Marine protected areas in Québec

The main objective of the network of marine protected areas (MPAs) is to ensure the long-term maintenance of marine biodiversity and key ecological components in Québec.

Québec’s overall marine territory encompasses the St. Lawrence River and the coastal waters of Northern Québec. Plankton and numerous fish and marine mammal species are found in the St. Lawrence River. The Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence are highly contrasted environments with the hottest surface water in Atlantic Canada in the summer and the biggest quantities of sea ice during the winter. The northern portion of the maritime territory spans more than 3 000 km. The repercussions of climate change in these environments occur more rapidly and affect the entire marine ecosystem. Climate change also affects inshore birds and seabirds, especially the deterioration or loss of their specific habitats and the time lag between staging areas and the availability of food.

For this reason, the territories identified to be protected as marine areas were selected by taking into consideration oceanographic and ecological characteristics, as well as the geology of the targeted environments. Each zone is delimited and has its own conservation objectives. The conservation measures and geographic boundaries of the marine protected areas are elaborated in consultation with stakeholders. They can be regulated and managed according to the following Québec designations:

• marine protected areas designated by ad hoc legislation, such as the St. Lawrence Marine Park;
• marine reserve;
• proposed aquatic reserve.

As a result of the Act to Amend the Natural Heritage Conservation Act and Other Provisions (2021, c.-1), marine reserve status, which is better adapted to marine environments, has replaced aquatic reserve status.

Until the legal status of a marine protected area is established, the designation of a territorial reserve for protected area purposes (TRPAP) marks the first step in protecting marine environments. The TRPAP is a transitional administrative tool, whose protective measures must be enhanced when a marine protected area is created.

As described by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), marine protected areas are divided into management categories based on their conservation objective, as illustrated in the table below.

Catégories UICN	Taille	Objectif
Ia	Often small	Conserve exceptional ecosystems
Ib	Usually large	Protect wilderness areas
II	Usually large	Protect the integrity of the marine ecosystem
III	Usually small	Protect sites containing natural monuments
IV	Often small	Maintain, conserve and restore species and habitats
V	Usually large	Protect and maintain seascapes as well as the interaction of people and nature for resource sustainability
VI	Usually large	Protect natural ecosystems and use resources sustainably

In order to better understand the possible applications of marine protected area categories V and VI, the Ministère mandated Université Laval to collect this knowledge. The report entitled “Étude de cas d’aires marines protégées de catégorie V (paysage protégé) et de catégorie VI (APUDR) (French, PDF, 22 MB) ” presents a study of seven cases of protected landscapes and seven cases of protected areas with sustainable use of resources in 11 countries, a synthetic comparative analysis of the cases studied, and recommendations for the implementation of Categories V and VI marine protected areas in Québec.

The objectives of marine conservation

In response to Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Québec government through its maritime strategy has committed itself to attaining the international target pertaining to the marine environment. The establishment of a representative network of marine protected areas covering at least 10% of the estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence has been achieved in collaboration with the government of Canada.

On December 13, 2020, the Québec government announced the official creation of 17 territorial reserves for protected area purposes (TRPAPs) totalling more than 14 000 km², i.e., six territories in the estuary and 11 in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The Minister of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change unveiled the additions to the Québec network of marine protected areas, which now covers 10.4% of the territory.

Canada-Québec collaboration agreement

Almost without exception, all the proposed protected marine areas in Québec are jointly selected, planned, and implemented with the government of Canada under a collaboration agreement (French PDF, 2,2 MB) in force since March 19, 2018.

The projects are the results of analyses of the biological components of the studied sectors, such as the presence of threatened species, of fragile ecosystems, or of breeding areas, depending on conservation priorities. Moreover, a representativeness analysis was conducted in all sectors of ecological interest in the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence (PDF, 2,7 MB)  that are under discussion between the governments of Québec and Canada.

Existing marine protected areas

Existing marine protected areas are included in the Register of Protected Areas and OECMs in Québec :

• the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park;
• the Bonaventure River Estuary marine reserve;
• the proposed Manicouagan aquatic reserve;
• Banc-des-Américains marine protected area.

Proposed protected marine areas

Several sectors are under study in the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. In the summer of 2019, the governments presented the two projects covering the estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Indigenous groups and relevant stakeholders (Information meeting 2019 - PDF, 3,8 MB).

Joint works conducted with the Government of Canada are continuing, as well as procedures related to the joint marine protected area projects announced in June 2019. The next step will be the consultation step, which will allow the elaboration of potential conservation measures and discussions with the Indigenous groups and relevant stakeholders. This step will be followed by a formal consultation of the Indigenous groups and relevant stakeholders, as well as the public, on each of the projects (boundaries of the projects, conservation objectives, and conservation measures).

To comply with its international commitments and attain by late 2020 its target of 10% marine protected areas, the Québec government decided to adopt an administrative action by designating the territorial reserves for protected area purposes (TRPAPs), which marks the first step in the protection of the marine environment. The purpose is to attribute legally protected status pursuant to the Natural Heritage Conservation Act or the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife.

Territorial reserves for protected area purposes (TRPAPs)

The Minister of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and the Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks jointly ensure the protection of territorial reserves for protected area purposes (TRPAPs) in marine environments.

The designation of TRPAPs entails the prohibition of any form of activity associated with natural resource exploration and exploitation (mining, gas, and oil), hydrocarbons transportation by gas pipeline and oil pipeline, the exploitation of hydropower, and any commercial or industrial energy production in the territories overall. The presence of TRPAPs is also considered when applications for authorizations and the granting or issuance of rights under the laws of Québec are analyzed. The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources ensures the maintenance of the requisite administrative and legal provisions to prohibit them and adopts the necessary administrative and legal provisions until a decision is reached concerning the attribution of legally protected status for such territories. Moreover, the ministers contribute to ensuring compliance with the key objective of such territories, i.e. the conservation of the marine environment.

On December 13, 2020, the Québec government announced the designation of 17 TRPAPs in the estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which correspond to areas that are the subject of joint work under the Canada-Québec collaborative agreement to establish a network of marine protected areas in Québec. The Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée du Banc-des-Américains was replaced on October 7, 2021 by the Réserve aquatique projetée du Banc-des-Américains.

• Memory (French)

Parc marin Anticosti–Mingan creation project

In November 2023, a joint announcement by the governments of Québec and Canada confirmed the decision to undertake work toward the creation of a new joint marine park in the area of Île d’Anticosti and the Mingan archipelago. The Parc marin Anticosti–Mingan would combine the protection of natural ecosystems and cultural values with the sustainable use of renewable natural resources. It would help conserve this marine region and highlight its cultural and ecological significance for future generations.

In March 2025, the governments of Québec and Canada released the surface area of the preliminary study area for this project.

Click to enlarge map

At the scale of the Golfe du Saint-Laurent, the preliminary study area stands out for its oceanographic, ecological, and cultural richness. It is notably home to extensive kelp forests and high concentrations of phytoplankton, making it an ideal habitat for many marine mammals. The area also includes major seabird colonies, sponge zones, and species at risk, such as the American eel, Atlantic wolffish, and cod. The creation of a marine protected area in this region would establish a land-to-sea continuum of protection with existing protected areas, including the Parc national d’Anticosti, the Réserve de biodiversité d’Anticosti, the Gouvernement du Québec’s ecological reserves that protect the Anticosti site inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List, and the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve (Parks Canada).

The boundaries of the preliminary study area follow the high-water mark, but exclude all islets and islands. They also exclude all existing maritime infrastructure, such as wharves, marinas, and ports. Existing port facilities, for instance in Havre-Saint-Pierre, Port-Menier, and Baie-Johan-Beetz, would therefore not be included in the marine park. Lastly, this project would allow the Réserve de territoire aux fins d’aire protégée de Jacques-Cartier, which overlaps with the marine refuge established by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, to be granted permanent legal protection status.

In the next steps, the governments of Québec and Canada will take the time required to meet with relevant stakeholders, including First Nations and coastal communities, regional and municipal organizations, fishers, aquaculture producers, research groups, and local businesses, in order to gather their views and comments. The governments wish, among other things, to discuss the conservation gains and the potential social, ecotourism, and economic benefits resulting from the creation of the Parc marin Anticosti–Mingan. The management arrangements best suited to the area’s unique context will also be addressed. These efforts will also serve to refine the conservation and enhancement priorities and determine the boundaries of the area to be proposed for the project during public consultations. The project will thus be tailored to the specific realities of the region.

Magdalen Islands project - abandoned

A pre-feasibility study conducted between 2012 and 2014 concerning the establishment of a marine protected area in the Magdalen Islands confirmed the diversity of the marine territory and its potential. The study area covered roughly 17 000 km² in the heart of the Golfe du Saint-Laurent and constituted a representative cross-section of this vast region. On June 27, 2019, the Ministère and Parks Canada launched a feasibility study to revive the project, which aimed to protect the marine environment and promote it in the same way as the maritime cultural heritage that defines the Magdalen Islands. The project was carried out in close collaboration with the coordination committee made up of representatives from the Magdalen Islands and gave a central role to the fishing and mariculture sector.

After several years of collaborative work to conceptualize the Magdalen Islands marine fishing park project, the coordination committee agreed, on February 13, 2025, to end the initiative. Parks Canada and the Ministère then decided to respect the committee’s will and directions.

Click to enlarge map

Useful links

• Étude de préfaisabilité 2012-2014:
  • Volume 1 - Rapports des volets écologiques et socioéconomiques - (French, PDF, 6,6 MB)
    • Rapport d’étude et analyse écologique - Updated in 2023 - (French, PDF, 4,2 MB)
  • Volume 2 - Caractérisation de la communauté et identification des attentes et préoccupations relativement à une aire marine protégée aux Îles-de-la-Madeleine - (French, PDF, 2,5 MB)
  • Volume 3 - Atlas Cartographique - (French, PDF, 9,9 MB)
    • Atlas cartographique des Îles-de-la-Madeleine - Updated in 2022 - (French PDF, 26,7 MB)
• Contribution économique du secteur des pêches et de la mariculture des Îles-de-la-Madeleine - (French, PDF, 2,8 MB)
  • Socio-economic contribution of the Fisheries and Mariculture Sector in the Magdalen Islands – Updated in 2023 - (PDF, 72 MB)

To find out more about the St. Lawrence River

• St. Lawrence Action Plan:
• St. Lawrence Global Observatory.

Contact

If you have questions or comments on the proposed protected marine areas, please contact us at aires.marines@environnement.gouv.qc.ca.