Parc marindu Saguenay–Saint‑Laurent

Portrait of the park

History of Parc marin du Saguenay–Saint-Laurent

• 1988: Twenty-seven regional groups created the “Coalition pour le parc marin du Saguenay–Saint-Laurent”
• 1990:The Canadian and Québec government signed an agreement creating Parc marin du Saguenay–Saint-Laurent.
• 1993: Public consultation on the development of the marine park
• 1995: First Master Plan for the Saguenay–Saint-Laurent marine park presenting, for the first time in Québec, the joint and complementary bi-governmental approach to the establishment of a marine park, and an innovative approach featuring community involvement in the park’s management through the creation of a coordinating committee.
• 1998: Laws about the marine park came into force.
• 2001: Ecosystem Conservation Plan for the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park
• 2002: Marine Activities in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park Regulations came into force.
• 2007: Publication of the State of Parc marin du Saguenay–Saint-Laurent Report 
• 2008: Public consultations on the revision of the Master Plan
• 2010: Submission of the revised Master Plan
• 2011: Eco-responsible practices guide for captains/naturalists at sea with the Eco-Whale Alliance
• 2014: The St. Lawrence beluga whale population was declared an endangered species by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
• 2017: Portrait of Navigation in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park and entry into force of the Amended Marine Activities Regulations 
• 2018: 20th anniversary of the marine park
• 2019: Guide to good promotion practices
• 2020: Online training course "Navigating in whale habitat for boaters and kayakers", with ROMM, GREMM and DFO
• 2023: Sustainability monitoring program
• 2024: Public consultations held on the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park expansion project

The Park’s Natural Heritage

These constantly renewed waters form an open and dynamic ecosystem, home to a wide variety of plants and animals and filled with fascinating phenomena.

• Nine species of marine mammals regularly swim in the park’s waters. The beluga and the harbour seal even stay year-round. Three of these species are pinnipeds: the harbour seal, the grey seal and the harp seal. The 6 others are cetaceans: the beluga, the harbour porpoise, the minke whale, the fin whale, the blue whale, and the humpback whale
• Many of the park’s plants and animals live attached to the seabed or in close connection with it. These organisms are divided into 3 zones, each providing specific conditions: the intertidal zone, the sublittoral zone, and the bathyal zone.
• The marine park area is a paradise for bird watchers! The waters of the estuary and the fjord touch on a multitude of terrestrial habitats. Over 150 bird species have been counted here.

To find out more about the marine life of the St. Lawrence:

• Réseau d’observation de mammifères marins (ROMM) This link will open in a new window.
• Virtual Museum of Canada This link will open in a new window.

The Cultural Heritage of the Park

For millennia, the confluence of the Saguenay and the St. Lawrence has created conditions favourable for human use of the marine environment. After the most recent passage of glaciers about 10,000 years ago, the territory of Québec became partially habitable. Archaeological digs revealed that hunters were in the area starting at least 8,000 years ago.

In addition to shaping their way of life, fishing and hunting marine wildlife contributed to exchanges between the First Peoples. Some 5,000 year later, hunters left evidence of their activities on the Upper North Shore, where seal bones were found.

In short, the marine park is home to a rich historical heritage. Its cultural value is immense. The St. Lawrence River is also listed on the Québec Cultural Heritage Registry owing to its importance in the identity, history, and culture of Quebecers, as well as for its role in the economy, since it connects the interior of the continent to the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, numerous elements of historical and cultural heritage can be found throughout the territory. Many of these elements are visible, particularly the lighthouses and wharves, while others have been revealed through historical research and archaeology.