Malpeque Bay

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Malpeque Bay is a 244 km² shallow coastal lagoon on the northern shores of Prince Edward Island in Canada, about 10 km north of the town of Summerside. It was classified as a wetland of international importance via the Ramsar Convention on April 28, 1988. It consists of marine and coastal wetlands ranging in altitude from sea level to 8 m.[1] It is protected from the Gulf of St. Lawrence by a sandspit and dune formation that stretches 25 km.[1][2] Small rivers and creeks are the source of freshwater for the lagoon.

It is "important for supporting large nesting colonies" of herons and cormorants,[2] and is a meaningful nursery area for fin and shell fishes.[1]

The bay is currently a recreational area, especially at Cabot Beach Provincial Park and Green Park Provincial Park. There is some concern regarding development of the area and its surroundings; for example, a petition to stop a wind energy project in the Malpeque Peninsula was submitted to Natural Resources Canada.[3] The recreational use of the area is a "threat to nesting and brood-rearing Piping plovers"[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c MALPEQUE BAY. Environment Canada (2003-06-09). Retrieved on 2007-08-09.
  2. ^ a b The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance - CANADA. Ramsar Convention Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-08-09.
  3. ^ Wilderom, Jack (2003-02-06). Petition No. 69 - Wind energy project in Prince Edward Island. Office of the Auditor General of Canada. Retrieved on 2007-08-09.
  4. ^ Malpeque Bay - Eastern Prince County, Prince Edward Island. Important Bird Areas of Canada. Retrieved on 2007-08-09.

Coordinates: 46°32′N 63°48′W / 46.533, -63.8