Campaigns

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March 27 2020

Protected Areas Stewards

cpawsadmin Forest Campaigns, Terrestrial Campaigns

Become a Protected Area Steward and Help Protect
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Most Treasured Wild Spaces!

What is a Protected Area?

A protected area is a defined area of land and/or sea dedicated to the long-term conservation and maintenance of biological diversity and of natural and associated cultural resources, which are managed through legal or other effective means.

There are many ways that a system of protected areas benefits society:

Reservoirs to protect and preserve biodiversity
Strengthening our resiliency to climate change – increasing Earth’s
carbon storage, acting as a natural defense against flooding and erosion, mitigate extreme weather events
Continuing the allowance and possibility of Traditional and Local cultural values and uses
Protecting human needs – ensuring freshwater availability, healthy soils, wild foods, and the opportunity to explore and enjoy our natural spaces
Economics – ecotourism is one of the largest economic sectors in the world!
Study areas for scientific research and education
Benchmarks that help us measure the health of lands and wildlife outside natural areas and the impacts of climate change, pollution, extraction, alien invasive species
An “insurance policy” against loss or damage to similar ecosystems in other locations

Stewardship may be defined as the ‘careful and responsible management of ecosystem resources entrusted to humans in the interest of achieving and protecting ecosystem integrity for its intrinsic value and/or for the benefit of current and future generations’.

Protected Area Stewards are individuals and organizations that help to develop a world-class network of parks and protected areas. They provide input to site managers to assist with the management and operation of a number of protected areas throughout the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Duties of a Steward include:

To record the state of important natural terrestrial and aquatic features, flora and fauna, including endangered or threatened species and habitats.
To record any evident changes, threats, or disturbances to the protected area.
To identify any intentional or accidental violations contrary to the legislation of the protected area.
To inform Protected Area Managers of their findings.

Besides helping to protect environmentally sensitive areas as a Steward you also have:

a great learning opportunity
an outdoor adventure for individuals, families, or friends
volunteer experience for your resume

Get out there, and Protect your Natural Areas!

Learn more about the program:

To Become a Steward:

Please read the following statements below and email us your contact information.

I agree to become a Protected Areas Steward.
I will follow the guidelines and regulations outlined in the CPAWS-NL Volunteer Stewardship Monitoring Guide as well as those of Parks and Natural Areas Division, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador during my visits to protected areas.
I will visit a protected area at least once per year, fill out the standardized form in the monitoring guide to the best of my ability and return it to the CPAWS-NL office in St John’s via mail or in-person, or submit the information electronically online.
I understand that CPAWS is not responsible for any injury or damage as a result of my volunteer visits, or while in transit to and from the monitoring site.

Email your name, email address and mailing address to NLinfo@cpaws.org.

On receipt of your email one of our Staff will contact you.

Already a Steward? Enter your Survey Data Forms Online:

Click Here to Fill in Your Online Data Form

March 21 2018

Special Marine Areas

cpawsadmin Campaigns, Marine Campaigns, Ocean Campaigns

Special Marine Areas in Newfoundland and Labrador

The ocean surrounding Newfoundland and Labrador is rich in marine ecosystems that support marine life from the largest whales to the tiniest plankton, upon which generations of people and a cherished way of life has depended on. Our province boasts the Grand Banks, with some of the most important and productive marine ecosystem in the world. We are also known as the ‘Seabird Crossroads of the World’, hosting millions of migratory seabirds every year. We also have a burgeoning eco-tourism industry, centered partly around whale and bird watching experiences. Newfoundland and Labrador has a real chance to be ocean conservation leaders.

However, the continued declines in ocean health, including local fish populations, demonstrate that existing conservation measures are not enough to ensure the long-term survival of species and ecosystems upon which our coastal communities depend, especially in the face of a variety of human activities.

Click the button below to view the Special Marine Areas in Newfoundland and Labrador Guide, 2nd Edition, where with the help of scientists, governments, ENGOs, and community groups, have highlighted 140 special marine areas that include coastal sites, coral beds, bird colonies, fish spawning grounds, and migratory routes.

Special Marines Areas in Newfoundland and Labrador 2nd Edition

Priority Coastal Sites

Throughout the process of creating the Special Marine Areas of Newfoundland and Labrador, we have discovered there to be Coastal Areas which have high priority for the need of higher protection and management to sustain its ecosystem. These areas have high biological importance, high risk of current and future threats (natural and anthropogenic), highly unique, and other environmental characteristics.

Click on the tabs below to learn more about these areas!

Bonavista Bay

Bonavista Bay is a large exposed bay on the North Atlantic coast of Newfoundland. Due to the cold Labrador Current, icebergs are common in the summer. Bonavista Bay is within the Newfoundland Shelf region of Parks Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas system.

Special Features

The coast around Bonavista Bay is irregular, comprising narrow bays, sounds, inlets, coves and islands, which provide ideal nesting locations for a number of birds. The area is highly productive due to the cold Labrador Current. Subtidal fauna, seabirds and marine mammals in Bonavista Bay are diverse and abundant. Bonavista Bay provides habitat for many species, and contains many spawning sites for cod, herring, capelin, and lumpfish. There are several seabird breeding colonies within the ecoregion, including Leach’s Storm-Petrel, Common and Arctic Terns, Black-legged kittiwake, Atlantic Puffin, and great Black-backed, Herring and Ring-billed gulls. Common Eiders nest in some parts of the ecoregion; however, their numbers were severely reduced due to hunting around the turn of the century, and are only now increasing slowly.

Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) Photo By: Ken Reid

Within Bonavista Bay is Alexander Bay, which has been called the most ecologically unusual marine area in Terra Nova National Park due to unusually high water temperatures which provide habitat for species not normally found in Newfoundland and Labrador. For example, it contains seaweeds and invertebrates which, with the exception of Prince Edward Island, are normally only found South of Cape Cod. Parks Canada has identified the area from Cape Bonavista to North Head (Notre Dame Bay), and offshore to Funk Island as an Area of Interest, a preferred site for consideration as a possible National Marine Conservation Area in the Newfoundland Shelf region.

Protection

Terra Nova National Park makes up part of the terrestrial and coastal area of Bonavista Bay, but offers limited marine protection, and major capelin spawning beaches are outside the park boundary. There is a 2.1 km² Marine Protected Area (MPA) within Eastport which was created form the community up to protect their lobster stocks. Newman Sound is a Migratory Bird Sanctuary aimed at conserving migratory bird diversity by controlling human activities within important areas.

Threats

Over-fishing, causeways, gill nets causing seabird bycatch, and release of untreated waste into the ocean are all threats to marine diversity and health in Bonavista Bay. Areas of particular concern in Bonavista Bay include Cabot Island, South West Pond, Eastport and Newman Sound.

Hamilton Inlet

The coastal area around Hamilton Inlet falls within the Coastal Barrens and Mid Boreal Forest ecoregions. The entire inlet falls within the Labrador Shelf region of Parks Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas system. Important areas within Hamilton Inlet include the Gannet Islands, Groswater, Table Bay and Sandwich Bay. Four major rivers drain into Hamilton Inlet: Churchill (Mishta-shipu, grand), North West (Naskaupi), Kenamu, and Goose, draining a significant portion of the Ungava Peninsula.

Special Features

Hamilton Inlet and Lake Melville form the largest estuary in Labrador, and contain significant waterfowl, seabird, and other migratory bird colonies and habitats. Some of the largest aggregations of staging waterfowl in the province occur here in Spring and Fall. Hamilton Inlet is also part of the historical range of the endangered Eskimo Curlew, which may now be extinct. Some waterfowl species of special conservation concern breed in the area, including Black duck, Surf Scoter and Black Scoter.

Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis) Photo: Florida Museum

These species are the focus of the Black Duck and Sea Duck Joint Ventures under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Lesser Scaup and Harlequin Duck, which breed in a number of locations in the Mealy Mountain National Park area, are receiving increasing special conservation attention due to continental-level population declines. Intertidal marshes in the area contain unique flora, including temperate and arctic species, as well as species that occur on both sides of the Atlantic. Saltmarsh Cordgrass, which plays an important role in stabilizing shorelines, is rare in Newfoundland and Labrador and this area is its northern limit.

The Gannet Islands are an Important Bird Area and contain the largest and most diverse seabird breeding colony in Labrador, with tens of thousands of pairs of Atlantic Puffins, Common Murres and Razorbills. They contain the largest Razorbill colony in North America, and the second largest breeding colony of Atlantic Puffin in eastern North America. They are also the largest known moulting site for Harlequin Duck in eastern North America, with approximately 300 individuals moulting annually. Seals also whelp on the islands, coasts and pack ice in the area, or migrate through.

Protection

Hamilton Inlet has been identified by Parks Canada for consideration as a National Marine Conservation Area. The area is within a Fisheries Conservation Closed Area related to salmon fishing and conservation. The estuary of the Eagle River, which flows into Sandwich Bay, is also a Fisheries Conservation Closed Area. The Gannet Islands archipelago is a Seabird Ecological Reserve protecting Common Eider, Razorbills, Common Murre and Atlantic Puffin and their habitats, and the use of motorized vehicles or equipment within the reserve is prohibited.

Threats

Many ecosystems within Hamilton Inlet are fragile and sensitive to disturbance. Possible threats include road construction, changes in tidal flow, and damage from oil development (e.g., waste discharge affecting water quality, rigs attracting seabirds with artificial lighting, and noise pollution from oil exploration impeding marine mammals that use acoustic communication and echolocation). Proposed hydroelectric developments on the Churchill River at gull Island and Muskrat Falls would affect the estuarine habitat in the area and food webs involving commercially-important fish species on the Labrador Shelf.

Torngat Mountains Marine Area

The Torngat Mountains are the highest mountains in Canada east of the Rockies. The area has been the home of Inuit people and their predecessors for millennia, and contains a National Park that extends from Saglek Fjord to the northern tip of Labrador, and to the with Québec border. The Torngat Mountains are within the Alpine Tundra ecoregion, and their coast falls within the Labrador Shelf region of Parks Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas system. The coast in the Torngat Mountains region consists of cliffs up to 900 m in height, bays and fjords that extend into the mountain ranges, and a number of offshore islands. Marine sediment deposits extend many kilometres inland from the heads of the fjords.

Special Features

Seven Islands Bay and Galvano Island, located in the marine area adjacent to the Torngat mountains, have been identified as Important Bird Areas (IBAs). Both are significant for congregating bird species, and threatened species. Some 22% of the estimated eastern North American population of the Harlequin duck was observed in Seven Islands Bay in July 1994. This is the largest concentration in Labrador of Harlequin duck, which is a COSEWIC-listed Species of Special Concern. Galvano Island is significant for large numbers of breeding Common Eider, subspecies borealis.

Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)
Photo By: Jeannine Winkle

Protection

The area is within a Fisheries Conservation Closed Area related to salmon fishing and conservation. The Torngat Mountains received full National Park status in July 2008, but it has no marine component. Traditional fishing and hunting activities are allowed within park boundaries; however, the area is free from commercial and industrial development.

Threats

Although the area is used by Inuit for hunting, fishing and traveling, it remains pristine. Oil spills from shipping traffic could threaten the birds at Seven Islands Bay and Galvano Island. The area is also threatened by potential oil exploration and development on the Labrador Shelf.

Nain Coastline and Offshore Areas

The Nain coastline is an area bounded by Humbys Island, Dog Island, and the western and northern coasts of Paul Island. This complex coastline is made up of hundreds of islands, islets and shoals with rocky shores. Circulation in the area is dominated by the cold Labrador Current. The Nain area falls within the Coastal Barrens ecoregion, as well as the Labrador Shelf region of Parks Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas (NMCAs) system. The land in the area is owned by the Labrador Inuit and governed by the Nunatsiavut Government. There are two main rivers and many small streams that empty into the area, leading to extensive delta-related deposits and boulder-strewn intertidal flats. Dunes vegetated by stabilizing grasses, raised beaches, and salt marshes are also present along the coastline.

Special Features

Nain Bank is high in nutrients and primary productivity, due to local upwelling and transport of nutrients from the Hudson Strait, resulting in rich and diverse biota in the area. In Nain Bay, Pacific, Arctic and European fauna mix, resulting in high diversity among sublittoral benthic macrofauna. Portions of the coastline southeast of Nain and the offshore islands in the area have been identified as IBAs. The offshore islands support large numbers of nesting seabirds and are considered globally significant for congregating species and colonial seabirds. Species present in significant numbers include over 3% of the estimated North American population of Atlantic Puffin, 2.2% of the estimated North American population of Razorbill and 1.4% of the estimated North American population of

Razorbill (Alca torda)
Photo: Yann Rouxel

Glaucous Gull. Thick-billed and Common Murres, Black Guillemot, Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls also nest in large numbers. The islands also have significant concentrations of fish, seals and whales, are rich in artifacts and provide important marine resources to local people. The Nain coastline, including the offshore islands in the area, supports large numbers of moulting scoters. Between 16,000 and 19,370 scoters were recorded in 1998-1999, including 12,500 Surf Scoters, representing at least 1% of its estimated global population. Harlequin Ducks have been observed on the Nain coastline, and Peregrine Falcons nest in the area. Common Eiders also nest on several islands in the area.

Protection

Nain Bight, as a representative area of the Nain Bank, has been identified as a possible NMCA (along with Hamilton Inlet/Hamilton Bank). The Nunatsiavut Government has yet to designate any special marine areas within a Fisheries Conservation Closed Area related to salmon fishing and conservation.

Threats

Contaminants and oil pollution can be trapped behind the islands and in the bays around Nain, and intertidal flats and beaches may retain contaminants. The shipping route associated with the Voisey’s Bay mine is a potential threat to the birds. The presence of many shoals and small islands in the area increase the threat of oil spills.

Fogo Shelf

This Area Includes Bay of Exploits, Inner Shelf Area, Twillingate Island, New World Island, Fogo Island, and Cape Freels. It falls within the Eastern Hyper-Oceanic Barrens ecoregion, and is also located in the Newfoundland Shelf region of Parks Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas system. Little Fogo Islands is an archipelago with over 100 small islands directly north of Fogo Island.

Special Features

The cold, productive waters of the Labrador Current and upwellings on the Funk Island Banks lead to an abundance of zooplankton and breeding fish around the island, supporting a diversity of groundfish, pelagic fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and aquatic plants. The area is considered ecologically significant for several marine species such as lobster, capelin and herring. It is known to be important for juvenile fish. The many islands in the area provide habitat for marine waterfowl such as eider ducks, black ducks, terns, and cormorants. There are several seabird breeding colonies within the ecoregion, including Leach’s Storm-Petrel, Common and Arctic Terns, Black-legged kittiwake, Atlantic Puffin, and great Black-backed, Herring and Ring-billed gulls. Common Eiders nest in some parts of the ecoregion, but their numbers were severely reduced by hunting which occurred at the turn of the century; their numbers are now slowly increasing. In 1997, local fishers, developers and conservationists proposed the establishment of an MPA in Fogo Shelf, including three IBAs, as a response to the decline in marketable species, the cod fishing moratorium and increased fishing pressure on lobster in the area. Studies have

Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus)
Photo: Ken Reid

highlighted the cooperative and conflict-free nature of this initiative as a strong example of integrated management. This area has been identified as an area of interest for the establishment of an MPA, with the inshore region of the northeast Newfoundland shelf, from White Bay to western Bonavista Bay. The purpose of this MPA would be to conserve and protect local lobster stock and their habitat, local capelin beaches, important Atlantic Cod nursery areas, and important areas for Winter Flounder.

Protection

This area Contains an Ecological Reserve Community-based ocean conservation and research project among communities of Fogo Island, Change Islands, Leading Tickles, Carmanville, Funk Island and Little Fogo island. Funk Island is a provincial Seabird Ecological Reserve and International Biological Program Special Site, aimed at protecting Northern gannets and Common Murres. Funk Island is closed to hunting, and access to the island is restricted. Following a proposal submitted by the local community, work has begun towards the designation of this area as an MPA.

Threats

The seabirds in this area are vulnerable to the effects of human disturbance, toxic pollutants, oil pollution and fisheries – including entanglement in gear and competition for food. Illegal visits to the island are still common, despite prohibition of unauthorized human activity. The Common Murre colony is particularly sensitive to disturbance during the breeding season. Human impacts and possible threats to the area include effluent or contaminant spills from coastal communities, effluent from sawmills, and sewage outfalls. There has also been a noticeable increase in water temperature on the northeast coast of Newfoundland since the mid 1990s.

Witless Bay

Witless Bay is located off the east coast of the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland, between Bay Bulls and Mobile. Witless Bay is comprised of four islands: Gull, Green, Great, and Pee Pee Islands Seabird Ecological Reserve. Witless Bay is within the Southeastern Barrens subregion of the Maritime Barrens ecoregion.

Special Features

Witless Bay has been designated an IBA, due to its globally significant seabird breeding colonies. Species at risk inhabit the islands that make up the Reserve. More than one million pairs of seabirds of 10 different species breed on the Witless Bay Islands. The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve contains the largest Atlantic Puffin colony in North America with approximately 300,000 pairs estimated to nest there. The Reserve houses one of the largest Leach’s Storm-petrel colonies in the world, with approximately 315,000 breeding pairs. It also has the largest colony of Blacklegged Kittiwakes in Newfoundland and Labrador with 40,000 pairs, making up approximately 50% of the breeding population of kittiwakes in Newfoundland and Labrador and 16-22% of the western Atlantic breeding population. It has the 2nd largest colony of Common Murres in eastern North America with 77,000 pairs, signifying 2% of the Atlantic and 13% of the eastern North American breeding populations. The Witless Bay islands contain breeding populations of Razorbills, Black Guillemots and the first known Northern Fulmars to breed in Newfoundland. Gull and Great Islands were found to house over 4300 breeding pairs of Herring Gulls and over 100 pairs of Great Black-backed Gulls in 2000. Common and King Eiders, Thick-billed Murres and Dovekies winter in the waters surrounding the Witless Bay islands, and the area is important for migrating sea ducks. Capelin spawn in Witless Bay, for example at Gull Island, and migrating populations of whales also go through the area. Gull Island and the other Witless Bay islands are within the Eastern Avalon Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area identified by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Protection

Atlantic Pufflings (Fratercula arctica)
Photo: Greg Noel

The Witless Bay Islands have been designated a Seabird Ecological Reserve. The Ecological Reserve was established to preserve internationally important seabird breeding and overwintering colonies, maintain the natural communities of the Reserve, foster scientific studies, and provide the public with observation and educational opportunities. CPAWS-NL also conducts the Puffin and Petrel Patrol program during fledging season, and uses this opportunity to not only rescue stranded pufflings and petrels, but to raise awareness of light pollution and its effects on nocturnal seabirds. For more information click here: Puffin and Petrel Patrol

Threats and Recommendations

There is increasing concern about the levels of ecotourism in the Witless Bay area, particularly the impact of tour boat activities. Close approaches by boats, and tour boat operators aren’t subject to distance restrictions when approaching the islands. Close approaches to whales can result in behavioural reactions. The waters off the east coast of the Avalon Peninsula are also within a major shipping route, resulting in a threat of oil pollution.

Placentia Bay Extension EBSA / Cape St. Mary’s

Placentia Bay Extension includes all of Placentia Bay in Newfoundland, and the area from Point Crewe on the Burin Peninsula across the bay to Point Lance on the Avalon Peninsula. It falls within the Eastern Hyper-Oceanic Barrens ecoregion, and the grand Banks region of Parks Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas system.

Special Features

Placentia Bay Extension is within the top three priority Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) identified for conservation in the Placentia Baygrand Banks Large Ocean Management Area (LOMA), and has also been identified as a Coastal Management Area. The Placentia Bay-grand Banks LOMA is recognized by Fisheries and Oceans Canada as one of five priority LOMAs in Canada. High primary and secondary production occurs in Placentia Bay and its headlands. Placentia Bay contains standing and bay stocks of certain fish species concentrations of ichthyoplankton of fish such as cod,

Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)
Photo: Northeast Fisheries Science Sector

cunner, plaice and capelin, as well as spawning and nursery habitat for these same species. It contains the largest spawning stock of Atlantic Cod in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. There is high pelagic and demersal diversity in the bay and its extension is a vital Bird Area due to the presence of nesting, feeding, aggregation, refuge and overwintering sites of many bird species, including seabirds such as Atlantic Puffin, Black-legged kittiwake, Black guillemot, Common Murre, great Black-backed gull, greater Shearwater, Northern Fulmar and Northern gannet. Harbour Seals, otters and some cetaceans use the area throughout the year, and Leatherback Turtle and migratory cetaceans aggregate and feed in the region in spring and summer. The area is particularly important for Harbour Porpoise and Humpback Whale feeding, due to prey concentrations. Harbour Seals pup in three sites, and otters reproduce in the area. Female cetaceans with young are found in the bay during critical feeding times.

Protection

Placentia Bay is a fisheries management area established to protect scallop stocks from commercial harvesting, and Point Verde to Red Harbour Head is closed to recreational scallop fisheries. Cape St. Mary’s is a Seabird Ecological Reserve, and Come by Chance is a Wetland Stewardship Area that protects waterfowl staging habitat.

Threats

Murre and Razorbill breeding populations have been depleted, and Harlequin ducks decreased to three dozen in the mid-1990s. Threats to the ecosystem include marine pollution, over-fishing and scallop dragging activities, depleted food stocks, and accumulation of toxic chemicals. High levels of commercial and industrial activity in and around Placentia Bay have led to contamination and disturbance in a number of regions.

Hermitage Bay

Hermitage Bay is a small coastal bay on the South Coast of Newfoundland. The climate in the area is mild in the winter and cool in the summer. The bay falls within the South Coast Barrens subregion of the Maritime Barrens ecoregion. It is located in the Laurentian Channel region of Parks Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas system.

Special Features

The area is rich in marine biodiversity. Deep water fauna exists just offshore of Hermitage Bay, and in Bay d’Espoir, an unusual phenomenon in waters so close to shore, and both Conne and Little River are historically important area for Atlantic Salmon. There has also historically been an abundance of fish at Fox Islands in Hermitage Bay. The ecoregion contains some seabird nesting areas, as well as

Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)
Photo: DFO

greenwinged Teal and Least Sandpiper breeding areas. Archaeological evidence exists of Maritime Archaic Indians, Paleo-Eskimo, dorset Eskimo and Beothuk presence on Long Island at the entrance to Hermitage Bay.

Protection

The area is within Fisheries Conservation Closed Area, aimed at protecting populations of spawning redfish. It is also within Fortune Bay Fisheries Management Closed Areas, initiated by inshore fishers, that are closed to most otter trawling.

Threats

Hermitage Bay is on a ferry route, therefore there is a threat of oil pollution. Bay d’Espoir has been used as a dumping ground for old ships – two old sidetrawlers from the gaultois fish plant were scuttled there, without being decontaminated in advance.

Gros Morne Marine Area

Gros Morne National Park is a worldheritage site located on the west coast of Newfoundland, characterized by coastal plains, fjords and coastal cliffs. The topography of the bay is complex, with irregularities due to estuaries, sedimentary bars, mountainside slumping, hard bedrock outcrops, boulder fields and rock slides. The Bonne Bay Marine Station located in the park specializes in marine research and education.

Special Features

This area was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 due to its unique, accessible, pristine geological features, and Tablelands geological site. The marine environment of Gros Morne is considered important by biologists for its variety of habitats and for having the highest biodiversity in Newfoundland. The stratification of seawater, and the convergence of the northern limits of boreal and temperate species and the southern limits of Arctic species result in high species diversity. Bonne Bay contains the highest biodiversity of seaweeds and kelp in Eastern Canada. Trout and char spawn in small creeks which run from ponds and lakes to the ocean. Lumpfish, herring and many other species also spawn in Bonne Bay. Canada goose nests in the coastal bog ponds of the subregion, and the at-risk Harlequin duck breeds in low numbers in the upper reaches of fast-flowing rivers. St. Paul’s inlet has an extensive salt marsh with a distinct mix of temperate and arctic species. Unique coastal habitats like sand shallows form here. The islands in the bay contain important shorebird nesting sites.

Lion’s Mane Jellyfish (Cyanea capillata)
Photo: Great Big Canvas

Protection

Gros Morne National Park has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but lacks any marine protection below the high water mark. Both St. Paul`s Inlet and Bonne Bay are surrounded by Gros Morne National Park, which protects a portion of the Western Newfoundland Highlands natural region.

Threats

Despite the species diversity in the area, over-fishing has caused population depletion. Major expansion of residential and tourism-related industrial development is occurring on portions of the shoreline that are not included in Gros Morne National Park. Other threats to the area include sewage outflow, terrestrial runoff, waste from local fish plants, and damage to intertidal zones.

St. George’s Bay, Port au Port

St. George’s Bay is a large, sheltered bay on the west coast of Newfoundland. The Bay contains barrier islands which protect the land. The Port au Port peninsula is a triangular peninsula located on the west coast of Newfoundland and extending out into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. St. George’s Bay, Sandy Point and Port au Port are located in the Laurentian Channel ecoregion of Parks Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas System.

Special Features

St. George’s Bay contains many eelgrass beds and salt marshes. The Spartina salt marsh on the Port au Port peninsula and Sandy Point provides important habitat for birds and other animals. It houses rare plant species such as Seabeach Sedge, Saltmarsh Rush, Seaside Lavender, and Saltwater Cordgrass, amphipods, and fish also exist in the area. St. George’s Bay contains submarine fans that have not been seen anywhere else in the region. Herring also spawn in the area. Shorebirds and songbirds use the habitat in the area during fall migration and nesting season. Migratory shorebirds congregate in large numbers on tidal flats in the fall. Piping Plovers nest in the area. The only known nesting location in the province for Willet is on Flat Island in St. George’s Bay. Other nesting shorebirds in the area include Greater Yellowlegs, Common Snipe and Spotted Sandpiper. Flat Island contains colonies of Common and Arctic Terns, Ring-billed Gulls and Greater Black-backed Gulls. White-winged Scoters are sometimes abundant in nearshore areas. The area is also along an annual seal migration route.

Protection

St. George’s Bay and Port au Port Bay are Fisheries Conservation Closed Areas, aimed at conservation of Atlantic Salmon, Atlantic Herring spring spawning, and lobster. The bay is seasonally closed to scallop fishing, and a portion is closed to commercial scallop fishing.

Threats

Overfishing is an issue in the area, especially during herring spawning. Sandy Point is heavily impacted by all-terrain vehicle and horse travel. Several industrial threats exist to the area; for example, pulp and paper effluent has been found to affect Winter Flounder in St. George’s Bay. Mining activities also occur in the Stephenville area and throughout the Port au Port peninsula.

South Coast Fjords

Newfoundland and Labrador is known for its exquisite natural beauty and productive coastal waters, and the South Coast Fjords are a perfect example of such. The area is a haven for species like blue, humpback, fin and killer whales in the winter and leatherback sea turtles in the summer. The establishment of the South Coast Fjords NMCA will preserve endangered species and ecosystems – both of which are important criteria for Canada’s network of marine protected areas.

Many marine mammals and rare species follow this route to feed in the sheltered bays, including leatherback turtles, harbour porpoises, and humpback, fin, blue, right, and killer whales. Endangered porbeagle sharks are also known to aggregate off Pass Island. The Burgeo Sandbanks contain extensive beaches and marshes which provide habitat for the globally-vulnerable Piping Plover.

You can learn more about the South Coast Fjords here!

March 6 2018

Marine Waste Management

cpawsadmin Campaigns, Marine Campaigns, Ocean Campaigns

Marine Waste Management

Background

With over 16,000 kilometers of coastline, it is no surprise that Newfoundland and Labrador has been built along the coast, with many communities relying year after year on the ocean for their livelihood. Due to this connection to the ocean, our province has the highest number of active harbours in the country, with 343 active harbours (the second highest is Nova Scotia with 226). Unfortunately, Newfoundland and Labrador’s marine environments experience various threats daily, including threats presented by marine debris.

In consultation and partnership with the Clean Foundation of Nova Scotia, the founders of the award winning Ship to Shore program, CPAWS-NL were thrilled to take the Ship to Shore program toNewfoundland and Labrador (NL)

But what is Ship to Shore?

Through working with fish harvesters, marine vessel operators and harbour management, this program aims to reduce marine debris and encourage all ocean users to bring all of their waste back to shore and dispose of it properly. We aim to work with the communities and mitigate waste disposal issues, and find solutions to make the community a clean space both for its people and species it calls home. Identifying barriers that inhibit proper waste disposal will help reduce the amount of waste in our oceans and along our diverse coastlines.

Participating Communities in NL:

Since starting the program in 2017, we have brought the Ship to Shore program to different regions of the province. For each region, we had the opportunity to meet with many community members including ocean users, fish harvesters, marine vessel operators, and harbour management. We also had the pleasure of delivering presentations to students to talk all about marine debris. Many volunteers also participated in our beach and underwater cleanups, helping to reduce waste in the ocean. Apart from the participating NL communities highlighted below, CPAWS-NL has also organized cleanups in other areas of the province including Flatrock, Harbour Grace, Harbour Main, Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s, and Torbay.

Petty Harbour (2017)

In 2017, the Ship to Shore Pilot Project was done in Petty Harbour. This small community is located on the eastern shore of the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland and has an active fishing industry. It’s also a well-known tourist destination with its very own Mini Aquarium that highlights marine conservation and local marine life.

Petty Harbour, NL Photo Credit: NewfoundlandandLabrador.com

Straight Shore (2018-2019)

The Straight shore is situated on the north east of Newfoundland and is known for its long and sandy coastline. Here, we engaged with fishing communities – Cape Freels North, Aspen Cove, Ladle Cove, Lumsden, Musgrave Harbour, and Newtown.

Volunteers after a beach cleanup in Ladle Cove, NL. Clean beach in Ladle Cove, NL

Burin Peninsula (2019-2020)

This part of the province is found on the south coast of Newfoundland, separating Fortune Bay and Placentia Bay and is known to locals as “The Boot” due to its shape. 8 communities were involved in the program from this region – Burin, Fortune, Garnish, Grand Bank, Lawn, Lamaline, Point au Gaul, and St. Lawrence.

Wharf in Garnish, NL

Students from Lamaline school cleaning a beach after

learning all about marine debris

Connaigre Peninsula (2020-2021)

Connaigre Peninsula is located on the south coast of Newfoundland with many small fishing communities, some accessible only by boat. This region is unique to the province as it is heavily involved with aquaculture (Atlantic salmon, blue mussels, steelhead trout, and Atlantic cod). Participating communities from this area were – Belloram, Harbour Breton, Hermitage, McCallum, and Seal Cove.

Aftermath of our underwater cleanup at the Hermitage Harbour. (In picture left to right: Steve Crewe (mayor of Hermitage-Sandyville), Rick Stanley, and John Olivero (divers from Ocean Quest Adventures), and Robyn Knight (Conservation Assistant for CPAWS-NL).)

Outport community wharf in McCallum, NL. Photo Credit: Marion Jackson

Harbour authority and local fish harvesters at the wharf in Seal Cove, NL

during a meeting to discuss waste disposal issues and solutions.

What is Marine Debris? Marine debris is any solid micro or macro waste that is intentionally or unintentionally disposed of or abandoned in the marine environment. It includes all kinds of plastic, metal containers, waste oil and other man-made materials. Marine debris damages habitat, kills wildlife through entanglements, ingestion, injuries, and ghost fishing, deters tourists, threatens human health and is a hazard for navigation and fishing gear. To secure our marine resources, we must ensure the health of its ecosystems. The density and distribution of marine debris originating from human activities are primarily governed by the amount of ocean industry and shipping traffic, the proximity to populated coastal areas, and the patterns of oceanic circulation and surface winds. Discarded and lost fishing gear and other debris from fishing vessels are most noted as the dominant components of marine debris.

It’s important to report large marine debris hazards such as equipment used within the ocean industry such as netting. If you know of hazardous large marine debris that is difficult or unsafe to retrieve, please click to fill out our form!

Why Involve Fishers and Harbour Authorities? Discarded and lost fishing gear, and other debris from fishing vessels, are the most common and visible forms of marine debris, where 80% of ocean plastics are related to fishing activities. Therefore, the key to minimizing marine debris in the ocean is to listen to the concerns of regular ocean users – those who know their waters the best, and guide them into effective change.

CPAWS-NL envisions a clean, healthy environment not only to aide the ecosystem but to ensure the longevity of sustainable resources.

What Can You Do?

Return all waste used at sea back to shore, disposing, recycling or reusing items properly. Litter on land can also end up on the oceans by wind and water runoff.
Reduce plastic use – as many ocean species such as whales and turtles mistake plastics for food. Plastic and other debris can not be naturally expelled from the body.
Ensure all fishing gear such as fishing lines, gears, ropes, nets, are not released at sea, as these can cause entanglements in whales and turtles, and become ghost nets on the ocean floor. Report any and all fishing gear that can not be safely retrieved to DFO or CPAWS-NL
TAKE THE OCEAN CHAMPION PLEDGE! Click “Take the Pledge” button below!

Take the Pledge!

Marine Debris Database Submission Form

Click Here for the Ocean Champion Questionnaire

Effects of marine debris on species at risk

Click here to access our Aquatic Species at Risk Guidebook!

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Leatherback Sea Turtle (Endangered)
Dermochelys coriacea

It may be hard to believe, but Newfoundland and Labrador is home to a turtle! The Leatherback Sea Turtle are migrating species, and like whales, they travel along our coasts throughout summer to forage before returning south to breed. Atlantic Canada has a predictable abundance of jellyfish, and therefore hosts one of the highest densities of foraging Leatherback Sea Turtles. Unfortunately for human viewing, Leatherbacks will never be found onshore in Newfoundland, as they stay out in the ocean snacking on jellies!

Leatherback Sea Turtles is 1 of only 7 species of marine turtles in the world. As per their name, they have a leathery shell, differing from the “typical” bony shells of other species of turtles (including the other 6 marine species). The shell is shaped like a teardrop with 7 distinct dorsal ridges tapering at the tail. Leatherback Sea Turtles are bluish-black in colour with scattered white blotches and have very large paddle-shaped front flippers. Each adult has a uniquely patterned “pink spot” on the top of the head, which is believed to play a role in prompting migration by responding to seasonal changes in daylight. The adult Atlantic population of Leatherback Sea Turtles that frequent our waters have an average curved carapace (shell) length of approximately 1.5 metres and an average weight of approximately 400 kg. As their diet consists mainly of jellyfish, the throat and the esophagus of Leatherbacks are covered with spines which is an adaptation to assist in swallowing the slippery jellies.

Threats

Anthropogenic threats to Leatherback Sea Turtles include: entanglement, vessel collisions, marine pollution, acoustic disturbance, climate change, poaching, coastal development, and artificial light.

The threat of highest concern in Atlantic Canadian waters is entanglement in fishing gear, which can cause lethal or sub-lethal injuries to a turtle. Entanglement can also compromise a turtle’s ability to swim, resulting in drowning. Poaching, coastal development, and artificial light are not threats in Canadian waters, as these compromise recruitment success.

How YOU Can Help Leatherbacks in NL

You can help protect sea turtles by using less plastic! As mentioned above, Leatherbacks’ main diet are jellyfish, and as you can see in the picture below, it is easy for these turtles to confuse a plastic bag for a jellyfish. Once ingested these plastics can not be digested or naturally expelled from the body. They simply stay within in stomach… as more plastics enters, their stomach becomes more full having no room for food, causing starvation and death. They may also get tangled up in various kinds of plastic, such as 6-pack rings from soda cans or packing straps. This causes injuries and makes it hard for them to swim or feed, causing drowning.

You can reduce plastic waste and help sea turtles by:

using reusable shopping bags
recycling plastic whenever possible
drinking from refillable water bottles
packing your lunch in reusable containers
refusing single-use plastics, like straws and bags
disposing garbage in proper trash containers, as garbage litter can be carried by wind and water to the ocean

Recovery Strategy for the Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) in Atlantic Canada

North Atlantic Right Whale (Endangered)
Eubalaena glacialis

The North Atlantic Right Whale is a migratory whale that has been making its way in Atlantic waters more frequently in recent years. This baleen whale (also termed “toothless whale”) migrates to Northern waters to feast on our abundance of prey, primarily microscopic crustaceans named copepods. They may remain in our waters throughout Fall, Summer, and Spring. In Winter months, female Right Whales travel to the coastal areas of Florida and Georgia for calving. Calving takes place every 2 to 6 years, birthing just one calf. North Atlantic Right Whales can live at least 75 years. Unfortunately, this whale is one of the most endangered whales on the planet with only approximately 411 (2018 survey) whales remaining in its global population.

Sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish whale species from one another, especially from looking afar. There are some unique characteristics which make North Atlantic Right Whales easier to spot: wide tail flukes and narrow tailstock, large flippers and no fin on its back (no dorsal fin), black skin, though some right whales have white patches on the throat or belly, rough white patches of skin called callosities on their head, chin and sometimes on the edge of their lower lips. Each whale’s callosity pattern is unique, allowing scientists to recognize individual whales.

Threats

Collisions with vessels, entanglement in fishing gear and underwater noise are the most serious threats to the North Atlantic Right Whale population. In consequence of the 17 Right Whale Deaths of 2017 (approximately 4% of their entire population), the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) have implemented recovery actions to prevent future anthropocentric deaths – a commitment of the Government of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan.

What YOU Can Do To Help North Atlantic Right Whales

Reduce plastic use – as baleen whales, such as Right Whales feed, they filter out water and ingest prey and oftentimes plastic. Plastic and other debris can not be naturally expelled from the body, filling its belly, mimicking that it is “full” and oftentimes will cause starvation and death.
Ensure all fishing gear are not discarded at sea, as fishing lines, gears, ropes, nets, can cause entanglement in whales. Entanglement can cause harm to the body resulting in sores and infection, and can also become too heavy and the whale does not have enough energy, causing drowning.
If you see an entangled whale call Whale Release and Strandings at 1-888-895-3003

Action Plan for the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) in Canada: Fishery Interactions

Recovery Strategy for the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) in Atlantic Canadian Waters

Wolffish
**Spotted Wolffish (Anarhichas minor) – Threatened
Northern Wolffish (Anarhichas denticulatus) – Threatened
Atlantic (Striped) Wolffish (Anarchichas lupus) – Special Concern**

The surrounding waters of Newfoundland and Labrador are home to three of four species of Wolffish: Atlantic (Striped), Spotted, and Northern. All three species have overlapping habitats and similar threats so they are combined when determining their recovery strategy. Wolffish species are ecologically important as their primary diet is sea urchins (though also includes brittlestars, crab, shrimp, and other crustaceans). A decrease in wolffish population therefore can attribute to an increase in sea urchins, which poses a threat to the entire ecosystem as over abundance of sea urchins can result in an “urchin barren”. Sea urchins feed on kelp and seaweed, large masses of urchins can forage entire kelp beds, removing habitat for breeding, recruitment and hiding areas for young from predators. Urchin barrens affect all species, including commercially important species such as cod, lobster, and crab.

Know Your Wolffish

The Atlantic Wolffish is the most abundant of the three species found throughout the province, they are also commonly found both inshore and offshore unlike the other two species which predominately remain offshore. The head is large relative to the body, with vertical stripes on fins and body. Juveniles are yellowish brown with olive green fins, and adults range from yellowish brown to slate/purplish blue. Flesh is firm.

Northern Wolffish is commonly found the most offshore than the other two species. The head is small relative to the body. Pectoral fins and gill openings are also small. The body colour is more uniform for all sizes, ranging from dark grey to dark brown to purplish black. Indistinct dark spots are possible, but rare. Flesh is jelly-like.

Spotted Wolffish’s head is large relative to the body, with dark spots on fins and body. Juveniles are greyish brown (sometimes with a purplish colour), and adults range from yellowish brown to greyish brown to dark brown. Flesh is firm.

Threats

The leading cause of Wolffish decline is suggested to be incidental bycatch during fishery activities (food, small and large scale, and inshore and offshore fisheries). However, there are other factors which contribute to their population decline such as poor recruitment do to climate change, habitat alterations and habitat destruction, pollution (ocean dumping and coastal run-off), seismic activities, and natural mortality due to parasites, disease and predation.

What You Can Do To Help Wolffish Populations

Since 2004, all Wolffish accidentally caught during any fisheries must be released, quickly, without harm to the Wolffish, and at the site of capture.
Report any sighting of Wolffish to DFO or CPAWS-NL
Reduce plastic use and ensure plastic and other garbage are properly disposed of or recycled. Marine debris alters habitats and disrupts food chains, habitat conditions, and ultimately affects population success.

Recovery Strategy for Northern Wolffish (Anarhichas denticulatus) and Spotted Wolffish (Anarhichas minor), and Management Plan for Atlantic Wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) in Canada

See More of Our Work

Piping_plover_chick,_west_meadow_beach_(27462239585)

March 6 2018

Shorebird Survey

cpawsadmin Campaigns, Wildlife Campaigns

The Newfoundland and Labrador Shorebird Survey (A chapter of the Atlantic Canada Shorebird Survey (ACSS)) is an important initiative designed to evaluate the use of coastlines by migrating shorebirds, document areas of significant concentrations and identify habitats important to various species.

SHOREBIRDS

Shorebirds are small to medium sized birds with slender, probing bills and long legs. They are associated with water, but feed on open ground mostly by wading in or along the edge of shallow water using their bills to probe in mud or sand or to pluck food from the ground (Gill 1994). Shorebirds are a diverse group of birds that include Plovers, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, Snipe, Curlews, Godwits and Turnstones.

The Threat

THREATS TO SHOREBIRDS

Worldwide there are events that threaten the existence of shorebirds. Just a few examples
include:
• Loss of habitat due to urban expansion and changes in land use. Ocean front development has become a major issue in coastal communities leading to the degradation of coastal habitats.
• Global climate change due to increase of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is predicted to affect the distribution of most species, as well as their associated habitats. It is thought that coastal areas will experience higher frequency of storms and the interior may see an increase in natural fire cycles. Sea level rise may destroy vital staging habitat to migratory shorebirds (Galbraith et al., 2000; Galbraith 2001).
• Increased disturbance in shorebird habitat.
• Pollution; oil spills etc.

**Current volunteers please click here to enter your data using the online data entry form!

We are currently looking to collect data on shorebirds in the below list of beaches (we also enjoy other beach sightings as well!):

Swift Current, Burin Peninsula
Stephenville Crossing, St. George’s Bay
St. Shott’s Beach, St. Shott’s, Trepassey Bay
St. Shott’s Sod Farm, St. Shott’s, Trepassey Bay
Spaniards Bay, Conception Bay, Avalon Peninsula
Shoal Cove West, Strait of Belle Isle, Ferolle Peninsula, Northern Peninsula St. Anthony
Second Pond, Goulds
Sandy Point, Flat Bay, St. George’s Stephenville
Pouch Cove
Portugal Cove South
Fort Amherst
Long Beach, Cape Race
LaManche Provincial Park
JT Cheeseman Provincial Park – Cape Barachois/Cape Ray, Southwest Coast, St. George’s Stephenville
Hawke’s Bay, Northern Peninsula St. Anthony
Garnish, Burin Peninsula
Gambo,
Flat Bay Peninsula aka Jento’s Island, St. George’s Bay
Eddies Cove East – GMNP
Eastport – Sandy Cove Beach, Sandy Cove, Bonavista Bay
Chance Cove, Avalon Peninsula
Carmanville, Hamilton Sound, Notre Dame Bay
Cape Race Rd, Road leading to Cape Race light
Cape Freels, Cape Freels North, Notre Dame Bay, Bonavista Bay
Black Duck Brook, Port au Port Peninsula, Port au Port Bay, St. George’s Stephenville
Big & Little Barasway, Burgeo, St. George’s Stephenville
Bellevue Provincial Park, Bellevue Avalon
Baie Verte, northeast coast

Our work

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March 6 2018

Puffin and Petrel Patrol

cpawsadmin Campaigns, Marine Campaigns, Wildlife Campaigns

Since the start of Puffin & Petrel Patrol, the program has rescued thousands of Atlantic Puffin and Leach’s Storm-Petrel chicks and released them back to sea. Now, more than ever, these birds need our help. Both species are globally listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List due to drastic global population declines.

2024 season is now over! Thank you to everyone for their help and support. Data and statistics from this season will be reased soon!

The History

The Petrel and Petrel Patrol Program started in 2004 when Juergen and Elfie Schau of Germany were visiting their summer getaway in Witless Bay. They began noticing young Puffins (named Pufflings) stranded along the roadside and quickly learned that this was a regular occurrence during fledging season. They wanted to help so they recruited local community members to aid in the rescue of the stranded Puffins Since then, what began as a small project involving neighbours and their children has grown into a beloved community tradition of rescuing Puffins and Petrels each year during fledging season.

In the summer of 2011, CPAWS-NL partnered with the Schaus in order to expand and facilitate this program to include the rescue of Leach’s Storm-Petrels and to extend the patrol to include an additional 5 communities surrounding the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. The Seabird Conservation and Habitat Improvement Program facilitates volunteers to educate and encourage locals to dim or turn off unnecessary lighting, decreasing light pollution.

The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve is home to North America’s largest colony of Atlantic Puffins and the world’s second largest colony of the Leach’s Storm-Petrel, with both having a sum of over 600,000 mating pairs. This ecological reserve runs from the Town of Witless Bay to the Town of Burnt Cove, along the Southern Shore of Newfoundland. Both Puffins and Petrels dig burrows for nests and lay one egg in May or June, which is incubated by both parents. After approximately 7 weeks later the chicks hatch. Atlantic Puffin Chicks begin leaving their nests in late summer, fledging throughout the month of August.

Leach’s Storm-Petrels leave their burrows from September to mid-November. Both species make their way out to sea, where they remain until they are old enough to breed at 4-5 years old. Fledging occurs during the night to avoid predators, using the moon and stars as their navigation system, leading them to the ocean.

This program runs from August – Mid-November each year rescuing Puffin and Petrel chicks. Puffin rescue runs in August and Petrels from September to mid-November. Unlike Puffins, Leach’s Storm-Petrels are nocturnal and these birds are released onto a dark beach the same night they are rescued in the fall months, while Atlantic Puffins are kept overnight and released in the mornings in August.

The Problem

Increased business and residential development in our province, particularly on the Avalon Peninsula, has resulted in an increase in the number of stranded seabirds turning up along our roadways and in backyards.

Under ideal conditions, Atlantic Puffin and Leach’s Storm-Petrel chicks fledge at night and use the stars and the moon as a navigational system, directing them out to sea. Unfortunately, on overcast or foggy nights, many chicks become disoriented and are attracted by artificial lights along the coast. Street lights, vehicle headlights, and home lights can all throw these little birds off course – leading them to navigate toward land instead of out to the open ocean.

For Atlantic Puffins, this is a common occurrence during their fledging season in August as these chicks leave the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. In mid-September through mid-November, this also happens to Leach’s Storm-Petrels as they fledge from their burrows. Leach’s Storm-Petrels can be found stranded in many places on the Avalon Peninsula as we have the largest Leach’s Storm-Petrel colony in the world (Baccalieu Island) as well as other colonies with large populations like the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve.

Artificial lighting influences the migration, foraging, reproduction and parental behavior of seabirds. It is unlikely that most will find their own way back into the marine environment without the help of patrollers who rescue them. Being seabirds, puffins and petrels find locomotion very difficult on land, and as seabirds they only eat marine life. Even with the Puffin & Petrel Patrol’s dedicated volunteers, hundreds of chicks are still ending up dead in our communities due to this ever-growing issue.

What We Do

Atlantic Puffin Rescue – Each night during the fledging season in August, volunteers from local communities and those who have travelled far and wide to participate in the program, patrol the community ‘hotspots’ searching for stranded juvenile Atlantic Puffins. Once they are caught, they are housed overnight in crates until they can be released the next morning along the coast. CPAWS-NL facilitates this program and collects information such as locations of stranded birds, environmental conditions, number of active patrollers as well as providing safety equipment to those who partake. Prior to their release, with the assistance of Environment and Climate Change Canada- Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), puffins are banded, weighed, wing measured, and a sub-sample are swabbed to test for avian influenza. This allows CWS a means to collect information from the seabirds efficiently and without causing disturbance to the breeding colonies. This information contributes to our understanding of the overall health of the puffin population and, if individuals are re-sighted, can give us a clue of where these birds go.

Leach’s Storm-Petrel Rescue – During the fall months, during September to mid-November, Leach’s Storm-Petrel chicks begin their migration seawards. Like pufflings, many young Leach’s Storm-Petrels unfortunately become thrown off-course due to strong winds and light pollution from the coasts. Young inexperienced petrels become stranded on land all across the Avalon Peninsula. CPAWS-NL provides support to members of the public who discover these birds on roads, boats, parking lots, and even downtown St. John’s! Unlike puffins, petrels are nocturnal creatures, which means they are sensitive to the daylight and must be released during the dark hours. It also means that many people have never seen a Leach’s Storm-Petrel before and may not know what kind of bird they have found!

If you find an Atlantic Puffin or Leach’s Storm-Petrel, it is important to contact us at nlpuffinpatrol@cpaws.org or (709) 330-8929

Register to be a Puffin Patrol Volunteer

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Puffin and Petrel Patrol! We rely on our volunteers to rescue hundreds of young seabirds every year, and while we are appreciative of the tremendous interest, we prioritize public safety and our program mandate; to mitigate the effects of light pollution on seabirds. Too great a volume of people and traffic in Witless Bay and in surrounding communities can unfortunately create additional light pollution and can cause serious concerns for public, community, and wildlife safety. Therefore, nightly patrols will be restricted to local residents of immediate areas and to pre-registered non-locals (limited registration space is available to those who reside outside of the targeted patrol area).

Non-Locals: To become a Puffin Patrol volunteer, you will have to register.

Make sure you choose a date and training slot that has enough free spaces for yourself and your group. Everyone, including children, will need to register by carload (one registration form per carload of people). Children under the age of 18 will require consent from their legal parent or guardian. Everyone must sign the waiver below before their patrol.

Before Your Patrol Shift

Visit and review the additional information provided on our web-page FAQ to prepare yourself for your patrol experience.

Help us keep Puffin and Petrel Patrol program going: Every year, we need to replace missing and damaged equipment, hire staff, and print materials and permits. We also do a lot of important behind-the-scenes work to reduce the impact of artificial light pollution in on these vulnerable seabirds. Visit our donation page and consider giving a gift of $15 per patroller to help us keep our important work going.

On the Day of Your Patrol Shift

Arrive to headquarters 10 minutes before your scheduled shift. Remember that if you are based in St. John’s, it is about a half hour drive to the community of Bay Bulls. Plan your trip accordingly.

Before arriving, please will out a waiver.

Prior to patrolling, every Patroller is required to take part in a brief training session, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions. After successfully completing your training, you will receive a permit, a map and will be able to sign out equipment to start patrolling. Everyone will also be required to sign a waiver prior to Patrolling for their safety.

Unfortunately due to COVID-19 we are unable to lend out safety gear. Every patroller MUST bring their own safety vest, gloves, and flashlight. We will provide crates and nets, which will be sanitized after each use. You will also need your own vehicle to patrol as the search area is quite large, and spread out.

All captured seabirds will be released the following morning on the local tour boats. Everyone can purchase tickets for boat tour releases (cost at the discretion of the Tour Boat Operators). If interested in attending a boat release, please check with boat tour operators for tickets and availability. Check our social media for current information on releases.

If you are a resident or staying in a coastal area along the Avalon Peninsula during the Summer and Fall fledging seasons…

Dim or turn off unnecessary lighting
Use motion sensor lighting around your property
Use window coverings on windows that face the coastline
Report any sightings of puffins and petrels on your property
Volunteer to be an active patroller – registration info coming soon!

The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)

Global population: 12,000,000 – 14,000,000

Witless Bay Ecological Reserve population: North America’s largest colony of over 300 000 mating pairs (600, 000 adults).

Global IUCN listing: Vulnerable (visit the IUCN website for details on this assessment)

Atlantic Puffins eat small fish and can dive up to 70m underwater to catch them. Puffins mate for life and will return to the same location to mate. Puffins dig burrows for nests and lay one egg in May or June which is incubated by both parents. Chicks hatch in June or July and begin leaving their nests about 7 weeks after being laid, making their way out to sea where they remain floating on the ocean until they reach adulthood (4-5 years). Though we associate Atlantic Puffins with colourful beaks (or bills), they actually aren’t always that colour! During the winter months, their beaks are a black/grey, during spring/summer their beaks change into the beautiful colours we are used to seeing, to entice mating. Puffins can live for about 22 years.

Leach’s Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa)

Global population: 6,700, 000 – 8,300,000

Baccalieu Island Ecological Reserve – The largest Leach’s Storm Petrel colony in the WORLD is Baccalieu Island Ecological reserve, located at the entrance to Conception Bay! There are 3 Million breeding pairs of Leach’s Storm Petrels on this island. Despite having the largest Leach’s Storm Petrel Colony in world, we do not see this seabird very often. This is because they are difficult to observe on their nesting colonies since they are nocturnal and only enter and leave the colonies only at night.

Witless Bay Ecological Reserve populations: contains the second largest colony of Leach’s Storm Petrels in Newfoundland and Labrador, with over 300, 000 pairs (600,000 adults).

Global IUCN listing: Vulnerable (visit the IUCN website for more details on the assessment)

Weighing in at just a little larger than a budgie bird, with long wings, black feathers, a hooked beak and a bright white patch on the lower back the Leach’s Storm Petrel is unmistakable. Leach’s Storm Petrels have a distinctive tube nose, which allows them to excrete excess salt. Leach’s Storm Petrels are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. Like puffins, petrel parents lay a single egg and take turns incubating the egg. Chicks hatch in late June to early-August, and leave their nest during the night in mid-September to late October. Parents feed their chicks by regurgitation when they visit at night. After hatching, it takes approximately 9-10 weeks until the chick leaves the nest!

Mid-September through October is the time of year when juvenile Leach’s Storm Petrels fledge their burrows to make their way out to sea. These long life seabirds live over 20 years on average and during the winter, travel all the way to the waters of Peru and South Africa.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Puffin & Petrel Patrol? The Puffin & Petrel Patrol is community-driven initiative to save land-stranded puffin and petrel chicks , started by Juergen and Elfie Schau with the assistance of the youth of Witless Bay. Since the early beginnings of the program, thousands of chicks have been rescued and returned to their ocean environment.

Why do chicks get stranded inland? Chicks leave their burrows at night, typically using the moon and stars to navigate out to sea. However, on foggy or overcast nights, the chicks become confused by artificial lights on the coast and fly inland instead, becoming stranded on land.

What do they need help getting back to the water? Why can’t they just fly on their own? Both puffins and petrels are seabirds, which means they are built for life in the water, not on land. Did you know, puffins and petrels are excellent under-water flyers! They use their specially shaped wings to propel themselves under water in search of food and to escape predators. Once puffins and petrels get stuck on land, they need a steep slope or helping hand to help lift them back into the air!

Why are only puffin and petrel chicks being stranded? Why are there not also adults? Good question! The most likely reason why we only find young puffins and petrels becoming stranded on land is because they are not yet experienced flyers and navigators like their parents. The chicks that patrollers find on land are only about 7- 10 weeks old!

Why are there so many puffins and petrels at the same time? We find so many chicks around the same time of year each year, because it is at this time that their parents stop providing food for them and so chicks leave their burrows and venture into the world for the first time.

Why don’t the puffins in puffin patrol look like the puffins I see in pictures and on TV? The puffins we rescue in puffin patrol are still very young. They will grow in size and develop bright, colourful bills and feet like their of their parents when they return in a few years time to mate and have their own young.

March 6 2018

Oceans and Coasts

cpawsadmin Campaigns

Newfoundland and Labrador has over 17,500km of coastlines and some of the most biodiverse and rich ocean ecosystems on the planet. CPAWS-NL strives to increase the protection of our coastal and marine environments through many initiatives and grassroots projects.

What are Marine Protected Areas?

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are legally designated areas that provide long-term protection of marine ecosystems, processes, habitats, species, and biodiversity. MPAs contribute to the restoration and replenishment of natural resources for social, economic and cultural enrichment. From the surface of the ocean to the seafloor, MPAs protect our oceans from the threats presented by industrial and other human activities.

On April 25, 2019, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard that all federal marine protected areas (MPAs) in Canada will now have to meet a minimum threshold of protection where all future MPAs, including those established under the Oceans Act, the National Marine Conservation Areas Act, and the Canada Wildlife Act, will prohibit oil and gas, mining, bottom trawling and dumping. These standards stem from international standards, such as IUCN and CBD, and will better protect Canada’s Ocean biodiversity.

MPAs in Newfoundland and Labrador

From the North coast of Labrador to the Laurentian Channel to the Southwest Fjords, the ocean off the coast of Newfoundland is home to an abundance of sea life. With over 17,000km of coastline, Newfoundland and Labrador plays and important role in the protection of Canada’s North Atlantic Marine Ecosystem.

There are three MPAs within the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Eastport (Duck Islands and Round Island), the two areas total 2.1km2 and the newest fully protected MPA Laurentian Channel at 11,580km2 are located on the island of Newfoundland. Secondly, Gilbert Bay is a 60km2 MPA located on the Southeast Coast of Labrador.

The Laurentian Channel is the first MPA under the new minimum standards mentioned above. It is currently the largest fully protected MPA in Canada!

What CPAWS is Doing

While Canada boasts one of the largest ocean territories in the world, 13.81% of it is protected through meaningful long-term conservation measures. CPAWS is encouraging Canada to complete a national network of marine protected areas that protects at least half of Canada’s ocean estate, with an objective to meet the international target of protecting at least 30% of coastal and marine areas by 2030. We dare Canada to be deeper, protecting 30% of Canada’s Ocean by 2030, and 50% by 2050 – goals that the latest science show are essential over the long term to ensure resilience of the planet.

Take Action:
Over 16,000 people have signed on in support of marine protection in Canada. Add your voice to support advancing marine conservation through the establishment of a network of marine protected areas!

Take the Dare to be Deep Pledge!

Click Below for Our Oceans and Coasts Projects

Newfoundland and Labrador is considered one of the best places for whale watching in the whole world! To help spread awareness on safe boating practices with marine mammals, CPAWS-NL launched a campaign in 2021 called “Be Whale Safe”. [Learn more]

CPAWS NL Special Marine Areas Data Hub: A Comprehensive Source of Data and Information on Newfoundland and Labrador’s Coastal and Marine Ecosystems

June 8, 2023 St. John’s, NL – As part of World Oceans Day, we are happy to share our Special Marine Areas Data Hub, an innovative initiative aimed at facilitating open data sharing and information dissemination pertaining to the coastal and marine ecosystems of Newfoundland and Labrador! As an extension of our Special Marine Areas [Learn more]

Little Bay on the South Coast Newfoundland

CPAWS-NL Celebrates Signing of Memorandum of Understanding to complete a Feasibility Study for South Coast Fjords NMCA in Newfoundland and Labrador

Ocean Memories

An Ocean Champion is an individual who has an appreciation of the ocean and a shared knowledge of its diversity. By listening to our ocean champions we can learn from them and ensure the ocean and its resources are available for generations to come. Everyday Newfoundland and Labrador’s marine environment is used my various stakeholders for a variety of purposes. CPAWS-NL created this video with the goal of educating the public on the importance of sustainable ocean use and maintaining and improving ocean health.

Ocean Memories

March 5 2018

Gros Morne National Park

cpawsadmin Campaigns, Parks Campaigns, Terrestrial Campaigns

Gros Morne National Park protects 1,805 square kilometres of western Newfoundland’s coastal lowlands and towering Long Range Mountains and is one of Canada’s most treasured national parks. Gros Morne was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its unique geological features and spectacular natural beauty. In 2013 the park was threatened by a major proposal to drill and frack for oil, metres from the park boundary. After wide-spread public outcry, this proposal was halted. However, in 2017, a new set of threats to the park emerged – major infrastructure changes within the park are causing irreparable damage the character and beauty of the park and are threatening the area’s value as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These changes, without consultation, are not in keeping with Parks Canada’s commitment to all Canadians to protect the natural and cultural heritage of our special places and demonstrate little regard for public transparency and accountability. Once again, public voices are coming together, this time in protest of irresponsible infrastructure developments which are causing harm to the park. Gros Morne remains vulnerable to threats such as new industrial proposals, unsustainable visitation numbers, and irresponsible infrastructure changes. That’s why CPAWS is working with concerned local community members, businesses and prominent Canadians to encourage the federal and provincial governments to improve protection of Gros Morne National Park through improved management and creation of permanent buffer zone around the park.

The Threats

Industrial Proposals

Construction Project Proposals – In 2018, a 2100-square meter drydock, was proposed in the midst of the iconic Bonne Bay region. On June 29^th, 2018, the Town of Glenburnie-Birchy Bay-Shoal Brook wrote the Minister stating that they made a motion to deny permission for 3T’s Limited proposal for drydock/ wharf construction on Glenburnie beach, indefinitely, recognizing the potential impacts of the project to UNESCO World Heritage Site status and to the ecological integrity of the area. A drydock in the proposed location could change tidal flow, increasing the risk of flooding in the community, and would damage sensitive estuarine and tidal flat habitats.

A construction project of the proposed scale threatens the ability of Gros Morne National Park to protect the natural and cultural heritage of one of Canada’s most treasured wilderness spaces. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gros Morne is globally valued for its outstanding universal value as an area with exceptional natural beauty and unique geological features. The proposed drydock project would irreparably alter the overall beauty and character of the region. Visitors to the region do not differentiate the enclave Gros Morne communities as separate from the National Park – in fact, the communities within the Gros Morne region serve to enhance visitor experiences to the area. Though an enclave town, Glenburnie’s aesthetics and ecological significance remain essential to the ecological and cultural well-being of the bordering National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Regional infrastructure changes with the potential to impact outstanding universal values require the utmost caution in their planning and management. As such, stakeholder input from local, national, and global bodies should be sought and regarded with the greatest esteem and attention. CPAWS continues to work with Parks Canada to improve their management of our national parks and continues to push Parks Canada to engage with and cooperate with Canadians and area residents on decisions which can create vulnerabilities in park management and integrity.

Oil Drilling and Fracking – In 2013 Gros Morne was threatened by a proposal to drill a series of oil exploration wells along the west coast of Newfoundland. The drilling program would have used hydraulic fracturing (commonly known as fracking)—the high-pressure injection of water containing toxic chemicals to shatter underground shale beds—to extract oil. Industrializing the Gros Morne coastline would not only have threatened the remarkable ecosystems of this World Heritage Site, it would have threatened the vital regional and provincial tourism economy which relies on the pristine natural beauty of Gros Morne’s coast and mountains to attract visitors from across Canada and around the world.

On November 5th, 2013 the provincial government announced a moratorium on fracking to allow time for further study and public consultation. Then on December 5th 2013, the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board announced it would not renew the license of the company proposing it. The license expired on January 14th, 2014. In June 2014, in response to concerns raised by CPAWS, local citizens and businesses, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee recommended that Canada create a permanent protective buffer zone around the Gros Morne National Park to prevent harm from future industrial activities around the park.

Infrastructure Changes

Trail Infrastructure – In 2017, Parks Canada began the first stages of a $3 million project to update facilities at Western Brook Pond in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The iconic boardwalk trail at Western Brook Pond was removed and replaced with a 4.8m wide hardened gravel road. The public was not consulted about these changes, and now, many voices are speaking out about the changes and demanding to be heard. Trail development has resulted in outcomes beyond simple rehabilitation of existing infrastructure: the development footprint of the trail has increased significantly, irreparably altering the character of the site and one of the park’s most sought-after experiences. The changes threaten the area’s exceptional natural beauty, a value for which the park is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These changes, without consultation, are not in keeping with Parks Canada’s commitment to all Canadians to protect the natural and cultural heritage of our special places and demonstrate little regard for public transparency and accountability. Further development work of the trail, planned to occur during winter 2019, must not be allowed to proceed.

Gros Morne National Park and the regional tourism economy are vulnerable to future industrial proposals and infrastructure changes. There are no long-term solutions in place to protect Gros Morne.

What’s needed is a buffer zone around the park to keep Gros Morne permanently free of adjacent oil drilling and fracking and other industrial threats; and reemphasis on ecological integrity as the number one priority of our National Parks accompanied by thorough environmental assessment with effective public consultations.

Working closely with local concerned citizens, CPAWS is urging the provincial and federal governments to ACT NOW to:

establish a buffer zone around Gros Morne to keep the national park and surrounding area permanently free from industrial threats like oil drilling and fracking;
halt any further development in the area until a detailed impact assessment and thorough public consultation has been conducted

Take Action for Western Brook Pond

Many have spoken out in traditional media and on social media regarding the changes to the boardwalk trail at Western Brook Pond in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Over the course of the winter, Parks Canada removed the boardwalk trail at Western Brook Pond and replaced it with a 4.8m wide hardened gravel road. This change was made without public consultation and has resulted in outcomes beyond the simple rehabilitation of existing infrastructure: the development footprint of the trail has increased significantly, irreparably altering the character of the site and one of the park’s most iconic experiences.

These changes, without consultation, are not in keeping with Parks Canada’s commitment to all Canadians to protect the natural and cultural heritage of our special places and demonstrate little regard for public transparency and accountability.

Parks Canada’s responsibility for managing our National Parks’ ecological integrity has implications beyond Canada. Gros More National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is globally valued for its outstanding universal values as an area with exceptional natural beauty. The replacement of boardwalk trails with a paved road is blatantly incompatible with the park’s integrity as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is in contradiction to Canada’s 2018 State Party Report to the World Heritage Committee – in the report, Canada indicated no infrastructure development was ongoing in Gros Morne National Park.

This development does not fit with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change’s promises to involve Canadians in decision-making, limit development in our national parks, or to put ecological integrity first in all management decisions.

CPAWS is calling for a halt to any further development in the area until a detailed impact assessment and thorough public consultation has been conducted, and the immediate restoration of the bog that was destroyed when this road was built.

Add your voice to the growing number of people who want to ensure that Gros Morne is protected for future generations.

Take Action Now

Write to the Minister and let her know you are unhappy with Parks Canada making important decisions in our special places without the input of Canadians. Ask her to halt further development in Western Brook Pond in the absence of a detailed impact assessment and thorough public consultation. Ask for the immediate restoration of the bog that was destroyed when this road was built. Send your letter now!

Our Work

March 5 2018

Terrestrial Protected Areas and Parks

cpawsadmin Campaigns, Parks Campaigns

Newfoundland and Labrador’s national, provincial and territorial parks are legally protected wilderness areas set aside for the protection of nature and enjoyment of people, forever. Parks are places we dream about – where we get inspired by nature’s beauty, spend time with family and friends, learn about nature, and enjoy healthy outdoor activities. They’re also places that plants and animals rely on for their survival. They provide space for wildlife to roam, feed and raise their young away from the threat of human development.

Our parks provide many more extraordinary benefits to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. They provide clean water to some of our largest communities. They moderate our climate by storing carbon in their soils and forests. They provide outdoor laboratories for scientific research, and classrooms for learning about nature. For a growing number of Indigenous peoples, parks offer a way to maintain and share their cultural traditions.

CPAWS is on guard for how Newfoundland and Labrador’s parks are managed, to make sure they continue to protect the nature that inspired their creation. We are also encouraging the creation of a more robust protected areas system plan, by urging the provincial government to release the Natural Areas System Plan.

National Parks and Reserves Map

Provincial Parks and Reserves Map

See below for the work CPAWS-NL is doing to protect

our terrestrial wildspaces!

Campaigns

Become a Protected Area Steward and Help Protect Newfoundland and Labrador’s Most Treasured Wild Spaces!

What is a Protected Area?

Duties of a Steward include:

Get out there, and Protect your Natural Areas!

To Become a Steward:

Already a Steward? Enter your Survey Data Forms Online:

Special Marine Areas in Newfoundland and Labrador

Priority Coastal Sites

Bonavista Bay

Special Features

Protection

Threats

Marine Waste Management

What Can You Do?

Return all waste used at sea back to shore, disposing, recycling or reusing items properly. Litter on land can also end up on the oceans by wind and water runoff.

Reduce plastic use – as many ocean species such as whales and turtles mistake plastics for food. Plastic and other debris can not be naturally expelled from the body.

Ensure all fishing gear such as fishing lines, gears, ropes, nets, are not released at sea, as these can cause entanglements in whales and turtles, and become ghost nets on the ocean floor. Report any and all fishing gear that can not be safely retrieved to DFO or CPAWS-NL

TAKE THE OCEAN CHAMPION PLEDGE! Click “Take the Pledge” button below!

Effects of marine debris on species at risk

Leatherback Sea Turtle (Endangered)Dermochelys coriacea

Threats

Anthropogenic threats to Leatherback Sea Turtles include: entanglement, vessel collisions, marine pollution, acoustic disturbance, climate change, poaching, coastal development, and artificial light.

How YOU Can Help Leatherbacks in NL

You can reduce plastic waste and help sea turtles by:

using reusable shopping bags

recycling plastic whenever possible

drinking from refillable water bottles

packing your lunch in reusable containers

refusing single-use plastics, like straws and bags

disposing garbage in proper trash containers, as garbage litter can be carried by wind and water to the ocean

SHOREBIRDS

THREATS TO SHOREBIRDS

2024 season is now over! Thank you to everyone for their help and support. Data and statistics from this season will be reased soon!

The History

Become a Protected Area Steward and Help Protect
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Most Treasured Wild Spaces!

Leatherback Sea Turtle (Endangered)
Dermochelys coriacea