OTTAWA,
June 8, 2010 – To mark World Oceans Day,
the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries
and Oceans, today announced two Areas of
Interest for potential designation as Marine
Protected Areas under the Oceans Act. On
behalf of the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister
of the Environment, Minister Shea also announced
three new National Wildlife Areas.
At an event at the Museum
of Nature, Minister Shea announced the Hecate
Strait/Queen Charlotte Sound glass sponge
reefs as an Area of Interest within the
Pacific North Coast, and an area of rich
biodiversity within the Laurentian Channel
as an Area of Interest off the coast of
Newfoundland and Labrador. This represents
another key step towards fulfilling the
Government’s commitment to establish a national
network of Marine Protected Areas by 2012.
“World Oceans Day is
a time to acknowledge the vested interest
all Canadians have in ensuring the health
of our oceans,” said Minister Shea. “The
identification of these two new Areas of
Interest – one on the west coast and one
on the east coast – demonstrates not only
our commitment to conservation and protection,
but also our commitment to ensuring that
ocean resources thrive for the benefit of
our communities.”
A Marine Protected Area
(MPA) is a protective designation for an
area that significantly contributes to the
health of marine ecosystems and its resources.
As part of the Health of the Oceans Initiative,
the Government of Canada has already designated
several MPAs, and is committed to establishing
a network of MPAs by 2012. The first step
in this process is the identification of
an Area of Interest. The area will then
undergo detailed evaluation, and public
consultation before a decision is made to
formally designate it as an MPA.
On behalf of the Honourable
Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment,
Minister Shea also announced the creation
of three new National Wildlife Areas in
Nunavut: Ninginganiq National Wildlife Area
(Isabella Bay), the Akpait National Wildlife
Area, and the Qaqulluit National Wildlife
Area.
“Working together with
the local communities, our Government is
taking bold steps to protect Canada’s Arctic,”
said Minister Prentice. “By taking action
to protect the majestic and iconic bowhead
whale, the Government is not only helping
to preserve precious natural areas, but
we are also asserting Canada’s sovereignty
in the High Arctic."
“There is no better
day than today, World Oceans Day. And this
being, the International Year of Biodiversity,
what better day to announce measures that
are going to protect sensitive land, water,
our oceans and species at risk,” said Minister
Shea. “The identification of these two Areas
of Interest and the creation of these three
new National Wildlife Areas demonstrate
the Government of Canada’s commitment to
conserving and protecting our country’s
unparalleled natural beauty.”
World Oceans Day is
celebrated globally on June 8. It follows
Canadian Environment Week (May 31 – June
5) and coincides with the start of Rivers
to Oceans Week (June 8 -14).
Nelson Kalil
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
+ More
The Biosphère
Celebrates 15 Years Of Innovation
MONTRÉAL, Que.
-- June 1, 2010 -- On June 5 and 6, 2010,
the Biosphère is throwing open its
doors to the public to mark 15 years of
museum activities and environmental outreach.
As part of its ongoing celebrations, the
Biosphère's roofs will be "going
green" and new exhibits will be added
throughout the year.
"The Biosphère
is a unique environmental museum in North
America," said Environment Minister
Jim Prentice. "Its exhibitions, guided
activities, outreach tools and educational
programs reflect the global nature of environmental
issues and support Canadians in their desire
to take daily action to preserve the environment."
"As a core institution
of the environment and sustainable development,
the Biosphère has trained, stimulated
and inspired many of today's ecologists
and sustainable development experts,"
added the Biosphère's director, Jean
Langlais.
This open house is an
opportunity for people of all ages to get
a closer look at one of Montréal's
architectural landmarks and to visit the
environment museum free of charge. Programming
for these two days includes Tightly Knit,
an outdoor exhibit of outsized photographs
on biodiversity, the U-Turn exhibit on sustainable
transportation, and two guided activities:
"Wanted: Pollinators" and "Greening
Your Green Thumb."
The Biosphère:
•A major attraction
at Expo 67 and a Montréal architectural
landmark
•Inaugurated as Canada's first water museum
in 1995
•Became an environment museum in 2007
•More than one and a half million people
have visited its exhibitions or participated
in its off-site educational activities
•Leads by example in its use of a range
of green technologies: wind energy, geothermal
system, wetlands for wastewater treatment,
solar panels, living walls
•Initiated a number of memorable exhibits
and activities including Art and Environment,
the Ecoological Solar House, the Ecowatch
Network, and a videoconference program offered
to Canadian schools, particularly those
that are in official-language minority situations.
