Québec, Quebec, June 15, 2011 -- The Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, and the Quebec Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Parks, Mr. Pierre Arcand, are thrilled by the creation of the Éco-Baleine Alliance and its involvement in the development of new tools that will contribute in recognizing marine mammal observation activities in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park as a model for sustainable use.
"This year, from coast to coast to coast, we are celebrating Parks Canada's centennial. The creation of the Éco-Baleine Alliance is one more reason to be thrilled about the existence of a network of national park, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas where innovative collaborations are taking place in order to offer visitors unique activities and to protect Canada’s most beautiful places", stated Minister Kent.
"Parcs Québec is a true leader in terms of nature tourism and ensures that future generations will also be able to take advantage of the beauty and richness of these sites. It is with enthusiasm that we welcome the Éco-Baleine Alliance and its tools for the practice of responsible whale watching. This partnership is an original way to conciliate the conservation and presentation of our protected areas”, explained Minister Arcand.
Created in 1998, the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park is a protected marine area that is part of the Parks Canada and Parcs Québec networks. Few places in the world attract such a wide variety of marine mammals. The publication of the guide of eco-responsible practices and the creation of the fund for research and education by the members of the Éco-Baleine Alliance, as well as the objective to continue improving observation practices are winning conditions to ensure both the better protection of marine mammals and memorable experiences for visitors. The Alliance's support of the Management Plan for Marine Activities at sea at the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park, produced by Parks Canada and Parcs Québec in concert with local partners, is also a major commitment that will contribute towards achieving the marine park's objective.
Covering an area of 1 245 km2, the Marine Park is the first in Quebec to protect and present an exclusively marine area. It is jointly operated by the governments of Quebec and Canada and is presented by interveners at the local level.
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Sources :
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819 997-1441
Information:
Lise Rochette
Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Director General, Eastern Canada
Parks Canada
418 648-4539
Ms. Sarah Shirley
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
of Sustainable Development,
the Environment and Parks
418 521-3911
Media Relations
Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs
418 521-3991
Backgrounders associated with this News Release.
An Alliance is created for eco-responsible whale watching activities in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park
Eco-Baleine Fund for research and education on whales of the Marine Park
Plan for Sea Activities in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park (2011-2017)
The Guide for Eco-Responsible Practices for Captains/Naturalists
Whale watching cruises, when practiced in an environmentally-friendly manner, are wonderful activities that raise awareness of the beauty and fragility of our planet.-Jean Lemire, Biologist and Film Director
