Marine Protected Area

Basin Head

Basin Head is a shallow coastal lagoon located on the eastern tip of Prince Edward Island, near the town of Souris. The lagoon is surrounded by both agricultural land and an extensive sand dune system. Approximately 5 kilometres long, Basin Head is a unique coastal environment that the community, conservation organizations, and both levels of government are working towards protecting for generations to come.

There are many different types of animal and plant life in the area. Most notable is a unique type of Irish moss that is found nowhere else in the world.

Irish moss is a commercially harvested marine plant throughout the Maritimes. The type in Basin Head is unique because it does not attach to the bottom and is significantly larger than the normal plant found elsewhere. As well, it has a higher concentration of carageenan, an important thickening agent in products we use everyday.

Basin Head has attracted the attention of both government and non-government interests for a number of years. Adjacent to the lagoon is the Basin Head Fisheries Museum, which was established in 1973 and displays the rich cultural history of the nearby coastal communities. More recently, the provincially chaired Marine Conservation Areas Committee recognized the ecological importance of the area. To help foster co-operation, local interests established the Basin Head Lagoon Ecosystem Conservation Committee in early 1999.

This committee identified several important goals of the community including: the conservation and protection of Irish moss and the ecosystem that supports it, public awareness and education, and research. Based on extensive public and government input and interest, DFO announced the designation of the Basin Head Marine Protected Area (MPA) in October 2005. A management plan will be developed with the Basin Head Lagoon Conservation Committee, which will identify the actions required by both government and the community to provide long-term protection for the area.