Axing N.L. ocean conservation site a ‘blow’ to national goals, say environment groups

ST. JOHN’S — Newfoundland and Labrador has dealt a blow to Canadian biodiversity goals by scrapping plans for a possible marine conservation area amid the towering fiords along the south coast of the province, environmental groups say.

The province’s Progressive Conservative government said earlier this week that it was ending a memorandum of understanding to study the impacts of the proposed site, saying a new protected area would threaten local fishing and aquaculture.

James Snider with WWF-Canada said the move is part of a larger, worrying trend of declining political will to conserve nature.

As Prime Minister Mark Carney champions the pursuit of “nation-building” infrastructure and energy projects, Snider accused the governing federal Liberals of falling all but silent on conservation.

“There continues to be a vacuum at the federal level in terms of a renewed statement by the Government of Canada of their support of nature and conservation,” said Snider, WWF-Canada’s vice president of science, knowledge and innovation.

“I think that has underpinned this growing sense that (nature and the economy) are at odds,” he added. “Instead, there is an opportunity, for the Government of Canada as well as the provincial and territorial governments, to recognize the role of nature as part of our economy.”

Canada has promised to establish 10 new marine and four new freshwater conservation areas by 2030. The proposed region in Newfoundland’s south coast fiords was one of 10 active proposals for marine sites, according to a Parks Canada map.

Parks Canada said Thursday that it acknowledged the Newfoundland and Labrador government’s decision. The feasibility study for the conservation area would not continue, said spokesperson Jennifer Burnell.

The province signed the memorandum in 2023, alongside the town council of Burgeo, N.L., the federal government and the Miawpukek and Qalipu First Nations in southern Newfoundland. The feasibility study would have also considered redesignating Sandbanks Provincial Park, near Burgeo, as a national park.

Snider said it was striking that the provincial government could “unilaterally” end the negotiations with so many stakeholders.

The initial area under consideration included 9,114 square kilometres. That was ultimately reduced to about 6,500 square km. Several aquaculture companies operate along Newfoundland’s south coast, and the industry launched a “save south coast jobs” campaign to oppose the conservation area.

More than 95 per cent of the proposed area would have been open to “compatible activities such as fishing, tourism, and shipping,” said Burnell.

Miawpukek First Nation Chief Brad Benoit and Burgeo Mayor Trever Green said they were not consulted about the provincial government’s decision.

“The conservation area kept shrinking and shrinking, it was whittled down to nothing,” Benoit said in an interview. “I’ve seen this coming.”

Green said the park redesignation could have brought millions to the region in federal investments and tourism dollars. He said he did not feel the provincial government had based its decision on accurate information.

The Canadian Press tried to ask Premier Tony Wakeham questions about the issue during a photo opportunity Friday with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, but officials shuffled him out of the room.

Alex Barron, national oceans director with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, said the government’s decision was a “huge blow” for Canada’s conservation goals. It is also a huge blow to the community of Burgeo and all of the other people in the region who would have benefited from the conservation area and national park, Barron said in an interview.

The proposal was particularly unique because it was initiated by the town of Burgeo, rather than by a larger government making decisions for smaller communities, Barron said in an interview.

Canada has committed to protecting 30 per cent of its coastal and marine areas by 2030. A recent Environment Commissioner Jerry DeMarco found that so far, about 15.5 per cent of those areas are protected.

“This isn’t an arbitrary goal. It’s based in science, and the science tells us that if we don’t start protecting our coasts and oceans, we’re going to continue to see declines in fisheries,” Barron said.

“I really hope that we can come back to this at some point,” she added.

In a statement, an Environment and Climate Change Canada spokesperson said the federal government is committed to its conservation goals.

“The domestic implementation of the framework will require a whole-of-society effort to reach our collective goals,” said Keean Nembhard.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 6, 2026.

The Canadian Press