Malpeque Bay

Shot of Malpeque Bay from Malpeque Bay Salt Marsh Provincial Natural Area within the RAMSAR site

Malpeque Bay

  • Country: 
    Canada
  • Site number: 
    399
  • Area: 
    24,440 ha
  • Designation date: 
    28-04-1988
  • Coordinates: 
    46°32'N 63°47'W
Materials presented on this website, particularly maps and territorial information, are as-is and as-available based on available data and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Overview

Malpeque Bay, located on Prince Edward Island, is a coastal lagoon consisting of different types of wetlands such as shallow open waters, intertidal flats and islands. The intertidal flats are dominated by eelgrass (Zostera marina) that supports a diverse community of marine invertebrates and serves as a food source for a considerable variety of waterbirds including the piping plover (Charadrius melodus) and the green-winged teal (Anas crecca carolinensis). It is an important nursery area for shellfish, such as the internationally renowned Malpeque Bay oysters (Crassostrea virginica). The islands of the lagoon are also colonial nesting sites for a large number of seabirds. Within the bay, the largest colony in the Province of great blue heron (Ardea herodias) and more than 1% of the North American population of double-crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritus) are found in autumn. During spring and autumn, between 14,000 and 20,000 individuals of Canada goose (Branta canadensis) are also found.

Administrative region: 
Prince Edward Island

  • National legal designation: 
    • Natural Area - Malpeque Bay Salt Marsh Natural Area
    • Provincial Natural Area - Courtin Island (Bunbury Island) Provincial Natural Area
    • Provincial Park - Cabot Beach Provincial Park
    • Provincial Park - Green Park Provincial Park
    • Wildlife Management Area - Indian River Wildlife Management Area
  • Last publication date: 
    17-02-2020

Downloads

Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS)

Additional reports and documents