FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
AUGUST 18, 2020
PASSAMAQUODDY BAY, NB
The Nature Trust of New Brunswick has protected important ecological and biological marine habitat in the Passamaquoddy Bay in southern New Brunswick.
The charitable land conservation organization secured 42.05 hectares (103.9 acres) of coastal island, which is home to diverse habitats and marine activity.
The Bliss Island Nature Preserve is part of a group of islands that have very high ecological significance, which includes tidal flats, rocky shores, and provincially significant wetlands. This preserve is part of the Whole Quoddy Region, a high priority area for protection in the Gulf of Maine, the West Isles Archipelago, and the Passages Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas.
The region was identified as a biological hotspot containing a diversity of habitats and marine activities (i.e. scientific, cultural, and economic). The Quoddy Region has also been proposed as a Marine Protected Area due to the feeding aggregations of marine mammals. Reasons to support such a conservation initiative included the presence of the endangered North Atlantic right whale (SAR), harbour porpoise (SAR), and several other species of whales found aggregated in this region during late summer and early fall.
This preserve also is likely home to water birds such as common pintail (Anas acuta), goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), eider (Somateria mollissima), and red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator). Small mammals likely inhabit the island, such as beaver (Castor canadensis), voles (Microtus spp.), mice (Zapus spp.), shrews (Soricidae spp.), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), and marten (Martes americana).
The conservation of this preserve was made possible through the Conserve Y(our) NB: Protect the Places You Love campaign, a 10-year conservation campaign created by the Nature Trust to increase protected land to 15,000 acres by 2030. To learn more about the campaign, individuals may contact the Nature Trust at naturetrust@ntnb.org or by calling (506) 457-2398.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Danielle Andrus
Communications and Engagement Manager
Nature Trust of New Brunswick
danielle.andrus@ntnb.org