Martinique Beach Provincial Park

Overview

A spectacular 3.7 kilometre white crescent beach offering supervised swimming, coastal hiking, boat launch and also plays a significant conservation role.

Protection Values

Regionally significant; large portion of beach undeveloped and in natural condition; contributes to Province=s goal of protecting 12% of its land base by 2015; part of a much broader system of protected lands (Game Sanctuary, Ramsar Site); Nature Conservancy has acquired several adjoining properties. One critically imperiled species of bird has been identified at the park as well as one species classed as imperiled and two classed as vulnerable to extirpation or extinction.

Education Values

Regionally significant themes; coastal processes and ecology; adjacent to Game Sanctuary and Ramsar Site (internationally significant wetland)

Tourism Values

Regionally significant; major tourism attraction; important in regional tourism infrastructure; attracts both resident and non-resident users

Outdoor Recreation Values

Supervised swimming, coastal hiking, picnicking, boat launch, surfing, geocaching

Annual Visitation

High visitation numbers especially on warm sunny days during peak park season. 

Operating Cost

$43,000

Other Site Considerations

High use beach area with limited land base to accommodate parking demand; conservations values are high and are in conflict with the increase in use. Management plan under development to provide direction on these issues

Point of entry for other uses associated with this area - commercial clammers, private land access (to the islands), hunting and fishing.

Private land under development

Susceptible to coastal processes (storm events with high tide surge or wind driven waves) that cause site erosion.