Full report - Conservation Gateway

Chapter 1 - Introduction(NECIA 2007).• Dams and other development create barriers tomigration for anadromous species such as Atlanticsalmon, which hatch in rivers and migrate to thesea for two years of extensive feeding before returning two to three years later to spawn. Oncenative to nearly every river north of the Hudson,wild populations of Atlantic salmon are nowknown to persist on only eight rivers and certainpopulation segments are federally listed asendangered species (NOAA 2008a).• Juvenile loggerhead sea turtles forage for foodfrom Cape Cod south along the continental shelfof the Eastern United States. A petition was filedin 2007 to change the status of the WesternNorth Atlantic population from threatened toEndangered (NOAA 2008b).• North Atlantic right whales, the rarest of all largewhale species, arrive in the Bay of Fundy, Scotianshelf and waters off New England in the summerto feed. Numbering only about 400, the WesternNorth Atlantic population of these baleen whaleshas been listed as federally endangered since 1973.Ship collisions followed by entanglement infishing gear are the most common causes of injuryand mortality (NOAA 2008c).Conservation Action for theNorthwest AtlanticWhile the accumulated pressures of population growthand human use of the coasts and oceans has resulted inwidespread degradation of marine and coastal resources.Nonetheless, significant resilience remains and it is nottoo late to take action to improve conservation of theNorthwest Atlantic’s biodiversity. This assessment highlightssignificant species, natural communities and ecologicalprocesses within the region, and specific areas thatpresent compelling conservation opportunities for maintainingcoastal and marine ecosystems that provide thegoods and services that people want and need.1-12Northwest Atlantic Marine Ecoregional Assessment • Phase 1 Report