Big Glace Bay Lake designated NWA

Summary#

This is a proposed change, published in the Canada Gazette on June 5, 2021, that would turn the existing Big Glace Bay Lake migratory bird sanctuary into a national wildlife area and add two parcels to the Prince Edward Point national wildlife area. If made, the changes would strengthen habitat protection and set out which recreational uses are allowed or restricted. Interested people had 30 days from publication to comment.

What it does#

• Creates the Big Glace Bay Lake National Wildlife Area (converting lands already protected as a migratory bird sanctuary into an NWA). The area would total about 392 ha (the existing 378 ha plus 14 ha newly added).
• Adds two parcels (a narrow 33.4 ha) to the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, joining its two sections (PEP currently about 512.9 ha).
• Lists the recreational activities that would be allowed at Big Glace Bay Lake, for example:
  • wildlife viewing, hiking and swimming
  • boat launching and landing at a designated spot, and boating (motorized boats limited to under 10 hp)
  • non-commercial picking of edible plants and mushrooms, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sport fishing (with any provincial or federal rules)
• Would exclude (i.e., not allow) some activities that are currently common at the site, notably camping and lighting or maintaining fires, and it would prohibit possession of lead fishing tackle under 50 g within the new NWA.
• Moves those newly added lands under the protection and management rules of the Wildlife Area Regulations and gives Environment and Climate Change Canada the tools to manage, monitor and enforce those protections.

Who's affected#

• Local visitors and residents who use the beach, trails or lake for recreation (hikers, boaters, fishers, swimmers).
• Recreational fishers at Big Glace Bay Lake, who would need to follow the new tackle rule (no lead tackle under 50 g).
• Local municipalities and conservation groups near Big Glace Bay Lake (Cape Breton Island) and Prince Edward Point (Prince Edward County).
• Environment and Climate Change Canada, which will manage and enforce the areas.
• Indigenous communities near Big Glace Bay Lake and Prince Edward Point. The department reached out to 14 Indigenous communities or organizations about Big Glace Bay Lake and to 21 other stakeholder groups; it received responses from 1 First Nation partner and 11 stakeholders. For Prince Edward Point, no formal consultation was carried out prior to publication because the parcels added were recently bought and were previously private with no visible recent use.

Why it matters#

• Converting the Big Glace Bay Lake site into an NWA and filling the gap at Prince Edward Point gives those places stronger, clearer legal protection for wildlife and habitat than the existing migratory bird sanctuary status provided.
• The changes help protect species that use these areas, including the endangered Piping Plover at Big Glace Bay Lake and multiple species at risk at Prince Edward Point.
• The two changes together add about 47.4 ha of protected land. That is a small but concrete contribution toward federal conservation goals.
• There are small expected costs to the federal government to set up and manage the changes — about $169,400 in the first year and about $141,700 per year afterwards — mainly for signage, monitoring and some enforcement. The government says there are no expected new costs for businesses or the public from these changes.
• For people who visit these sites: expect some rules to be clearer or stricter, especially no camping or on-site fires at Big Glace Bay Lake, limits on motor size for boats, and a ban on small lead fishing tackle.