Lobster Area closures (Trout River, Shoal Point, Penguin Islands, Gooseberry Island, Glovers Harbour, Mouse Island, Gander Bay)
Note:
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On this page
- At-a-glance
- Biodiversity conservation benefits
- Ecosystem
- Management and conservation
- Publications
- Related links
At-a-glance
Lobster Area closures (Trout River, Shoal Point, Penguin Islands, Gooseberry Island, Glovers Harbour, Mouse Island, Gander Bay)
Location
Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves; Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence Bioregion (Newfoundland and Labrador)
Size (km2)
About 94 km2
% coverage contribution to Marine Conservation Targets
About 0.01%
Date of recognition
January 2018
1996 to 2004
Establishment mechanism
These Fisheries Act closures were implemented throughout 1996 to 2004.
Biodiversity conservation benefits
Important species benefits
American lobster is a commercially important species.
Important habitat benefits
Inshore shallow and rocky areas are protected to increase egg production, which makes the area important for life history of American lobster.
Prohibitions
The biodiversity conservation benefits are effectively conserved through the prohibition of all lobster fishing.
OECM Protection Standards
All existing and foreseeable activities are assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the risks they pose to the biodiversity conservation benefits are effectively avoided or mitigated. For more information please visit Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECM) Protection Standard.
Ecosystem
American Lobster are important predators in these rocky, shallow, inshore environments along the Newfoundland coast and so they play an important role in the food web. Small lobsters are also a potential food source for many species. As such, protecting lobster spawning areas may contribute to the overall health of inshore food webs.
Management and conservation
The lobster area closures are managed under the Fisheries Act by prohibiting specific fishing activities.
Publications
Full article: Closed areas as a conservation strategy in the Newfoundland lobster fishery
Related links
- Marine refuges contributing to marine conservation targets - Canada.ca
- Lobster Area Closure (Trout River) - Canadian Geographic
- Lobster Area Closure (Shoal Point) - Canadian Geographic
- Lobster Area Closure (Penguin Islands) - Canadian Geographic
- Lobster Area Closure (Gooseberry Island) - Canadian Geographic
- Lobster Area Closure (Glovers Harbour) - Canadian Geographic
- Lobster Area Closure (Mouse Island) - Canadian Geographic
- Lobster Area Closure (Gander Bay) - Canadian Geographic
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