Marine ecosystem off Nova Scotia gains protected status

An undersea canyon near Sable Island home to rare deep-sea corals and wildlife has become the East Coast's first protected marine area.

Federal Fisheries Minister Geoff Regan declared the Gully, 2,364 square kilometres of ocean and the largest marine canyon in the western North Atlantic, a protected area under the Oceans Act on Friday.

Fishing and exploration have been restricted in the underwater canyon off the coast of Nova Scotia.The deep-water portion of the canyon is an important habitat for the a rare population of northern bottlenose whales.

The designation prohibits the disturbance, damage, or removal of any living marine organism or habitat.

The regulations are designed to guard against harmful activities such as dumping pollutants.

The Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents off the Pacific coast was the first area in Canada to receive the designation in 2003.

Across Canada, 11 other marine areas are being considered for protected status.