Marine Protected Area

The Gully

The Gully is located approximately 200 kilometres off Nova Scotia, to the east of Sable Island, on the edge of the Scotian Shelf. Here, the seafloor suddenly drops away over two and a half kilometres. This large and deep submarine valley or canyon was formed thousands of years ago by erosion when sea levels were much lower. Over 65 kilometres long and 15 kilometres wide, the Gully is one of the most prominent undersea features on the east coast of Canada.

Photo: Whitehead Labs, Dalhousie University

The Gully ecosystem transcends shallow sandy banks, a deep-water canyon environment, and portions of the continental slope and abyssal plain, providing habitat for a wide diversity of species.

There are still questions regarding what lives in the deep canyon or if there are species yet to be discovered. The Gully has significant coral communities, a diversity of both shallow and deep-water fishes, and a variety of whales and dolphins. A resident population of northern bottlenose whales is found in the deep canyon area. These whales are among the world’s deepest divers and make regular trips to the canyon depths for food. As well, the region around the Gully supports a number of commercial fisheries and is important to the oil and gas industry.

The Gully ecology has attracted the attention of many agencies, such as Parks Canada, Environment Canada, non-government organizations and universities. In 1994, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) identified part of the area as a Whale Sanctuary to reduce noise disturbance and ship collisions with whales. In response to continued interest in the ecosystem, DFO initiated a Gully Conservation Strategy with a multi-disciplinary scientific review of the current state of knowledge for the area. With input from interested agencies and organizations, the Conservation Strategy proposed conservation objectives, goals, and management actions. Key recommendations were for a broader integrated management and planning process on the Scotian Shelf and for immediate action to protect the Gully. In 1999, DFO identified the Gully as an Area of Interest (AOI) under its national Marine Protected Area (MPA) Program.

Following a comprehensive planning and consultation process, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans announced the designation of the Gully Marine Protected Area in May 2004. The MPA designation provides legal protection for the natural biological diversity and ecosystem health of the Gully. DFO is continuing to work with its government partners, industry, non-government organizations, the science community, and other interested groups in the management and conservation of this exceptional marine area.

The MPA regulations prohibit the disturbance, damage, destruction or removal of any living marine organism or habitat within the Gully. The MPA contains three management zones, each providing varying levels of protection based on conservation objectives and ecological sensitivities. An ecosystem approach has been applied in the design of the MPA wherein human activities are assessed against the ecosystem features being protected in the Gully. The regulations also control human activities in areas around the Gully that could cause harmful effects within the MPA boundary.

For more information, please contact:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Oceans and Coastal Management Division, Maritimes Region
Bedford Institute of Oceanography
1 Challenger Drive, P.O. Box 1006
Dartmouth, NS  B2Y 4A2