Cover: Parks Canada / E. Lajeunesse 12. Parks Canada / M. Loiselle CETTE PUBLICATION EST AUSSI DISPONIBLE EN FRANÇAIS. 1. Parks Canada / J. Pleau 13. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher 2. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher 14. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher 3. Parks Canada / M. Loiselle 15. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented 4. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher 16. Parks Canada / C. Dubé by the Chief Executive Officer of Parks Canada Agency, 2015. 5. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher 17. Parks Canada / J.-G. Béliveau 6. Parks Canada / L. Falardeau 18. Library and Archives Canada/ Catalogue No.: R64-443/2015E 7. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher PA-186257 ISBN: 978-1-100-25836-2 8. Parcs Canada / M. Loiselle 19. Parks Canada / J.-G. Béliveau 9. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher 20. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher Type de papier 10. Parks Canada / M. Loiselle 21. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher 11. Parcs Canada / M. Loiselle 22. Parks Canada / E. Lajeunesse parkscanada.gc.ca [email protected] parcsquebec.com Tel: 1-888-773-8888 Tel: marinepark.qc.ca [email protected] Tel: 418-235-4703 Tel: [email protected] Rivière-Éternité (Québec) G0V 1P0 G0V (Québec) Rivière-Éternité Tadoussac (Québec) G0T 2A0 G0T (Québec) Tadoussac MORE Marine Park Marine 91, rue Notre-Dame rue 91, 182, rue de l’Église de rue 182, TO LEARN TO Parcs Québec Parcs Saguenay–St. Lawrence Lawrence Saguenay–St. Parks Canada Parks 21 18 20 19 A WEALTH OF RICHES OF WEALTH A A PLACE OF EXCHANGE, EXCHANGE, OF PLACE A A SOURCE OF LIFE, LIFE, OF SOURCE A By its curves, the Marine Park symbol represents the supple movement of the waves and the water bodies. 25 meters in length and weighing 120 tonnes The triangular shape brings the three sectors of the Park to mind: the Saguenay fjord, the St. Lawrence upper estuary and maritime estuary, as well as management by the Government of Canada, The blue whale is the largest animal in the world the Government of Québec and the regional stakeholders. The tips of the triangle symbolize the dorsal fins of whales or a pod of belugas. 2 1245 km Total area of the Marine Park 1636 Amplitude of 2.5 x the island of Montreal Animal and plant the Spring tides species observed in at Tadoussac the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Belugas belonging to Marine Park 889 the St. Lawrence population 5 metres 8000 YEARS -1° Celsius Human presence Temperature of the layer of cold water in the region 25 km propelled to the surface in the maritime 105 km Width of the St. Lawrence estuary estuary, even in summer! Length of the Saguenay fjord at the level of Tadoussac Maximum depth of the Marine Park in the St. Lawrence 1 000 000 500 000 maritime estuary Number of visits to the Marine Park Number of visits per year (at sea and on the coast) at sea per year 260 000 People living in the regions 340 metres 340 bordering the Marine Park CETTE PUBLICATION EST AUSSI DISPONIBLE EN FRANÇAIS. Cover: Parks Canada / E. Lajeunesse 12. Parks Canada / M. Loiselle 1. Parks Canada / J. Pleau 13. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented 2. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher 14. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher by the Chief Executive Officer of Parks Canada Agency, 2015. 3. Parks Canada / M. Loiselle 15. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher 4. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher 16. Parks Canada / C. Dubé Catalogue No.: R64-443/2015E 5. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher 17. Parks Canada / J.-G. Béliveau ISBN: 978-1-100-25836-2 6. Parks Canada / L. Falardeau 18. Library and Archives Canada/ 7. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher PA-186257 8. Parcs Canada / M. Loiselle 19. Parks Canada / J.-G. Béliveau 9. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher 20. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher 10. Parks Canada / M. Loiselle 21. Parks Canada / J.-L. Provencher 11. Parcs Canada / M. Loiselle 22. Parks Canada / E. Lajeunesse THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MARINE PARK AN EXCEPTIONAL A HISTORY SPANNING NATURAL TREASURE SEVERAL MILLENNIA The Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Occupied by Aboriginal peoples Park protects a marine region where 8.000 years ago, the region of the plant and animal diversity is exceptional: Park has a rich maritime history. Many from microscopic algae to the gigantic sailors have passed through there on 1 blue whale, more than 1,600 wild birchbark canoes, Basque whaling ships, species have been observed there. French vessels, sailboats, steamboats, commercial vessels and pleasure boats. MANDATE VISIT THE NATURAL HABITAT For the benefit of present and OF WHALES: A PRIVILEGE Today, nearly a million visitors come future generations, enhance the level every year to admire the scenery and of protection of the ecosystems of Visitors discover an important habitat watch the whales. The regular presence a representative part of the Saguenay for the survival of whales, especially for of a number of species of whales and fjord and the St. Lawrence estuary the St. Lawrence beluga. The protection the ease of access to observation sites for conservation purposes while of these mammals and their habitat is are hallmarks of the Marine Park. promoting its use for educational, part of the Marine Park’s mandate. recreational and scientific purposes. 2 1 MANAGEMENT OF THE MARINE PARK: a model of participatory management GOVERNMENTS JOIN FORCES The Marine Park is the first marine protected area created in Quebec and one of the first in Canada. It is part of the network of national marine conservation areas managed by Parks Canada and the network of Québec national parks (Parcs Québec) under the responsibility of the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (SÉPAQ). Their teams bring together and lead the many stakeholders to work together to achieve the objectives of the Park. 4 The creation of protected areas contributes to compliance with the international commitments of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. 5 6 7 3 PARKS CANADA PARTICIPATORY MANAGEMENT The nine members of the BRINGS THE COMMUNITIES coordination committee are: Parks Canada is the largest provider TOGETHER The Regional County Municipalities of tourist services related to historical (RCMs) adjoining the Marine Park and natural heritage sites in Canada. The contribution of First Nations (1 member per RCM): Charlevoix-Est, At present, Parks Canada administers and regional and local communities is Fjord-du-Saguenay and Haute-Côte- 44 national parks, 167 national essential to the success of the Nord; historic sites and 4 national marine Marine Park. This is why a coordination conservation areas across Canada. committee bringing together the Three RCMs of the Bas-Saint-Laurent regional participants was formed. (1 member for 3 RCMs): Rivière-du- PARCS QUÉBEC Loup, Les Basques and Kamouraska; COORDINATION COMMITTEE The First Nation Innus Essipit; SÉPAQ manages the largest outdoor The scientific community; network in Quebec, with more than The coordination committee submits 80,000 square kilometres of natural recommendations to managers regarding The interpretation and education territory. The Parcs Québec network policies that are favourable to the sectors; has 23 land-based parks as well as the achievement of the protected The Government of Canada (Parks Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park. area’s objectives. Canada); The Government of Québec (Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs). 2 3 Towards Baie-Comeau Les Escoumins ! Centre d’interprétation des battures St. Lawrence River et de réhabilitation des oiseaux Sainte-Rose-du-Nord Wharf ! Interpretation Site Essipit Saint-Fulgence Marine Environment Discovery Centre ! Sainte-Rose-du-Nord ! Towards Alma Cap Cap-de-Bon-Désir Interpretation à l'Est and observation Centre Saint-Basile-de-Tableau Lighthouse ! ! Archéo Topo Interpretation Centre Bon-Désir Lighthouse Cap-Ouest Les Bergeronnes Species at risk trail Saguenay Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay L’Anse-de-Roche Wharf Interpretation Site (Chicoutimi borough) (Baie-Sainte-Marguerite sector) ! Baie des Ha! Ha! Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay Parc national du Fjord- ! (Baie-Éternité sector) Île Saint-Louis Sacré- ! du-Saguenay Coeur (Baie-de-Tadoussac sector) Musée du Fjord ! L‘Anse Saint-Jean Petit-Saguenay Chauvin Trading Île aux Basques Post ! ! ! National Historic Site Saguenay Towards L'Anse-Saint-Jean ! Petit-Saguenay Marine Mammal Saint-Félix-d'Otis Rivière-Éternité ! (La Baie borough) Interpretation Centre Rimouski Tadoussac Île aux Towards Québec ! Batture aux Pommes Vaches Prince Shoal Lighthouse Pointe-Noire Interpretation Île Rouge Trois-Pistoles and Observation Centre Lighthouse ! Île Verte Lighthouse Parc de l’aventure Baie-Sainte-Catherine Wharf Île Verte Basque en Amérique Interpretation Site Île Rouge Baie-Sainte-Catherine Batture aux Île Verte Lighthouse Alouettes National Historic Site ! ! L'Isle-Verte Notre-Dame- ! Baie de L’Isle-Verte des-Sept-Douleurs National Wildlife Area ! Sagard 8 The Marine Park covers an area of 1,245 km2 in the St. Lawrence estuary Parc municipal ! Malécite and the Saguenay fjord. It includes the water, sea floor and the portion of de la Baie-des-Rochers the shoreline covered at high tide. ! Île Blanche ! Cacouna Cap de la Tête au Chien Lighthouse Îles du Pot à l‘Eau-de-Vie Legend and île aux Lièvres Pot à l'Eau-de-Vie Wharf, pontoon or launching ramp Lighthouse Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park Rivière-du-Loup Discovery Network sites Île aux ! Lièvres St. Lawrence Exploration Centre Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay Municipality Other protected areas Ferry boat ! Comprehensive preservation zones Hiking trail Saint-Siméon (Navigation forbidden) 9 Native Community Port-au-Persil Wharf Interpretation Site ! Cap au Saumon Notre-Dame-du-Portage Lighthouse Îles de l‘Estuaire National Wildlife Area 0 to 5 m Centre écologique Île aux de Port-au-Saumon Fraises Nautical miles La Malbaie 0 2 4 6 8 10 (Saint-Fidèle ) ! Îles Les Pèlerins Kilometers Depth Gros cap 0 5 10 15 20 à l'Aigle ! Saint-André Clermont -330 m ! La Malbaie (Cap-à-l'Aigle) 10 ! ! La Malbaie Îles de Kamouraska 5 Towards Québec Towards Québec CONTRIBUTION TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH To date, there have been more than 80 research and monitoring projects conducted in the Marine Park.