Musquash Estuary marine protected area ecosystem monitoring plan (2014-2019) /

The Musquash Estuary MPA Ecosystem Monitoring Plan provides an overview of the twelve indicators that have been selected as the starting point for monitoring the biodiversity, productivity and habitats of the Musquash Estuary, as well as human activities and other pressures that may impact the conservation objectives for the MPA. [...] Data collected for each of the indicators will be used to evaluate whether the conservation objectives for the MPA are being achieved and this information will be used to inform management for the site. [...] The MPA designation and associated Regulations under the Oceans Act apply to the marine environment and associated benthic habitat up to the low water mark in the estuary. [...] In order to support the federal MPA and provide clear jurisdiction over activities in the area, the Government of New Brunswick transferred the administration and control of many of the submerged intertidal provincial Crown lands in the estuary to the Government of Canada through an Order in Council. [...] When applied to MPA management, monitoring is a means of gathering data to be used in the evaluation of MPA effectiveness (i.e., determining the degree to which the goals and objectives of the MPA are being met).