Sustainable use

Sustainable use

The diverse uses of the St. Lawrence, including navigation, fishing and water supply, are central to the quality of life of many communities in Quebec. As these uses have expanded, the pressure exerted on the river by human activities such as urban development, artificialization of shorelines and overfishing has also increased. Some recreational, commercial, industrial and public uses of the St. Lawrence have been compromised by degradation of water quality and natural habitats associated with bank erosion, major water-level fluctuations and climate change. In an effort to address this problem, the two governments adopted four orientations and four areas of intervention to guide their joint activities during the period 2011–2016: fishery resources, access to the St. Lawrence, navigation and water supply.

Promote sustainable management of fishery resources

Inventory and share information on the state of fishery resources in the St. Lawrence

Achievement for 2011–2016

• Creation of an online database on the state of fishery resources in the St. Lawrence

Share expertise and promote co-operation among stakeholders involved in fishery resource management

Achievements for 2011–2016

• Joint workshop on management of the recreational fishery
• Creation of a liaison committee for government stakeholders and fishing industry stakeholders to address policies concerning marine resource harvesting

Identify and promote public access points

Consolidate the inventory of public access points

Achievement for 2011–2016

• Development of a methodology for using Earth observation technologies to identify, validate and characterize sites with public access to the St. Lawrence

Maintain and promote sustainable navigation

Maintain and increase co-operation among stakeholders of the St. Lawrence, as well as with Great Lakes stakeholders, concerning navigation

Achievements for 2011–2016

• Co-operation among navigation stakeholders
• Development of a sustainable navigation strategy
• Co-operation among stakeholders involved in management of dredging and sediments

Develop information and awareness tools related to navigation

Achievement for 2011–2016

• Development of an information guide on marine transportation titled Navigation on the St. Lawrence: Echo of the Past, Path to the Future

Develop and promote integrated management of dredging

Achievements for 2011–2016

• Online dredging activity planning registry
• Research on the use of the shipping channel by fish

Develop concrete ways to reduce shoreline erosion along the St. Lawrence

Achievement for 2011–2016

• Monitoring of the voluntary measure for reducing vessel speeds

Promote sustainable management of water levels and flows

Produce information and tools to support decision making related to water management

Achievements for 2011–2016

• Study of the impact of climate change on water levels
• Integration of Earth observation technologies in emergency preparedness activities
• Creation of a climate change coordination committee

Participants

Government of Quebec

• Department of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change
• Department of Forests, Wildlife and Parks
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
• Department of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy
• Department of Tourism
• Department of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification
• Department of Public Security

Government of Canada

• Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Canadian Space Agency
• Public Services and Procurement Canada
• Parks Canada
• Transport Canada
• Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency