Editing Gulf of St. Lawrence (section)

== Protected Areas and National Parks ==
The [[Honguedo Strait#Western Honguedo Strait Coral Conservation Area|Western Honguedo Strait Coral Conservation Area]] was created following the signing of the Canada–Quebec Collaborative Agreement to Establish a Network of Marine Protected Areas in Quebec in March 2018.<ref name="Western Honguedo Strait Coral Conservation Area">{{cite web |title=Western Honguedo Strait Coral Conservation Area |url=https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/oecm-amcepz/refuges/honguedo-western-ouest-eng.html |website=Gouvernement of Canada |publisher=Fisheries and Oceans Canada |access-date=23 September 2024 |date=9 September 2019 |quote=High concentrations of these soft corals create habitat with complex structures that provide refuge, feeding, and rearing areas for many marine species, thus supporting greater biodiversity.}}</ref><ref name="Cold Water Corals and Sponges">{{cite web |title=Cold Water Corals and Sponges |url=https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/publications/soto-rceo/2012/page07-eng.html |website=Gouvernement of Canada |publisher=Fisheries and Oceans Canada |date=2012 |quote=They provide the complex habitat structure that is important to invertebrates, fish and other deep sea life. High-complexity sponge reefs are associated with a greater abundance and diversity of species.}}</ref>

[[St. Paul Island, Nova Scotia|St. Paul Island]], located off the northeastern tip of [[Cape Breton Island]], is known as the ''"Graveyard of the Gulf"'' because of its many [[shipwreck]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=St. Paul Island Southwest Lighthouse |url=https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_hl_eng.aspx?id=14574 |website=Parks Canada Directory of Federal Heritage Designations |access-date=12 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Access to this island is controlled by the [[Canadian Coast Guard]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zydler |first1=Tom |title=Cruising Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence |url=https://www.cruisingworld.com/cruising-canadas-gulf-st-lawrence/ |website=Cruising World |access-date=12 March 2023 |date=18 October 2018 |quote="As I stepped ashore onto a blanket-size piece of sand, I realized I was probably trespassing; landing on the island requires an official permit from the Canadian coast guard."}}</ref>

In 1919 the first Migratory Bird Sanctuaries (MBS) in Canada were established under the [[Migratory Birds Convention Act]] on [[Bonaventure Island]], on the [[Rochers aux Oiseaux|Bird Rocks]] of the [[Magdalen Islands]], and on the [[Percé Rock]]. These [[migratory bird]] sanctuaries are administered by the [[Canadian Wildlife Service]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-bird-sanctuaries/locations.html |title=Migratory bird sanctuaries across Canada |date=22 February 2011 |publisher=Government of Canada}}</ref>

[[Image:Skyline trail, Cape Breton (7618649226).jpg|thumb|[[Cape Breton Highlands National Park]], Nova Scotia]]

[[National Parks of Canada|National Parks]] touching the Gulf of St. Lawrence include [[Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve]], in [[Côte-Nord]], [[Forillon National Park]] on the eastern tip of the [[Gaspé Peninsula]], [[Prince Edward Island National Park]] on the northern shore of the island, [[Kouchibouguac National Park]] on the northeastern coast of [[New Brunswick]], [[Cape Breton Highlands National Park]] on the northern tip of [[Cape Breton Island]], and [[Gros Morne National Park]] on the west coast of [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]].<ref name="Parks Canada">{{cite web |title=Parks Canada |url=https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=13 August 2024 |date=2024 |quote=There are 37 national parks and 11 national park reserves in Canada that represent 31 of Canada's 39 terrestrial natural regions and protect approximately 343,377 square kilometers of lands in Canada.}}</ref><ref name="Find a Parks Canada location">{{cite web |title=National Parks of Canada, search by province or territory - Map |url=https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/recherche-parcs-parks-search |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=13 August 2024 |date=2024 |quote=National Parks of Canada, search by province or territory}}</ref>

In Quebec, since March 31, 2024, the network of protected areas<ref name="Protected areas in Quebec">{{cite web |title=Protected areas in Quebec |url=https://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/biodiversite/aires_protegees/aires_quebec.htm#def |publisher=Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs |access-date=13 August 2024 |language=fr |date=2024 |quote=Protected areas are also recognized as an essential tool for adaptation to climate change. In particular, they allow carbon to be stored.}}</ref><ref name="Map of protected areas in Quebec">{{cite web |title=Map of protected areas in Quebec |url=https://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/biodiversite/aires_protegees/aires-carte.pdf |publisher=Environment and Climate Change Canada |access-date=13 August 2024 |language=fr |date=March 2024 |quote=Protected areas register database, 2024 Ministry of Environment and Ecological reference framework, 2018 adapted}}</ref> extends over 274,431 km<sup>2</sup> and is established as follows:

*Continental environment (terrestrial and fresh water): 255,377 km2 or 16.89%;
*Marine and coastal environments: 18,991 km<sup>2</sup> or 12.21% distributed as follows:
*Marine protected areas and territories set aside in the marine environment: 16,140 km2 or 10.39%;
*Portions of territories in marine and coastal environments associated with protected areas whose conservation objectives do not specifically target the marine environment (national parks, national park reserves of Quebec and Canada, migratory bird sanctuaries, planned aquatic reserves, reserves of projected biodiversity, areas of concentration of aquatic birds, etc.): 2,854 km<sup>2</sup> or 1.84%;
*Plan Nord territory: 229,021 km<sup>2</sup> or 19.19%.<ref name="Network of protected areas in Quebec">{{cite web |title=Network of protected areas in Quebec |url=https://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/biodiversite/aires_protegees/registre/ |publisher=Environment and Climate Change Canada |access-date=13 August 2024 |language=fr |date=2024 |quote=The Register of Protected Areas in Quebec constitutes a unique and integrated reference for Quebec in terms of protected areas, both within the meaning of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act and the recommendations of the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN).}}</ref>

The five provinces bordering the Gulf of St. Lawrence have several provincial parks with protected coasts.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}
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