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Management Plan
Residents of the local communities became concerned over
the decline in the cod population and called for action measures to protect
the Gilbert Bay cod.
Gilbert Bay became an official Area of Interest (AOI)
in 2002, which in turn, provided short-term protection measures for the
area.
After extensive research and consultations, Gilbert Bay was determined
suitable to be designated as a MPA.
A management framework is needed to provide stakeholders
and managing authorities with a mechanism to effectively manage various
activities that are permitted within the MPA.
The management framework also works as a reference tool
to ensure the objectives of the MPA are being met.
For a look at our recently completed Management
Plan click here.
Gilbert Bay MPA Regulations
Section 35(3) of the Oceans Act provides for the
development of regulations that allow MPAs to be designated, zoned and
closed to activities that are considered incompatible with, or, would
compromise the reasons for designation.
The Regulations provide the agreed
minimum level of legislative management for the MPA.
They apply to those
activities for which existing legislation does not provide appropriate means
of management.
Although all stakeholders at differing levels will play a
vital role in the stewardship and protection of Gilbert Bay, DFO are the
authority ultimately responsible for ensuring that the Regulations are
adhered to.
For a more in depth look at the Gilbert Bay MPA regulations
simply click here.
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Summary of the Gilbert Bay Regulations
- Designate and formally recognize the Gilbert Bay Marine Protected
Area.
- Divide the MPA into three management zones, identifying them as
Zones 1, 2 & 3.
- Prohibit anyone or any activity, including the depositing,
discharging or destruction of substances, from disturbing, damaging,
destroying or removing any living organism or any part of its habitat
within the MPA.
- Identify activities and sewage outfalls that are exempt from the above
prohibitions.
- Identify further specific activities that are exempt from the
above prohibitions in the three management zones identified for the
area.
- Establish a procedure whereby anyone wishing to conduct scientific
research within the MPA must demonstrate that it is for the purpose of
conservation, protection, ecological understanding or restoration of
the MPA.
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Management Zones
The boundaries of the Gilbert Bay MPA are based on the
annual migration of Gilbert Bay cod.
They extend from the low water mark to
the waters of Gilbert Bay contained within lines drawn across the three
entrances of the bay at Winnard Tickle, Williams Harbour Run and Main
Tickle.
The area within the Gilbert Bay MPA boundaries is divided
into three management zones.
These three zones reflect differences in the physical
environments and habitats and their sensitivity to human activities.
Please click to enlarge map.
Zoning Scheme
The three management zones for the Gilbert Bay MPA are
subject to a proposed colour scheme.
These areas are visually
distinguishable from one another so as to provide any person using this
proposed scheme, the ability to determine, with ease, the varying levels of
protection within the MPA.
Therefore, the user can also distinguish which
activities are permissible and which activities are not. The colour scheme
chosen represents colours similar to those found in a municipal traffic
lighting system, whereby red signifies a high level of protection, amber an
intermediate level, and green a low level of
protection.
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Activity Table for Gilbert Bay Marine Protected Area
No
person (s) shall disturb, damage, destroy or remove any living
organism or any part of its habitat within the Marine Protected
Area. For an official interpretation of the regulations consult
http://canadagazetteducanada.gc.ca/partll/2005/20051019/html/sor295-e.html
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Activity |
Zone
1 |
Zone
2 |
Zone
3 |
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Recreational Fishing1 |
Angling for Salmonids (trout, salmon, arctic char) |
YES |
YES |
YES |
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Netting for Trout |
NO |
YES |
YES |
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Angling for Cod |
NO |
NO |
YES2 |
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Commercial Fishing3,4 |
Cod |
NO |
NO |
NO |
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Other
commercial species (i.e., scallops) |
NO |
YES |
YES |
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Aboriginal Fishing5 |
Scallop, Whelk, Smelt and Seals |
YES |
YES |
YES |
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Angling for Trout, Char, Salmon |
YES |
YES |
YES |
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Netting for Herring |
NO |
YES |
YES |
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Sailing and powered vessels |
Navigation |
YES |
YES |
YES |
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Construction3 of mooring facilities, e.g. wharf |
NO |
YES |
YES |
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Hunting |
Sealing6 |
YES |
YES |
YES |
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Furbearer trapping7 |
YES |
YES |
YES |
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Research8
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For
the purpose of conservation, protection, ecological understanding or
restoration |
YES |
YES |
YES |
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Discharging9
and dumping |
Discharge of sewage from William’s Harbour sewage outfall only as
per regulatory standards |
NO |
NO |
YES |
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Dumping |
NO |
NO |
NO |
- Licensed
under The Newfoundland Fishery Regulations or The Atlantic
Fishery Regulations, 1985.
- In 2006,
2007 and 2008 after consultation with the MPA Steering
Committee, Zone 3 was closed using a Variation Order under The
Fisheries Act.
- Licensed
under The Atlantic Fishery Regulations 1985.
- Licensed
under The Navigable Waters Protection Act and / or The Fisheries
Act.
- Licensed
under The Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licence Regulations.
- Licensed
under The Marine Mammal Regulation of The Fisheries Act.
- Licensed
under The Wild Life Act 1990, as amended.
- Approved by
DFO following the activity plan and approval process.
- Licensed
under The Water Resource Act and Waste Disposal Act.
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Users of Gilbert
Bay should note that activities other than those listed in this
table are prohibited. Failing to comply with MPA regulations could
mean prosecution under The Oceans Act or The Fisheries Act.
Violators could face fines as high as $500,000.00. |
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