7. Name of Wetland: MALPEQUE BAY, Prince Edward Island

1. Country: Canada

2. Effective Date of Information: The information provided is taken from text supplied at the time of designation to the List of Wetlands of International Importance, April 1988. Information was updated by CWS-AR in February, 1993.

3. Reference: Canada - 30.

4. Name and Address of Compiler: Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3.

5. Date of Ramsar Designation: 28 April 1988.

6. Geographical Coordinates: 46ø32'N., 63ø48'W.

7. General Location: The bay is situated on the north coast of Prince Edward Island, 10 km north of the Town of Summerside, in Prince County.

8. Area: 24,400 ha.

9. Wetland Type (Ramsar Classification System):

   Marine and Coastal Wetlands:

   Type 1 - Marine waters - permanent shallow waters less than six metres deep at low tide; includes sea bays, straits.

   Type 2 - Subtidal aquatic beds; includes kelp beds, sea-grasses, tropical marine meadows.

   Type 5 - Sand, shingle or pebble beaches; includes sand bars, spits, sandy islets.

   Type 8 - Intertidal marshes; includes salt marshes, salt meadows, saltings, raised salt marshes, tidal brackish and freshwater marshes.

   Type 10 - Brackish to saline lagoons with one or more relatively narrow connections with the sea.

10. Altitude: 0 to 8 meters

11. Overview (Principle Characteristics): The area comprises 700 ha of salt marsh, 7 600 ha of shallow estuarine water and flats, 80 ha of saline ponds, 640 ha of sand dunes, 260 ha of sand beach, 2 200 ha of islands and 12 960 ha of open water.

12. Physical Features (Geology, Geomorphology, Hydrology, Soils, Water, Climate): Malpeque Bay is a coastal lagoon system protected from the open sea (Gulf of St. Lawrence) by a 25 km-long coastal sandspit and dune formation. A 1 km-wide channel at the eastern tip of the sandspit provides for the main exchange of tidal waters between the bay and open ocean. Some 23 small rivers and creeks contribute fresh water to this wetland, thus producing principally an estuarine regime. Numerous small salt marshes (average size 5 ha) are scattered along the coastline which is characterised by a band of intertidal sand-mud that varies in width from 0.5 m to 1 000 m.

13. Ecological Features (Habitats, Vegetation): The majority of the bay is shallow (average depth 4 m, maximum 13 m) with numerous shoals. These shallow, productive, coastal waters account for 31% of the site area, and eel grass Zostera marina dominates half (3 800 ha) of this area. The 25 km protecting sandspit has wide sand beaches (260 ha) and several small saline ponds. Areas of overwash occur at intervals, but an extensive dune system vegetated with marram grass Ammophila breviligulata dominates. The bay contains nine islands, five wooded and four covered with grasses and shrubs.

14. Land Tenure:

    (a) Site: As the site is primarily open water and intertidal flats, a large area is undeeded. The coastal sandspit is provincial Crown Land and a large portion is owned by the Lennox Island Indian Reserve, while the islands and salt marshes are mostly privately owned. Ninety seven (97) ha of Big Courtin (Bunbury) Island is owned by the Island Nature Trust. Two Provincial Parks occur within the area; the 87 ha Green Park and the 58 ha Cabot Park.

    During the 1989 to 1992 period, an additional 60 ha of salt marsh on the eastern side of the bay were acquired under the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.

    (b) Surrounding Area: Mostly private and municipal lands

15. Conservation Measures Taken: The P.E.I. Environmental Protection Act provides a high level of protection to all wetlands in the Province. The two Provincial Parks are protected habitats and the 316 ha Indian River Wildlife Management Area, a provincially-designated waterfowl management site. A portion of Big Courtin (Bunbury) Island has been designated as a Natural Area.

16. Conservation Measures Proposed: The Beach Point salt marsh acquired under the EHJV will be designated as a Wildlife Management Area and additional key salt marshes will likely be secured. A number of marshes are being considered for Natural Areas designation along with four of the Islands within the Bay. A Management Plan for the overall site should be prepared.

17. Current Land Use/Activities in:

    (a) Site: There are no specific management practices being carried out within the wetland.

    (b) Surrounding Area: Mostly farms and open fields and small woodlot with cottage developments common along coastal points.

18. Threats to Integrity of:

    (a) Site: There are few known threats to this area, however, further development of the upland fringe and increased shellfish farming could alter patterns of waterfowl use.

    (b) Surrounding Area:

19. Hydrological/Physical Values: This shallow, productive Bay is an important nursery area for fin and shell fishes.

20. Social/Cultural Values: Malpeque Bay is famous for the Malpeque Bay Oyster and locally for soft shelled clams.

21. Noteworthy Fauna: Wildlife use of the area is considerable. Peak numbers of Canada Geese Branta canadensis reach 14 000 in spring and nearly 20 000 during autumn. Of particular importance to these geese are the eel grass flats and intertidal areas near Big Courtin Island (Bunbury), at the mouth of Indian River and in Darnley Basin. Up to 3 000 Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator, 1 200 Greater Scaup Athya marila, 1 500 Black Duck Anas rubripes and 750 Green-Winged Teal Anas crecca carolinensis can be observed in the peak autumn periods. Smaller numbers of Pintail Anas acuta, Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula and scoters (Melanitta sp.) also occur. Shorebirds are abundant about the bay from mid-July to early autumn, and several pairs of nesting Piping Plover Charadrius melodus occur at overwash sites on the outer beach. Some of the islands are colonial nesting sites for seabirds, and Big Courtin Island is the largest (300) Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias colony in the province.

22. Noteworthy Flora:

23. Current Scientific Research and Facilities: No major studies of migratory birds have been carried out at the site. Waterfowl use has been documented by aerial surveys conducted by the Canadian Wildlife Service and the Prince Edward Island, Department of the Environment.

24. Current Conservation Education: Signage located at Cabot Provincial Park

25. Current Recreation and Tourism: The Ramsar site is not promoted as a separate destination, however, the entire Bay area is a recreational site with summer activities focused at the two Provincial Parks.

26. Management Authority: Dept of the Environment, Province of P.E.I.

27. Jurisdiction: Partially Provincial; Prince Edward Island Department of the Environment. Partially Private.

28. Selected Bibliography:

29. Reasons for Ramsar Designation: Very high levels of waterfowl use during spring and fall migrations.