Examen et mise à jour de l'état des connaissances et des priorité en matière de conservation pour le site d'intérêt (SI) des îles de la côte Est

Abstract

The Eastern Shore Islands was identified as an Area of Interest (AOI) for Oceans Act MPA designation in 2018, and a Biophysical and Ecological Overview for the area was developed through a Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) peer-review process to support identification of conservation priorities. • Scientific research in the AOI has continued, including development of oceanographic models, acoustic telemetry, eDNA, juvenile fish seining, SCUBA-based habitat and benthic diversity surveys, mapping of kelp and Eelgrass distribution, and deep-water imagery. • The Eastern Shore Islands is an area of cultural and ecological significance for the Mi’kmaq people, an area of traditional land and resource use including fishing, hunting, and gathering. Glacial history for the region and geological features are also noted to be important for understanding early Mi’kmaq habitation. Information is provided, where available, on species that were identified in a Mi'kmaq Ecological Knowledge Study for the Eastern Shore Islands area as being important to the Mi’kmaq diet, traditional fishing activities, and culture.^{1 1} Where possible, names of places and species of social, cultural, or economic significance for the Mi’kmaq are provided in Mi’kmaq in blue text, English in italics, and (Latin) in italics and parentheses for species at first mention.