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Environment and Conservation
Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
November 9, 2009

Communities Surrounding St. Peter�s Bay
Sign Coastal Stewardship Agreements

The towns of St Lewis, Mary�s Harbour and Red Bay pledged their commitment today to protecting common eider duck habitat in St. Peter�s Bay by officially signing coastal stewardship agreements with the Provincial Government. The Honourable John Hickey, Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, on behalf of the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation, was on hand for the signing in Mary�s Harbour.

"The signing of coastal stewardship agreements by these towns further demonstrates their commitment to conserving a resource that has become a source of pride for residents of communities surrounding seaduck habitat," said Minister Johnson. "This program will help ensure, through cooperation between the towns, local people, interest groups, and the partners of the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture, that the sustainability of eider duck populations and their habitat is maintained for future generations."

In 1986, in light of a drastic decline in North American waterfowl populations and in an effort to effectively reverse the trend, the governments of Canada and the United States signed the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) with a goal to return waterfowl populations to 1970s levels by actively conserving wetland and upland habitat. In 1994, Mexico signed on to that agreement, making it a truly continental initiative.

To implement NAWMP, joint ventures were established throughout North America. The Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV) was established in 1989. Partners include the six eastern provinces, Environment Canada�s Canadian Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Wildlife Habitat Canada and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The Newfoundland and Labrador division of the EHJV is administered through the Wildlife Division of the Department of Environment and Conservation.

"The Coastal Stewardship Program will serve to raise awareness about the importance of conserving coastal waterfowl which have special significance to the residents of these areas," said Minister Hickey. "It is communities like these who strive to find balance between the environment, economic growth, community development and resource sustainability, and seek out innovative conservation programs like the Coastal Stewardship Program, which will be looked upon as role models for other communities."

The Coastal Stewardship Program was developed by EHJV to encourage communities that have a historic relationship with coastal areas frequented by eider ducks to recognize the value of this resource and to accept a stewardship role in maintaining their integrity. Common eiders nest on coastal islands and rear their young on the shoals that are usually associated with these islands and along nearby coastlines. Significant concentrations of overwintering eiders can be found in these areas.

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Media contacts:

Melony O�Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca
John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
709-729-1674, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

2009 11 09                                                      4:20 p.m.
 


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