species .................................................................................................................. 37 3.5 Ranking the threats ............................................................................................................ 38 CHAPTER 4 EXISTING POLICIES AND LEGISLATION ..................................................................... 42 4.1 International commitments ............................................................................................... 42 4.1.1 Ramsar convention, 1971 ............................................................................................. 42 4.1.2 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992 ........................................................... 44 4.1.3 North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP), 1986 ................................ 45 4.2 Federal policies and legislation .......................................................................................... 45 4.2.1 Federal Policy on Wetland Conservation (FPWC), 1991 .............................................. 46 4.2.2 Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 ......................................................................... 46 4.2.3 Species at Risk Act, 2002 (SARA) .................................................................................. 47 4.2.4 Wildlife Act, 1985 ......................................................................................................... 47 4.2.5 Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 ............................................................ 48 4.2.6 Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 1992 .......................................................... 48 4.2.7 Oceans Act, 1996 .......................................................................................................... 49 4.2.8 Fisheries Act, 1985 ........................................................................................................ 49 v 4.2.9 Navigable Waters Protection Act, 1985 ....................................................................... 50 4.2.10 Aquaculture Policy Framework .................................................................................. 50 4.3 Provincial policies and legislation ...................................................................................... 51 4.3.1 Wetland Conservation Policy, 2003 ............................................................................. 51 4.3.2 Wildlife Policy, 1995 ..................................................................................................... 52 4.3.3 Wildlife Conservation Act, 1988 ................................................................................... 52 4.3.4 Environmental Protection Act, 1988 ............................................................................ 53 4.3.5 Lands Protection Act, 1988 ........................................................................................... 53 4.3.6 Natural Areas Protection Act, 1988 .............................................................................. 54 4.3.7 Planning Act, 1988 ........................................................................................................ 54 4.3.8 Pesticides Control Act, 1988 ......................................................................................... 55 4.3.9 Aquaculture Leasing Policy, 2008 ................................................................................. 55 4.3.10 Climate change strategy, 2008 ................................................................................... 56 CHAPTER 5 RAMSAR MANAGEMENT EXPECTATIONS ................................................................ 57 5.1 State of Ramsar site management in Canada ................................................................... 57 5.2 Management expectations for Ramsar sites ..................................................................... 60 5.3 Ramsar site management: a case study ............................................................................ 63 5.3.1 Case study selection criteria ......................................................................................... 63 5.3.2 Alderney West Coast and the Burhou Islands Ramsar site management planning ..... 64 CHAPTER 6 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK .............................. 68 6.1