Aboriginal Data Collection on Marine Species at Risk in the St. Lawrence (1939-2007)

Project to collect indigenous knowledge on marine species at risk in the St. Lawrence (marine mammals, fish and leatherback turtle). This project was carried out by the Mamu Innu Kaikusseth Agency in collaboration with the Marine Mammal Observation Network (MMON) and Amphibia-Nature. The main objective of the exploratory study was to gather information from communities located near the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence on major trends in the distribution and abundance of target species, as well as on factors that may affect the changes observed over time. To do this, seven Innu communities on the North Shore (Essipit, Pessamit, Uashat mak Mani-Utenam, Ekuanitshit, Nutashkuan, Unamen Shipu and Pakua Shipi) and a Micmac community in Gaspésie (Gespeg) were visited.

Several data are listed in the report, including:

• The identification of marine species at risk observed by community;

• Community-based maps of the distribution of marine species at risk observed before 1997 and between 1997 and 2007.