Twin Bays Region, Scotian Shelf
The Twin Bays region on Nova Scotia’s Atlantic coast encompasses a number of embayments, most notably St. Margaret’s Bay and Mahone Bay. The proposed area stretches from Pennant Point on Chebucto Head, to Pollock Point, located southwest of the LaHave River estuary.
The creation of a NMCA in this area would be compatible with, and could enhance the ongoing efforts of active local conservation-oriented groups such as the St. Margaret’s Bay Stewardship Association, the Mahone Islands Conservation Association, and the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation. These groups could also serve to facilitate NMCA discussions and community engagement in these discussions. The area already hosts much tourism and recreation activity based around both natural and cultural history. It contains provincial parks and beaches, the town of Lunenburg (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the popular Peggy’s Cove. The area has a limited fishery, which could be managed sustainably under the NMCA program.
Though three representative areas were identified by Parks Canada in a 1992 study of the Scotian Shelf region (P. Lane and Associates 1992), the selection of a preferred site to pursue for NMCA designation has yet to occur.
Ecological Significance
The Twin Bays region is home to:
- All three of the main types of bedrock found in the region (granite, slate and greywacke)
- A diversity of coastal habitats including sand beaches, rocky shores, tidal flats, salt marshes, estuaries, eelgrass beds, and coastal islands.
- The Petite Rivière watersheds which provides habitat for the endangered Atlantic whitefish. This species is endemic to Nova Scotia and the Petite Rivière watershed is one of only two locations where the Atlantic whitefish is found.
- Seabird, shorebird and waterbird breeding habitat for species such as the Leach’s Storm-petrels, Black Guillemot, Cormorants, Roseate, Arctic and Common Tern, Piping and Semipalmated Plover, Great Blue Heron and Belted Kingfisher.
- Common occurrences of a number of cetaceans, including fin, humpback and minke whales, white-beaked dolphin, white-sided dolphin and harbour porpoise
- Occasional occurrences of Sei and blue whales, and short-beaked common dolphin
- Several species at risk including Roseate Tern, Piping Plover, Atlantic whitefish, Atlantic cod, Atlantic wolffish, fin whale, harbour porpoise and leatherback turtle.
(Arctic Tern and Chick; A. Sprague) The Opportunity
CPAWS-NS has already completed a detailed evaluation of the area, including its biology, geology, oceanography, land use and socioeconomic activity. CPAWS-NS has also conducted some preliminary community outreach activities, including working with lobster fishermen and community groups in the area to discuss conservation opportunities and implications. It is the opinion of CPAWS-NS that the Twin Bays area fits well with the criteria for NMCA site selection.
Interest from Parks Canada in working cooperatively with the communities of the Twin Bays region, CPAWS-NS, and other stakeholders to explore this area in the Scotian Shelf region as a candidate site for NMCA establishment will be a necessary component in moving forward to pursue this promising opportunity.