Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park

The Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park is a National Marine Conservation Area, one of three in the Canadian national park system, located where the Saguenay River meets the maritime estuary of the St. Lawrence River.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This park is jointly managed by Parks Canada (Government of Canada) and Sépaq (Government of Quebec).<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> It is the first park in all of Canada to protect a purely marine environment, and covers a surface area of 1,245 km².<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The area that is now the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park is a part of the Innue Essipit First Nation's land claim, and a treaty resulting from this claim could impact activities that are practiced within the park.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The region surrounding the park is an important part of the history of Canada, being one of the first points of contact between Indigenous Peoples and European explorers and the birthplace of the intercontinental fur trade.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" />

The Maritime estuary of St. Lawrence begin at the Saguenay Fjord this meeting form a distinct ecosystem for the species in the park.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Different species of whales in particular are drawn to the rich food supply stirred up by the mixing of these waters. One of these species is the St. Lawrence Beluga whale, which is endemic to Canada and a species at risk.<ref name="species-registry.canada.ca">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The most popular activity in the park is whale-watching.<ref name="Fjord and river">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The park provides a variety of opportunities on and off the water for visitors to see them. There are several human impacts that threaten the park such as climate change, noise pollution, chemical pollution, and overfishing, many of which are not fully understood.

History

The Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region and surrounding areas are home to a rich and important part of Canadian history. The land has long hosted an abundance of natural resources such as fish, game, and berries, that played a large role in the survival of nomadic populations for generations.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The region was occupied for at least 8,000 years prior to European contact.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Findings from many archeological sites confirm the ancient peoples' seal hunting activities, and there is evidence that the Indigenous peoples of the region were a part of a network that extended from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Coast.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Over the centuries, subsistence activities and trade evolved. The region became a crossroad for trade between the Indigenous peoples of the region and European explorers when their fur trade was woven into the existing Indigenous trade network in the 16th century through the establishment of the first settler trading post in 1600 by Pierre de Chauvin.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /><ref name="tadoussac.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Trade between the Indigenous peoples of the region and Basque fisherman can be traced back as early as 1580.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The Basque were the first Europeans to work in the St. Lawrence Estuary.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> An alliance between the French and the Indigenous peoples in and around Tadoussac was created in 1603 led by Samuel de Champlain.<ref name="tadoussac.com" /> This agreement led to the establishment of Québec City in 1608.<ref name="tadoussac.com" />

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Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park, Maritime estuary of St. Lawrence River, Tadoussac

In the 17th to the 19th century, Indigenous peoples relied on marine wildlife for subsistence, fishing for salmon and hunting seals and seabirds.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> They traded their furs and oils made from sea mammal fat at the trading post in Tadoussac, located at the mouth of the Saguenay River.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The establishment of beluga fisheries began in 1701, until 1979 when beluga farming was banned.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" />

In the 19th century, demand for fish rose due to a boom in the forestry industry that led to a rapid increase in the French Canadian population as more sawmills were built.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> As the population increased, the land was transformed in order to house the new residents, impacting the nature and Indigenous peoples who had relied on this land to support them for centuries.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The Innu's saw a drastic decline in the hunting and fishing grounds which raised the first notions for land to be set aside for them in the form of reserves.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The first conflicts between marine environmental users, as well as concerns for the preservation of those marine environments were raised.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> As the French continued to colonize the land, the region became a popular place for vacationing and sport fishing.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> In 1864 the first hotel was established in Québec City, setting the stage for the tourism industry in the Saguenay region.<ref name="tadoussac.com" /> This was supported by progress in steam navigation that led to the rapid expansion of the region's tourism industry.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Vacationers raised concerns for the impact that industry had had on the wildlife and landscape, leading to the first legislation to preserve salmon habitats in 1860.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" />

In the 20th century Saguenay entered the industrial era, rapidly expanding their forestry industry to include pulp and paper plants, as well as developing into the hydroelectric and aluminum industries.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> This industrialization led to the urbanization and modernization of the region, expanding upstream.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The rising concern for the environment near the end of the 20th century led to a revival of the tourism industry with a new focus on nature and cultural heritage, and eventually the creation of the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Ecotourism remains one of the most important economic activities in the region to this day, generation lots of economic benefits for surrounding communities.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" />

Ecology

Wildlife

The Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park provides habitat for a high diversity of species.<ref name="Ménard-2022">Template:Cite journal</ref> According to the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park Management Plan (2010), over 1,000 species of flora and fauna have been estimated to live there.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The St. Lawrence Beluga whale and the harbour seal are the two marine mammal species that are residents of the park year-round.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Other species that migrate to the marine park during different seasons are the blue whale, minke whale, fin whale, humpback whale,<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> killer whale, long-finned pilot whale, northern bottlenose whale, sperm whale, North Atlantic right whale, white-beaked dolphin, Atlantic white-sided dolphin,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> harbour porpoise, harbour seal, and the grey seal.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> High krill and capelin concentrations make the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park an essential feeding site for several of these species.<ref name="Government of Canada-2019">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Zooplankton is also abundant in this area.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Additionally, the islands of the estuary are recognized as crucial locations for various bird species to nest.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Aside from whales, seals, and birds, the marine park contains several hundred varieties of benthic and pelagic organisms, including numerous species of algae.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The marine park also provides ideal habitat for food, rest, and wintering of several bird species.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" />

Species at risk

There are 13 species deemed at risk by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) that live in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park or migrate there seasonally.<ref name="Ménard-2022" /> One of these species, the St. Lawrence beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) was designated as endangered in 1983 by COSEWIC.<ref name="species-registry.canada.ca" /> The St. Lawrence beluga whale status was then changed to threatened in 1997.<ref name="species-registry.canada.ca" /> However, in 2014, the designation was re-examined and changed back to endangered.<ref name="species-registry.canada.ca" /> Up until the early 2000s, the population was growing at a rate of 0.13% each year.<ref name="Government of Canada-2018">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Since then, the population has been decreasing at around a rate of 1% each year.<ref name="Government of Canada-2018" /> This beluga population is currently approximately 900 individuals,<ref name="Ménard-2022" /> and is endemic to Canada.<ref name="species-registry.canada.ca" /> Additionally, this population is geographically and reproductively isolated from other populations because it is at the southernmost end of the species' range.<ref name="species-registry.canada.ca" /> The St. Lawrence beluga population faces various threats, including underwater noise, habitat degradation, and pollution.<ref name="Ménard-2022" /> The population has demonstrated evidence of significant demographic shifts since the middle of the 2000s, including an increase in neonatal deaths and a decrease in the number of young individuals in the population.<ref name="species-registry.canada.ca" /> Other at-risk species include the fin whale, the blue whale, harbour porpoise, the North Atlantic right whale,<ref name="Government of Canada-2019" /> and the Barrow's goldeneye.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" />

Ecosystem

The Saguenay-St.Lawrence Marine Park contains three distinct ecosystems, including the upper estuary, lower estuary, and the Saguenay-Fjord.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Each is hard to define by strict boundaries due to the nature of water, but it is the unique combination of all three that allows the park to support a large range of biodiversity.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> While each ecosystem differs in its temperature, salinity, sea floor, and depth, there are some processes that occur across the entire marine park.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Most significantly, the continuous upwelling of cold water throughout this ecosystem bring fresh nutrients to the surface.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The uneven underwater topography also supports producers, creating a strong ecological foundation for the park.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" />

Upper and Lower Estuary

The Upper Estuary takes up the most area of the park, making up approximately 53%.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> It is characterized by wide flats, islands, and strong tides.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> It is the shallowest and warmest region, and has a rough sea floor.<ref name="American Geophysical Union-1990">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The water is high salinity-wise, but good circulation in this area mixes it well with freshwater.<ref name="American Geophysical Union-1990" /> Despite the Upper Estuary being over 50% of the park, it has not been well-researched.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The park management plan states the present data only indicate that the area supports species reproduction.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The lower estuary accounts for 30% of the marine park.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> It is composed of saltwater from the Laurentian Channel, and is much deeper than the Upper Estuary.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Considered a 'stable' region, marine life is plentiful despite contaminants from upstream.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> It also serves the Saguenay Fjord with oxygen-rich water.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" />

Saguenay Fjord

The Saguenay Fjord is the final 17% of the marine park.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> It is over Template:Convert long and Template:Convert deep.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Mammals such as whales frequent the region due to its depth and supply of nutrients.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite the fjord being rich in nutrients, it is the least stable region, with its health considered unstable.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Fish populations have been declining, which is one indicator of the fjord's poor health.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Historically, major contaminants such as mercury and lead have been a problem for the fjord, but these have been greatly reduced.<ref name="American Geophysical Union-1990" /> Organic contaminants such as organochlorines are bigger threats to current marine life.<ref name="American Geophysical Union-1990" />

Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park management plan

On April 6, 1990, the governments of Quebec and Canada signed an agreement to create the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The management plan was originally drafted in 1995, and the park was officially created in 1998.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> This was the first time that Quebec and Canada worked together to create a marine protected area (MPA). Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park was the first park in Canada to be dedicated to preserving a marine environment.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The Saguenay-St Lawrence Marine Park is the product of years of coordinated conservation efforts between the two governments and is part of a larger endeavour to protect Canada's marine environment.<ref name="publications.gc.ca">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> There was no transfer of land, so each government continues to act within the scope of their jurisdictions within the park.<ref name="publications.gc.ca" /> The park was created to increase the level of protection of a representative portion of the ecosystems present in the Saguenay River and St. Lawrence estuary.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> This was done with the goal of benefitting the present and future generations, for conservation purposes and to encourage its use for education, science and recreation.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Two rounds of public consultations were conducted in order to determine the boundaries of the park and to present the management plan.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" />

Management of the park is done following the principles of environmentally sustainable use, where ecosystems are used according to their limits regarding providing ecosystem services and resources.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> This ecosystem-based management method takes into account the renewal rates of marine resources. As well, protects endangered populations and habitats and aims to reduce the impact that human activities have on the operation of ecosystems.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" />

The management plan was revisited in 2010 and a new document was produced.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The revised management plan describes issues and objectives that guide new strategies to be implemented concerning the following: participatory management, ecosystem biodiversity, environmental sustainability of resource use, visitor experience, public education, public awareness, and administration.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" />

Management structure

The creation of this park involved the establishment of teams to develop management tools for public safety, resource conservation, and environmental emergencies.<ref name="Ménard-2022" /> The harmonization management committee was created to help harmonize the management activities of the provincial and federal governments and ensure co-management between governments.<ref name="Ménard-2022" /><ref name="Lemke" /> The coordinating committee is made up of representatives from various government departments and organizations involved in managing the park.<ref name="Ménard-2022" /> There are representatives from the governments of provincial, federal, and regional governments involved in managing the park. Along with the Montagnais Essipit Band Council, a conservation group, the scientific community, the education community and Parks Canada.<ref name="Ménard-2022" /><ref name="Truchon-2013" /> The coordinating committee is tasked with ensuring that follows up on the management plan is done and to advise the Ministers responsible for the park on the strategies and methods needed to attain the objectives outlined in the plan.<ref name="numerique.banq.qc.ca">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The management plan emphasized the importance of public consultation and participation, especially the participation of Indigenous peoples, is crucial to the park's success.<ref name="Ménard-2022" /> The coordinating committee has created six different advising boards. Each committee provides their own focus to help define the challenges associated with different aspects of the coordinating committee's intervention framework.<ref name="Ménard-2022" /> The Ecosystem Management and Research Advisory Committee are tasked with identifying the needs and priorities related to the collection of scientific knowledge and data in the park.<ref name="Chion-2021" /> The continued commitment of all parties involved in the management of the park is crucial to achieving the maintenance of biodiversity and management of both marine resources and human activities.<ref name="Ménard-2022" />

Management objectives regarding ecosystem, sustainable use and biodiversity conservation

The revised management plan (2010) lays out new visions and actions that need to be taken in order to further protect ecosystems and biodiversity in the park, as well as ensure ecologically sustainable use of resources.<ref name="numerique.banq.qc.ca" /> These include, but are not limited to;

• Protecting vulnerable populations and ecosystems by ensuring the restoration and improvement of habitats that are essential to their survival;<ref name="numerique.banq.qc.ca" />
• Implementing environmental monitoring mechanisms to measure the evolution of the park's ecosystems and monitor the efficiency of management methods;<ref name="numerique.banq.qc.ca" /><ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" />
• Fostering the development of conservation values and awareness in those living around the park;<ref name="numerique.banq.qc.ca" />
• Managing resource use following the principles of sustainable use and development (i.e. environmentally viable, socially acceptable and economically profitable);<ref name="numerique.banq.qc.ca" /><ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" />
• Promoting the collection of knowledge concerning ecosystem management approaches for commercial and recreational activities, and generating interest of research centers to conduct research on the natural and cultural heritage of the park.<ref name="numerique.banq.qc.ca" />

Park use objectives

The goal of the park is to provide opportunities for visitors to enjoy a mostly undisturbed marine environment.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Activities such as marine tours, cruises, scuba diving are allowed, and encouraged.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Through partnerships with communities in the areas surrounding the park, tourism in the area has grown and many different recreational activities and services are available to visitors.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> This has benefitted the surrounding regions and has greatly contributed to the social, economic and cultural development and wellbeing of the local communities.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> There is no harvesting of natural resources permitted in the park, although large commercial ships are allowed to pass through.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> There is some recreational hunting and fishing activities permitted within the park, so long as they comply with the management principles of the park and within specified zones.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" />

Participatory management and co-management with Indigenous peoples

The Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Protected Area and surrounding areas are part of the traditional territories of the Innu Essipit First Nation, the Pessamit Innu Band, and the Maliseet of Viger First Nation. The area that is now the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park is a part of the Essipit Innu First Nation's traditional territory, and a treaty resulting from their land claim could impact activities that are practiced within the park.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The coordination zone of the park includes land claimed by the Malecite First Nation in Viger.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The heritage presentations in the park take into consideration the activities, interests, and experiences of the Indigenous communities within the coordination zone.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The Essipit Innu First Nation has been involved from the beginning and have played an essential role in all stages of the planning and implementation of the park.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> A representative from the Essipit Innu Band Council sits on the coordinating committee and other advisory boards.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /><ref name="publications.gc.ca" /> They contribute significantly to the presentation of the park, attesting to the long-established presence of Indigenous peoples in the area, as well as promoting the ancestral and contemporary cultural significance.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Additionally, any projects that are considered by the committee that may have an impact on any Indigenous Communities, will first go through the process of informing the communities.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" />

Human impacts

Climate change impacts

Sea ice is vital to certain species' habitats in the marine park, particularly marine mammals.<ref name="Truchon-2013">Template:Cite journal</ref> One major concern of the park is that the rising temperatures as a result of climate change are correlated with sea ice melt.<ref name="Lemke">Lemke, P., J. Ren, R.B. Alley, I. Allison, J. Carrasco, G. Flato, Y. Fujii, G. Kaser, P. Mote, R.H. Thomas and T. Zhang, 2007: Observations: Changes in Snow, Ice and Frozen Ground. In: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA</ref> Sea ice conditions were monitored from 1994 to 2008 in a study examining the entire St.Lawrence ecosystem, which includes the marine park.<ref name="Truchon-2013" /> When compared to data from the 1980s and 1990s, sea ice had been significantly reduced.<ref name="Truchon-2013" /> As a result, the low ice conditions reduced the availability of habitats and marine mammal stranding occurred more as more ice melted.<ref name="Truchon-2013" /> The effect on marine productivity was also negative.<ref name="Truchon-2013" />

Noise pollution

The area once served as a refuge for whales from low frequency noise.<ref name="Chion-2021" /> Shipping noise and other water traffic are detrimental to the endangered whale population.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> As traffic in the Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park increases, there is a worry about the effects this could have on whales.<ref name="Chion-2021">Template:Cite journal</ref> Beluga whales are a central part of tourism in the park, and it has been known as one of the best locations to go whale watching.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> It has been observed that the negative effects associated with increased noise have the greatest impact on calves and females.<ref name="Chion-2021" /> This is worrying as calves and females are extremely important to the persistence of this endangered species. Investigations into this problem are still in the early stages, however, there is an understanding that harm is being done.<ref name="Chion-2021" /> Political action to address this is still relatively uncertain,<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> and the conflict between the transportation sector and conservationists adds complexity. Parks Canada does have stated goals to address this,<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> but the future of this issue is once again uncertain.

Pollution

Human pollution is a risk for species that live within the Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park.<ref name="Lemaire-2013">Template:Cite journal</ref> Shorelines of surrounding rivers lack industrial, agricultural, or even urban development<ref name="Lemaire-2013" /> which aids the health of this region. However, due to many river systems affecting this area, less direct influences of urban development have been found to significantly impact the park. Waste treatment is unsatisfactory, leading to untreated human waste being found in the water along with high levels of suspended particles due to how water enters the system.<ref name="Lemaire-2013" /> Industrial pollution, while less impactful, also has an effect.<ref name="Lemaire-2013" /> Fertilizer leaching into the water, and river seeing extensive use for transportation has led to pollutants entering the water, however the weight of these findings are less understood than that of urban development.<ref name="Lemaire-2013" />

Clams have been affected negatively by chemical pollution such as fuel combustion, oil contamination, and urban pollution,<ref name="Gagné-2022">Template:Cite journal</ref> which has led to a multitude of negative side effects. These side effects occur in areas of neuroendocrine, DNA damage, immunocompetence and increased energy expenses.<ref name="Gagné-2022" /> This not only harms the clams, but also species that feed upon them, such as the beluga whale.<ref name="Gagné-2022" /> Ragworm Nereis diversicolor, gammarids, fish, birds, are impacted as well as others through bioaccumulation.<ref name="Gagné-2022" /> The true scope of this issue is currently not known, but there is a high potential risk.

Overfishing

There is minimal knowledge of commercial and recreational fishing in Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park despite its long history of fishing use.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> However, fishing is still thought to be a point of concern by Parks Canada.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> The true fish population and catch rates are unknown, which make quantifying this issue difficult.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> Even without clear data, there has been warning signs that imply that the population may be declining. Catch rates while ice fishing have been noted to be falling, as well as a general yearly population decline.<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> There is a push to acquire more data,<ref name="Parks Canada Agency-2019" /> but it will be seen when this will happen, or if it will be successful in managing the fish community.

Tourism

The Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park has attracted 1,070,634 visitors during the season 2022 to 2023.<ref name="open.canada.ca">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> There are many opportunities for visitors, with the most popular activity being whale watching.<ref name="Fjord and river"/> While belugas live in the park year-round, they are best spotted between May and October.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Visitors can be right on the water through cruises, sea kayaking, boating, or scuba diving.<ref name="Fjord and river" /> Beyond this, there are four tourist regions that offer other attractions forming a "Discovery Network" along the coast of the park.<ref name="Fjord and river" /> These regions are Bas-Saint-Laurent, Charlevoix, Côte-Nord, and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean.<ref name="Spectacular vistas">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Common tourist attractions such as museums, hiking, and more opportunities for whale-watching are available.<ref name="Spectacular vistas" /> As a protected park, the aim is to minimize human impacts. The 'Marine Activities in the Saguenay-St.Lawrence Marine Park' outlines all of the regulations surrounding watercraft and personal activities in the park.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• Île aux Lièvres (Saint Lawrence River)
• List of Quebec national parks
• List of national parks of Canada
• Saguenay, Québec

External links

• Official site of Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park
• Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park at Parks Canada