The Ecology Action Centre is deeply disappointed by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s decision to withdraw from the Memorandum of Understanding for the South Coast Fjords National Marine Conservation Area feasibility study.
For more than two decades, people living and working along the west and southwest coast of Newfoundland and Labrador have been advocating for this process — not as an abstract conservation idea, but as a way to build a sustainable future rooted in local values, livelihoods and stewardship of the ocean. Indigenous governments, inshore fish harvesters, tourism operators, municipalities and residents have consistently called for a thoughtful, evidence-based exploration of what an NMCA could mean for their communities.
The Ecology Action Centre has been honoured to work alongside these communities through initiatives like the Community-Led Marine Atlas for the Gros Morne Region, which documents local knowledge, cultural connections and sustainable uses of the marine environment. Repeatedly, we have heard the same message: people want healthy oceans and healthy coastal economies — and they understand that these goals are deeply interconnected.
The NMCA feasibility process was designed to address these community priorities. It explicitly protected existing fishing licences, supported sustainable aquaculture and ensured the vast majority of the proposed area would remain accessible to inshore fisheries. At the same time, it also offered real opportunities to strengthen community-based tourism, diversify local economies and attract long-term federal investment — all while giving communities a meaningful seat at the table.
However, by walking away from this process before the facts were gathered, the Province has sidelined the very people who asked for it and abandoned a collaborative, community-led approach to planning for the future. This decision undermines trust, ignores years of good-faith effort and sends a troubling message about whose voices are valued when it comes to managing our shared marine resources.
At a time of climate uncertainty and increasing pressure on coastal livelihoods, we need thoughtful, inclusive planning — not rushed decisions driven by misinformation and short-term interests. A healthy ocean is the foundation of sustainable fisheries, thriving tourism and resilient coastal communities.
The Ecology Action Centre remains committed to working with Indigenous governments, coastal communities, harvesters and local businesses to advance conservation solutions that respect local knowledge and support sustainable industries. We urge the Provincial Government to reverse course and allow the NMCA feasibility study to proceed — the very process designed to answer these questions collaboratively, transparently and with communities at the centre.