Three Nova Scotia Islands Designated NWAs

Summary#

These final regulations add three islands in Nova Scotia to the list of federal protected areas called National Wildlife Areas. They make most access to Country Island National Wildlife Area, Isle Haute National Wildlife Area, and seasonal access to St. Paul Island National Wildlife Area subject to permits, and allow administrative monetary penalties for some breaches. The regulations were registered (came into force) on December 16, 2024 and were published in the Canada Gazette on January 1, 2025.

What it does#

• Adds three new National Wildlife Areas under the Wildlife Area Regulations:
  • Country Island National Wildlife Area — 21 hectares (most of Country Island).
  • Isle Haute National Wildlife Area — 89.2 hectares (Isle Haute).
  • St. Paul Island National Wildlife Area — 478 hectares (St. Paul Island).
  • Total area designated: 588 hectares.
• Restricts entry:
  • Entry to Country Island and Isle Haute is prohibited year‑round without a permit.
  • Entry to St. Paul Island is prohibited without a permit from April 1 to August 31 each year (the breeding season).
• Allows specific activities on St. Paul Island outside the breeding season (from September 1 to March 31) without a permit:
  • wildlife viewing;
  • hiking;
  • non-commercial picking of edible plants and mushrooms;
  • launching and landing boats at the ordinary high water mark.
• Keeps some small parcels out of the NWA boundaries:
  • a small helipad/lighthouse parcel on Country Island and certain islets north of “The Tickle” at St. Paul remain under the administration of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
• Adds these designations to the Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations so enforcement officers can issue administrative monetary penalties for unlawful entry or other contraventions in these NWAs.

Who's affected#

• Local residents and recreational visitors who go to these islands for hiking, birding or other activities. St. Paul Island still allows some activities outside the breeding season.
• Indigenous groups, especially local Mi’kmaq communities and organizations (the government says it is working with Mi’kmaq partners on names and possible co‑management).
• Local tour operators and any visitors who used helicopter or landing areas — some landing sites remain outside the NWA and are still managed by DFO.
• Federal staff at Environment and Climate Change Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service), who will administer permits, signage, outreach and enforcement.
• The regulations state there are effectively no businesses operating inside these areas, so the direct impact on commercial operators is expected to be minimal.

Why it matters#

• The islands provide important habitat for migratory birds and species at risk (for example, Roseate Tern, Bicknell’s Thrush, and Leach’s Storm‑Petrel). The new NWAs give broader, site‑wide legal protection for wildlife and their habitats that goes beyond existing species‑specific rules.
• The changes aim to reduce disturbances during sensitive times (notably the breeding season) while allowing some seasonal public use on St. Paul Island.
• The government estimates modest costs to run and enforce the NWAs: first‑year compliance‑promotion and enforcement costs of about $212,000 (made up of $115,000 for outreach/signage and $97,000 for enforcement setup), ongoing annual costs of about $153,000, and a total present value of enforcement/compliance costs of about $1.4 million over 2025–2034. Permit processing costs are estimated at about $13,000 over 10 years, with roughly 100 permit applications expected in that period.
• The designations contribute to Canada’s broader conservation goals, including the federal commitment to protect 30% of land and freshwater by 2030. The rules also preserve options for Indigenous input, possible co‑management, and changing the official NWA names to Mi’kmaq names in future regulatory steps.