Lawn Bay Ecological Reserve Gains Full Reserve Status

Environment and Conservation
June 12, 2015

Protecting Our Natural Heritage

Lawn Bay Ecological Reserve Gains Full Reserve Status

Lawn Bay Ecological Reserve has moved from provisional to full status under the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Act and Seabird Ecological Reserve Regulations. The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Environment and Conservation, was in the community of Lordï¿½s Cove today to celebrate this newest addition to the provinceï¿½s parks and protected areas system.

ï¿½It gives me great pleasure to announce the establishment of Lawn Bay Ecological Reserve. Newfoundland and Labrador is home to globally significant seabird breeding colonies, most of them already protected as Seabird Ecological Reserves. Including three islands in Lawn Bay in a new ecological reserve further demonstrates this governmentï¿½s commitment to protection of our provinceï¿½s natural areas.ï¿½
- The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Environment and Conservation

Lawn Bay Ecological Reserve, located close to the communities of Lawn and Lordï¿½s Cove on the Burin Peninsula, provides a habitat for thousands of nesting seabirds. Of particular significance are the only recorded breeding records for Manx shearwater in North America. The three islands in the reserve, together with the adjacent waters, also provide nesting habitat for at least seven other seabird species: Leachï¿½s storm-petrels, herring gulls, great black-backed gulls, black guillemots, black-legged kittiwakes, common murres and, from time to time, common and arctic terns. More detailed information is available in the backgrounder below.

Todayï¿½s ceremony was held at the Lordï¿½s Cove Community Centre and attended by local area MHA, the Honourable Darin King, municipal leaders, members of the school glee club, local residents and members of the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council.

ï¿½The establishment of protected areas, such as the Lawn Bay Islands Ecological Reserve, provides tourism opportunities and educational resources for students, while protecting the vital, pristine areas of our province. Iï¿½m very proud of the community for making this happen.ï¿½
- The Honourable Darin King, MHA for Grand Bank

The local communities of Lordï¿½s Cove and Lawn have provided strong support for the establishment of the ecological reserve.

ï¿½The community of Lordï¿½s Cove overlooks the new ecological reserve. Designation of the Lawn Bay islands as an ecological reserve highlights the seabirds and natural beauty that are a part of our everyday lifeï¿½.
- Natasha Fitzpatrick, Mayor of Lordï¿½s Cove

Under the act, the Wilderness and Ecological Reserve Advisory Council held public consultations to gain input on establishment of the ecological reserve. As a result of the consultations, the reserve boundary was modified and public feedback was incorporated into the reserve management plan.

ï¿½Establishing an ecological reserve in the area draws attention to our unspoiled natural environment and helps to make this region a destination for visitors.ï¿½
- John Strang, Mayor of Lawn

For more information on Lawn Bay Ecological Reserve, call 709-637-2040 or e-mail parksinfo@gov.nl.ca. The management plan and other information is also available on the departmental website at: www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/parks/wer/r-lbe/index.html

QUICK FACTS

Today, the Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Environment and Conservation, officially announced the establishment of the Lawn Bay Ecological Reserve.
The Lawn Bay Ecological Reserve contains the only breeding colony of Manx shearwater, a migratory seabird, in North America.
For more information on Lawn Bay Ecological Reserve, call 709-637-2040 or e-mail parksinfo@gov.nl.ca. The management plan and other information is also available on the departmental website at: www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/parks/wer/r-lbe/index.html
This reserve, along with six other existing Seabird Ecological Reserves, protects internationally significant seabird colonies including approximately 152 square km of marine area around those colonies.

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Media contacts:

Jennifer Collingwood Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation 709-729-2575, 689-8605 jennifercollingwood@gov.nl.ca	Eileen Harnett Town of Lordï¿½s Cove 709-857-2566
Clayton Welsh Constituency Assistant to the Honourable Darin King MHA for Grand Bank 709-832-2531 claytonwelsh@gov.nl.ca	Heather Kearney Town of Lawn 709-873-2439

BACKGROUNDER
Lawn Bay Ecological Reserve

The small islands within Lawn Bay Ecological Reserve are home to thousands of nesting seabirds. The reserve was established primarily to protect the only known colony of Manx shearwater in North America. The Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) is a nocturnal seabird that nests in burrows up to four feet deep and has been recorded with a lifespan of over 50 years.

The islands also provide habitat for at least seven other breeding seabird species, including a significant colony of Leachï¿½s storm-petrels, smaller numbers of great black-backed gulls, herring gulls, black guillemots, black-legged kittiwakes, common murres and from time to time, arctic and common terns.

Although a small reserve, the islands and waters within Lawn Bay Ecological Reserve are important habitat for thousands of feeding and fledging seabirds. The reserve includes Middle Lawn Island, Colombier Island and Swale Island. Offer Island was included in the provisional reserve but was excluded from the full ecological reserve in response to a request to WERAC from local fishers.

The entire reserve covers 384.6 hectares; 370.7 hectares of this is the marine portion. Lawn Bay Ecological Reserve was established as a provisional reserve in 2009, and given full ecological reserve status under the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Act as a seabird ecological reserve in April 2015.

2015 06 12 1:50 p.m.

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