CNF NEWS RELEA§_E_ Q 
     
    
   
   
    
     CONSERVATIONISTS HOPE TO AVOID INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT 
     
    
   
   
    
     A tiny speck of land off the New Brunswick coast is the centre of a growing 
     
     controversy involving sea captains, the governments of Canada and the United 
     
     States and naturalists from both countries. Machias Seal Island is a 15 acre 
     
     (6 hectare) patch of rock and sparse vegetation, with birds everywhere. 
     
    

    
     The big problem is that the island's birds are too attractive to birdwatchers, 
     
     photographers and curiosity-seekers. The site is designated a Canadian federal 
     
     migratory bird sanctuary, and regulations limit visitors to 25 per day. For 
     
     several years, two sea captains, one from New Brunswick and one from Maine, have 
     
     brought visitors to the island, sharing the 25-person quota between them. In 
     
     recent months however, two more American captains have been bringing tourists, 
     
     and a number of private boats have been visiting the site. Arctic terns, the 
     
     most numerous birds on the island, are sensitive to disturbance and have been 
     
     declining in numbers. The island also provides a home to puffins, razorbills, 
     
     petrels, sandpipers and swallows. Its puffins are the southernmost colony within 
     
     reach of large numbers of Canadians and Americans. 
     
    

    
     The situation is complicated by a dispute between Canada and the United 
     
     States over ownership of Machias Seal Isalnd. Canada, which has maintained a 
     
     lighthouse on the island for 151 years, claims sovereignty, but concern over 
     
     fishing and mineral rights in the area has led the U.S. to dispute this claim. 
     
     Canadian wildlife officials have attempted to enforce controls on access. However, 
     
     some of the sea captains have taken the position that the site is within U.S. 
     
     waters and freely available to American visitors. The situation has led to 
     
     unpleasant confrontations between the sanctuary warden and those attempting 
     
     to land visitors. 
     
    

    
     The Canadian Nature Federation, which has an observation blind on the 
     
     island is trying to bring a halt to the conflict and eliminate the threat to 
     
     the bird colonies. Gregg Sheehy, spokesman for the Nature Federation, said, 
     
     "The island may look pretty small on the map, but to the birds that breed there 
     
     it is a vulnerable home. Overuse by tourists threatens the sanctuary, and it 
     
     is vital that we have enforced standards for controlling visitors." 
     
    

    
     The Nature Federation is working with conservation groups in New Brunswick 
     
     and the U.S. to resolve the conflict among users and control access to the 
     
     island. Sheehy stated, “I feel confident that with cooperation all around we 
     
     can work out a fair agreement that will protect the birds while allowing 
     
     naturalists from both countries to enjoy the beauty of the area.” 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     For further information, please contact: 
     
    
   
   
    
     Gregg Sheehy Mary Majka 
     
     Canadian Nature Federation Mary‘s Point Rd., R.R. 2 
     
     R 75 Albert St., Suite 203 Albert, New Brunswick 
     
     afléf Ottawa, Ontario, KlP 6Gl . EOA 1A0 
     
     1% (513) 238—6154 (506) 882-2100