Dear colleagues,
My co-authors and I are pleased to share our recent paper: Ménard, N., Turgeon, S., Conversano, M., & Martins, C. C. A. 2022. Sharing the waters: Application of a marine spatial planning approach to conserve and restore the acoustic habitat of endangered beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in and around the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 175, 113325. Anthropogenic underwater noise degrades the quality of whale habitats, affecting vital functions which may compromise the recovery of species at risk exposed to chronic vessel-based activities. The endangered St. Lawrence Estuary<https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/estuary> (SLE) beluga (Delphinapterus leucas<https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/delphinapterus-leucas>) lives downstream from industrial activities in a highly accessible coastal environment. Many approaches were deployed in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park to address the issue of cohabitation between whales and vessels. Place-based conservation measures aimed at protecting and restoring the tranquility of key areas of SLE beluga critical habitat by managing vessel-based activities were implemented through a marine spatial planning<https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/marine-spatial-planning> approach. They involved protecting the quietness of the South Channel by avoiding rerouting shipping, establishing of a regulatory area closure in Baie Sainte-Marguerite and of a beluga conservation area without commercial whale-watching in the Upper SLE. Compliance monitoring show that these efforts are effective to enhance the protection and restoration of the acoustic habitat. The article is available here: https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1eSgO,asi2D-E Best, Cristiane C. de Albuquerque Martins, Ph.D. Pronom : Elle Pronouns: She/Her Scientifique des écosystèmes II, chargée du projet de Conservation et Restauration Mieux cohabiter avec le béluga Parc marin du Saguenay-Saint-Laurent Parcs Canada / Gouvernement du Canada 182, rue de l'Église, Tadoussac (Québec), G0T 2A0 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>/ Tél. : 418 8032116 Ecosystem Scientist II Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, manager of the Conservation and Restauration project Sharing waters with belugas Parks Canada / Government of Canada 182, rue de l'Église, Tadoussac (Québec), G0T 2A0 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> / Tel. : 418 8032116
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