Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park

Understand

The mission of this marine park is to increase, for the benefit of present and future generations, the level of protection of its ecosystems for conservation purposes, while promoting educational, recreational and scientific activities.

History The Saguenay-Saint-Laurent Marine Park protects an area of the St. Lawrence River and the Saguenay River where animal and plant diversity is exceptional according to marine ecosystem specialists. This diversity refers to a broad spectrum covering more than 2,000 wild species, both microscopic algae and the blue whale. Annually, thousands of whales, seals and seabirds travel thousands of kilometres to come and feed in this sector. Migratory marine species and resident species, such as the St. Lawrence beluga, are attracted by these oceanic conditions which favour the marine food chain because food is abundant there. The territory of this park generally covers the critical habitat of the St. Lawrence beluga.

Geography The Saguenay – Saint-Laurent Marine Park is located entirely in a marine area on the northern half of the St. Lawrence River, between Gros cap à l'Aigle at La Malbaie (MRC de Charlevoix-Est) and upstream from Pointe Rouge to Les Escoumins (MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord), as well as on the lower course of the Saguenay River, between Sainte-Rose-du-Nord (downstream from Cap de East) and Tadoussac. This park is adjacent by its land portion to Fjord-du-Saguenay National Park and Estuary Islands National Wildlife Area. The law constituting the creation of the marine park was adopted in 1997 by the Government of Quebec, providing for a marine territory.

Marine ecosystems This marine park has three ecosystems that stand out as hydrographic and oceanographic divisions: the middle estuary, the lower estuary and the Saguenay fjord. Ecosystems are interrelated because the various species migrate from one area to another.

History Humans have frequented the shores of the St.Lawrence for about 8,000 years because numerous

Getting there

By car The park is accessible via route 138 from Quebec City or Baie-Comeau and by routes 170 (south shore of Saguenay) and 172 (north shore of Saguenay) to from the city of Saguenay. Observation from the shore is favorable in many areas considering that the marine relief has sufficient depth near the coast to allow mannifers to frolic easily.

By boat The marine park area is navigable with light boats (sea kayaks, sea canoes), pleasure craft (sailboats, motor boats) or boats serving groups (e.g. zodiacs) served by excursionists, and even cruise ships offering a range of services, activities and discoveries of the region. Regulations have been established on how to move around this reserved area and how to behave with regard to marine mammals.

By air The observation of marine mannifers can be done by air: drone, helicopter, plane.

See

Nine species of marine mammals regularly frequent the park, two of which, the harbour seal and the beluga, reside year round. The other seven species are the grey seal, harp seal, harbour porpoise, minke whale, fin whale, blue whale, and humpback whale. The latter are present during the summer season. Marine mammals can migrate daily (or seasonally) from one marine area to another. Thus, their marine habitat is vast, which can complicate their observation by humans who love marine animals.

Interpretation centres for the marine environment 1 Centre de découverte du milieu marin de Les Escoumins (Les Escoumins Marine Environment Discovery Centre), 41, rue des Pilotes, Les Escoumins, ☏ +1 418-233-4414. Discovery centre on the underwater world of the St. Lawrence. Offers the “Le Saint-Laurent en direct” activity that allows you to observe, on a giant screen, the diver-interpreters at the bottom of the water and interact with them as well as to observe marine organisms. It is also possible to rent snorkel gear or observe marine mammals from the land. Picnic areas with a view of the St. Lawrence. (updated Dec 2021) 2 Centre d'interprétation et d'observation de Cap-de-Bon-Désir (Cap-de-Bon-Désir Interpretation and Observation Centre), 13, chemin du Cap de Bon Désir, Grandes-Bergeronnes, ☏ +1 418-232-6751. Observation of marine mannifers from the shore. (updated Dec 2021) 3 Centre d'interprétation des Mammifères Marins de Tadoussac (Tadoussac Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre), 108, rue de la Cale Sèche, Tadoussac, ☏ +1 418-235-4701, [email protected]. Founded in 1985, the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM) is a non-profit organization. Its mission is dedicated to scientific research on the whales of the St. Lawrence and to education for the conservation of the marine environment. (updated Dec 2021)

Main observation points from the shore 4 Point de vue du Quai des Pilotes (Viewpoint from the Pilots' Quay), 38, rue des Pilotes, Les Escoumins (Vie

Eat

1 Boulangerie Artisanale la "P'tite Cochonne", 482 rue de la Mer Suivre les indications des croisieres ou la, Rue du Boisé, ☏ +1 418 617-0384. Th-Su 08:00–17:00. (updated Jan 2022)

Sleep

1 Auberge La Rosepierre, 66 Rue Principale, Grandes-Bergeronnes, ☏ +1 418 232-6543. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. (updated Jan 2022)

Go next

1MISSING WIKILINK Tadoussac Municipality bordering the north shore of the St. Lawrence River and the mouth of the Saguenay River. This locality has a good infrastructure for recreational and tourism activities (resorts, restaurants, accommodation, hiking trails, cycling, museums, interpretation centres, excursions on the river, providers of activities in nature) and for various passenger services. Tadoussac is recognized as the "capital of the whale". 2MISSING WIKILINK Sacré-Coeur (Quebec) Forest community offering various services to travellers and numerous recreational and tourist attractions thanks to its shore on the Saguenay Fjord, in particular the Anse-de-Roche wharf and its tourist infrastructures (superb views of the Saguenay, nautical activities, observation and interpretation of nature). 3MISSING WIKILINK Les Escoumins Municipality bordering the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. Locality where the offer of recreational tourism activities (resorts, restaurants, lodges, inns and hotel, whale-watching expeditions, controlled exploitation zone (ZEC), interpretation centres, etc.) is developed. 4MISSING WIKILINK Baie-Sainte-Catherine A municipality on the west shore of the Saguenay River and the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. The Baie-Sainte-Catherine-Tadoussac ferry serves hundreds of thousands of passengers per year and road vehicles. The Pointe-Noire observation and interpretation centre and the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Marine Park attract many visitors. 5MISSING WIKILINK Saint-Siméon A picturesque municipality on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in the Charlevoix-Est RCM, renowned for its Saint-Siméon-Rivière-du-Loup ferry. Municipality endowed with numerous recreational tourism activities and a developed tourist infrastructure (accommodation, camping, restaurants, arti