1.1 Tidal Electrical Power Generation

Several proposals to build tidal harnessesTidal power is a means of electricity generation achieved by capturing the energy contained in moving water mass due to tides. Two types of tidal energy can be extracted: kinetic energy of currents due the tides and potential energy from the difference in for electrical power generation have been put forward in recent decades. Such proposals have mainly involved building barrages which effectively dam off a smaller arm of the bay and extract power from water flow through them.

One such facility exists, a dam and 18 megawatt generating station on the Annapolis River at Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia , but larger proposals have been held back by a number of factors, including environmental concerns.

Damming a large arm of the Bay of Fundy would have significant and not well-understood effects both within the dammed bay itself and in the surrounding regions. Intertidal habitats would be drastically affected and a facility would bring the bay closer to resonance, increasing tidal range over a very large area. One effect could be an increase in tidal range of 0.2 m (from approximately 1 m) for certain coastal sites in Maine, possibly leading to flooding.

2 Geography

2.1 Sub-Basins

The upper part of the bay bifurcates, splitting into Chignecto Bay in the northeast and the Minas Basin in the east. Chignecto Bay is further subdivided into Cumberland Basin and Shepody Bay and the extreme eastern portion of Minas Basin is called Cobequid Bay.

Cape Chignecto, Nova Scotia defines Chignecto Bay whereas Cape Split, Nova Scotia defines the Minas Channel, leading to the Minas Basin.

The lower part of the bay is also home to three important sub-basins: Passamaquoddy Bay and Back Bay on the New Brunswick shore, and the Annapolis Basin on the Nova Scotia shore.

2.2 Islands

The bay is home to several islands, the largest of which is Grand Manan Island at the boundary with the Gulf of Maine. Other important islands include Campobello Island, Moose Island , and Deer Island in Passamaquoddy Bay and Isle Haut in the upper bay off Cape Chignecto . Smaller islands and islets also exist in Passamaquoddy Bay, Back Bay, Annapolis Basin, and Minas Basin.

2.3 Rivers

The bay receives the waters of several rivers, including:

New Brunswick

• St. Croix River
• Magaguadavic River
• Saint John River
• Petitcodiac River
• Tantramar River

Nova Scotia

• Annapolis River
• Cornwallis River
• Avon River
• Shubenacadie River
• Salmon River

The bay's extreme tidal range causes several interesting phenomena in the various rivers which empty into it.

The Saint John River sees its flow reversed at high tide, causing a series of rapids at the famous Reversing Falls where the river empties into the bay, located in a gorge in the middle of the city of Saint John.

Rivers in the upper Bay of Fundy have a smaller flow-rate than the Saint John, and a shallower slope. As a result, extensive mud flats are deposited throughout the tidal range of the rivers.

Another phenomenon which occurs in these rivers of the upper bay is a "tidal bore", whereby the river flow is completely reversed by the rising tide. One of the better examples of a tidal bore can be seen on the Shubenacadie River near the town of Truro where local ecotourism operators offer the chance to experience rafting the bore upriver. Another good example of a tidal bore may be viewed on the Salmon River in the town of Truro. The once-famous tidal bores on the Petitcodiac and Avon rivers have been severely disrupted as a result of causeway construction in the 1960s- 1970s which have caused excessive siltation.

2.4 Communities

The largest population centres on the bay are the New Brunswick cities of Saint John and Moncton.

The New Brunswick towns of St. Andrews, Blacks Harbour , and Sackville as well as the Nova Scotia towns of Amherst, Truro, Windsor, Wolfville, Kentville, Annapolis Royal , and Digby are also located on the bay.

3 Wildlife

The Bay of Fundy comprises a tremendously abundant marine ecosystem. Its cold waters contribute to large quantities of krill and other small animals which in turn attract whales such as the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale as well as Humpbacks, Minkes and other cetaceans.

Migratory birds also use the bay as a stopping point, or as a breeding ground. In August of each year, the migration of millions of sand pipers on the mud flats of Shepody Bay delight thousands of naturalists. Peregrine Falcons and Bald Eagles also make their habitat in the high cliffs which surround the bay. Various sea birds such as the Atlantic Puffin, Common Tern, and others can be found.

The bay supports a successful commercial fishery for lobster, scallops, sea urchins, and herring. Commercial aquaculture operations raise Atlantic Salmon, largely in Passamaquoddy and Back bays.

4 Ports and Shipping

The port of Saint John is one of the busiest ports in North America, owing to its concentration of pulp and paper industry and the largest oil refinery in Canada. Hantsport, Nova Scotia on the Avon River is also home to a pulp and paper mill and is the shipment point for raw gypsum exports to the United States. The ports of Bayside, New Brunswick (near St. Andrews) and Eastport, Maine are important local ports.

A result of heavy shipping traffic has been the potential for increased collisions between ships and the North Atlantic Right Whale. In 2003 the Canadian Coast Guard adjusted shipping lanes crossing prime whale feeding areas at the entrance to the Bay of Fundy to lessen the risk of collision.

The bay is also traversed by a passenger and automobile ferry operated by Bay Ferries between Saint John, New Brunswick and Digby, Nova Scotia.

Fundy

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