The federal government has just rolled out a marine protected area off the coast of Newfoundland that will be almost entirely open to oil and gas exploration and development. Please take a moment to write a letter to our government expressing your concern about upholding ecological integrity within Canada’s marine protected areas.
The Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area provides an important migratory corridor for whales entering and leaving the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Concentrations of cold water corals and sea pens, and many species of fish also rely on this area.
With only 1.5 per cent of our ocean estate with even minimal protection, it makes no sense for our marine protected areas to be subjected to industrial activities like these.
We only have until July 24 to make our voices heard. You can help by sending a letter to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans expressing your concern about this proposal. Letters will also be copied to the Minister of Natural Resources Canada and the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.
SUBJECT: Keep oil and gas activities out of Laurentian Channel MPA
Canada Gazette Part I,
Date of notice: June 24, 2017
Attention:
Christie Chute, Manager, Marine Conservation Program,
Integrated Oceans Management, Fisheries and Oceans Canada,
200 Kent Street, Room 12W127,
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E6,
Oceans-NL@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
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Dear Minister Dominic LeBlanc:
I am deeply concerned about the proposal to allow oil and gas exploration within the boundaries of the Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Marine protected areas are no place for industrial activities like these.
With so little of Canada’s ocean protected, it is perplexing that even these few areas that are protected will remain open to oil and gas activities. It also seems to run counter to your government’s recent decision to provide interim protections to marine protected areas, including prohibitions on oil and gas activities.
Canada’s marine protected areas need real protection. The marine ecosystems and the wildlife that depend on them should not be subjected to impacts from oil and gas activities. This could set a very dangerous precedent for other marine protected areas in Canada and it could severely undermine your government’s efforts to better protect ocean ecosystems.
It’s not too late to do the right thing. Please update the proposed regulations for the Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area so that any oil and gas exploration and development is prohibited within this marine protected area.
[Your Comment Here]
Thank you for addressing these concerns.
