Boot Island
Approximate Area: 88 hectares
Date of Designation: 1979
Conservation Objectives
To protect an important staging and migration area for waterfowl and shorebirds.
Prohibitions
Commercial fishing and foraging are prohibited on and around the island.
Why (environmental context for protection)
Boot Island is home to more than 50 bird species and 170 species of plants. Herring gulls, great black-backed gulls, great blue herons, and double-crested cormorants all breed on the island. The island houses a diverse range of habitats, from saltmarshes to woodlands to grasslands. Prior to the establishment of the island as a National Wildlife Area, this habitat and the species which rely upon it were at risk due to proposed summer home and cottage development. Nowadays, the island is protected and is a site for conservation and research.