Stewardship Association of Municipalities

St. Lewis

SAM Member Since: November 2009

Coastal Stewardship

With a population of approximately 252 people, St. Lewis, also called Fox Harbour, is located in Labrador, is the most easterly North American community on the mainland, and is 14 km northeast of Mary's Harbour and north of Battle Harbour. St. Lewis is one of the earliest recorded place names in all of Labrador and was depicted on a map in the early 1500s. Residents of St. Lewis have always depended on the cod fishery for their main source of income, but in recent years the crab-processing facility owned by Coastal Labrador Fisheries Ltd. has become more economically important.

St. Peter's Bay Coastal Stewardship

St. Peter’s Bay is located 32 km south of St. Lewis and is approximately 5 km wide with several small islands located in its middle. The waterfowl in St. Peter’s Bay, particular the common eider, use the rocky coasts, shoals, and islands at various times throughout the year. The vegetation on the islands is limited to sedges, grasses, stunted trees and crowberry barrens which they use for breeding, nesting, molting, staging and over wintering. The Canadian Wildlife Service considers the bay to be the only primary moulting area for eiders along the southern Labrador coast south of Table Bay, with estimates of up to 3000 moulting eiders congregating there during the months of July and August. Other waterfowl which frequent St. Peter’s Bay include black duck, Canada goose, common merganser, various species of scoter, and the harlequin duck. In partnership with the EHJV, the Town of St. Lewis, along with the Towns of Mary’s Harbour and Red Bay, through the signing of a coastal stewardship agreement have agreed to support the development and promotion of best stewardship practices for the coastal area of St. Peter’s Bay.