President Obama's Ocean Plan should protect Bay of Fundy Marine Life at Head Harbour Passage and West Isles.

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While not yet written into law, President Obama's new Ocean Policy task force called for decisions guided by "best available science" as well as a "precautionary approach" that reflects the Rio Declaration of 1992, which states: "where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environment degradation." 

Since there is an abundance of scientific information available that mitigates against the degradation of this important marine location, this new policy should recognize the value of Head Harbour Passage and West Isles and  move towards establishing a Marine Protected Area or Marine Managed Area here in Quoddy in the immediate future. This is the opportunity for Canada and the United States to join together in forming the first international protected area along our border. The precident was already set with the establishment of the highly success Roosevelt Campobello International Park and Commission.

Actually, the RCIP could well be the existing management structure. This would only extend the area that they would manage.

Read more about President Obama's Ocean Policy here: http://www.alternet.org/story/142866/obama_administration_announces_new_plan_to_save_oceans%2C_will_it_be_enough

Photo Credit: wikipedia.com

From Lesley on the water at West Isles, Aug.17

There were 2 fins just off the back of White Island near the Light...as well as several minkes....also a pod of porpoises and lots of fish...and half way between St. Andrews and L'Etete there was a large jellyfish bloom that turned the surface all white..( this I heard about ...the rest I saw ) .

My comment. They had better watch out for the aquaculture pesticide treatments. All this will vanish. Joyce

Editors Comment: The jellyfish is likely the Moon Jellyfish, Aurelia aurita. It is normal for there to be large numbers in Passamaquoddy Bay and West Isles during the summer, although they have been reduced in recent years. Their apparent return is a good sign since they are food or provide food for sunfish (Mola mola), Leatherback turtles and seabirds. They will all die by late fall and overwinter as tiny scyphistoma. I'll tell you all about these later. They're really cool. Art

Photo Credit: wikipedia.com

Beautiful and Vital West Isles

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West Isles. This small marine area that Tim Foulkes captured from his plane this week, is the ecological "engine" that drives this part of the the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine. Top left is Campobello showing Harbour de Loutre and narrow Head Harbour Passage. Deer Island is to the lower right; Northern Harbour and Leonardville in the forground leading to Deer Island Point, home of the Old Sow Whirlpool. Eastport, Lubec and Cobscook are in the upper right background.

Beautiful shot Tim!