Malpeque Bay
Encyclopedia
Malpeque Bay is a 204 km² (78.8 sq mi) bay
on the north shore of Prince Edward Island
, Canada
.
. It is also notable for almost dividing the province; an isthmus
occupied by the city of Summerside
and the unincorporated communities of North St. Eleanors, Sherbrooke
and Travellers Rest separates Malpeque Bay from Bedeque Bay on the island's south shore.
is the largest population centre directly fronting the bay. The following communities are located along the bay's shoreline from west to east:
via the Ramsar Convention
on April 28, 1988. It consists of marine and coastal wetlands ranging in altitude from sea level to 8 m. It is protected from the Gulf of St. Lawrence by a sandspit and dune formation that stretches 25 km. Small rivers and creeks are the source of freshwater for the lagoon.
It is "important for supporting large nesting colonies" of heron
s and cormorant
s, and is a meaningful nursery area for fin and shell fishes. Malpeque oyster
s are prized by connoisseurs.
The bay supports several recreational areas, primarily at Cabot Beach Provincial Park
and Green Park Provincial Park
.
There is some concern regarding development of the area and its surroundings. There has been extensive cottage development on the eastern and southern shores of the bay since the 1950s. Prince Edward Island's largest industrial operation, two french fry processing plants operated by Cavendish Farms, discharge into the Barbara Weit River in the southeastern corner of the bay. A petition was also organized in the early 2000s to stop a proposed wind energy project along the eastern shore of the bay which was submitted to Natural Resources Canada
, however, the development never took place. The recreational use of the area is a "threat to nesting and brood-rearing Piping plover
s"
Bay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
on the north shore of Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Description
Malpeque Bay is the second largest bay in terms of surface area in Prince Edward Island, following Hillsborough BayHillsborough Bay
Hillsborough Bay is a bay on the south shore of Prince Edward Island, Canada and is a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait.-Description:Hillsborough Bay is the largest bay in terms of surface area in Prince Edward Island, followed by Malpeque Bay. Its southerly limits are Rice Point in the west...
. It is also notable for almost dividing the province; an isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
occupied by the city of Summerside
Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Summerside is a Canadian city in Prince County, Prince Edward Island. It is the second largest city in the province and the principal municipality for the western part of the island.- History :...
and the unincorporated communities of North St. Eleanors, Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke, Prince Edward Island
Sherbrooke is a settlement in Prince Edward Island....
and Travellers Rest separates Malpeque Bay from Bedeque Bay on the island's south shore.
Islands
Malpeque Bay has several islands located along its northern border as well as entirely within the bay itself:- Mary Fraser Island
- Courtin Island
- Little Courtin Island
- Little Rock
- Ram Island
- Bird Island
- Lennox Island
- Hog Island, a barrier island forming the northern boundary of Malpeque Bay
- Fish Island, a section of Hog Island that occasionally separates/joins due to erosion and accretion
Inlets
Malpeque Bay has several inlets:- Hardys Channel, separating Hog Island and the Conway Sand Hills connects the northwestern part of Malpeque Bay to the open Gulf of St. Lawrence
- Conway Narrows, connects the northwestern part of Malpeque Bay to Cascumpec Bay
- Ship Channel / Malpeque Harbour, separating Hog Island/Fish Island from Royalty Point in Prince RoyaltyPrince Royalty, Prince Edward IslandPrince Royalty is the royalty for Prince County, Prince Edward Island, Canada.The township was supposed to host the county's shire town, named Princetown, and was surveyed for this purpose during the 1764 colonial survey undertaken by Capt. Samuel J. Holland.The township is located on a peninsula...
, connecting the northeastern part of Malpque Bay to the open Gulf of St. Lawrence
Communities
The city of SummersideSummerside, Prince Edward Island
Summerside is a Canadian city in Prince County, Prince Edward Island. It is the second largest city in the province and the principal municipality for the western part of the island.- History :...
is the largest population centre directly fronting the bay. The following communities are located along the bay's shoreline from west to east:
- East Bideford
- Lennox Island First NationLennox Island First NationLennox Island is a Mi'kmaq First Nation on Prince Edward Island, Canada, with its headquarters in Lennox Island, northeast of Tyne Valley. The band consists of a single reserve occupying all of Lennox Island....
- Port Hill
- Birch Hill
- Bayside
- Grand River
- Wellington Centre
- Southwest Lot 16
- Central Lot 16
- Belmont Lot 16
- North St. Eleanors
- Slemon Park
- SummersideSummerside, Prince Edward IslandSummerside is a Canadian city in Prince County, Prince Edward Island. It is the second largest city in the province and the principal municipality for the western part of the island.- History :...
- SherbrookeSherbrooke, Prince Edward IslandSherbrooke is a settlement in Prince Edward Island....
- Travellers Rest
- New AnnanNew Annan, Prince Edward IslandNew Annan is a outlying community within the city of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is named after Annan, Dumfries-shire, Scotland....
- Clermont
- Indian RiverIndian River, Prince Edward IslandIndian River is an unincorporated area in Prince County in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island....
- Hamilton
- Baltic
- Malpeque
- Darnley
Ramsar site
Malpeque Bay was classified as a wetland of international importanceRamsar list of wetlands of international importance
This is the list of wetlands of international importance as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value.The Convention...
via the Ramsar Convention
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
on April 28, 1988. It consists of marine and coastal wetlands ranging in altitude from sea level to 8 m. It is protected from the Gulf of St. Lawrence by a sandspit and dune formation that stretches 25 km. Small rivers and creeks are the source of freshwater for the lagoon.
It is "important for supporting large nesting colonies" of heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
s and cormorant
Cormorant
The bird family Phalacrocoracidae is represented by some 40 species of cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed recently, and the number of genera is disputed.- Names :...
s, and is a meaningful nursery area for fin and shell fishes. Malpeque oyster
Oyster
The word oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve molluscs which live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified....
s are prized by connoisseurs.
The bay supports several recreational areas, primarily at Cabot Beach Provincial Park
Cabot Beach Provincial Park
Cabot Beach Provincial Park is a provincial park in Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is located in Malpeque Bay.Cabot Beach is the largest park in western PEI. This beautiful park has a large day-use area with playground equipment, an activity centre with children's programs and a naturalist on...
and Green Park Provincial Park
Green Park Provincial Park
Green Park Provincial Park is a provincial park in Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is located in Malpeque Bay.Back in the 19th century, Prince Edward Island was a major shipbuilding hub with Green Park being one of the most active shipyard sites. Back then, it was a golden era for the shipping...
.
There is some concern regarding development of the area and its surroundings. There has been extensive cottage development on the eastern and southern shores of the bay since the 1950s. Prince Edward Island's largest industrial operation, two french fry processing plants operated by Cavendish Farms, discharge into the Barbara Weit River in the southeastern corner of the bay. A petition was also organized in the early 2000s to stop a proposed wind energy project along the eastern shore of the bay which was submitted to Natural Resources Canada
Natural Resources Canada
The Department of Natural Resources , operating under the FIP applied title Natural Resources Canada , is the ministry of the government of Canada responsible for natural resources, energy, minerals and metals, forests, earth sciences, mapping and remote sensing...
, however, the development never took place. The recreational use of the area is a "threat to nesting and brood-rearing Piping plover
Piping Plover
The Piping Plover is a small sand-colored, sparrow-sized shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches in North America. The adult has yellow-orange legs, a black band across the forehead from eye to eye, and a black ring around the neck...
s"