The Bay of Fundy is the northern terminus of the larger Gulf of Maine and separates southern New Brunswick from Nova Scotia. One of the natural wonders of the world the Bay features the highest tides in the world, and a dizzying array of marine species - plants and animals.

The physical features of the bay are truly amazing. Twice a day 100 billion tonnes of water rush into and then out of the bay. The bay is wide and deep at the mouth, and shallow and narrow at the head.  As this enormous volume of water moves up the bay, a funnel effect amplifies the tides, which range from 3.5 metres or 11 feet at the mouth to 16 metres or 53 feet in Minas Basin at the head. A contributing factor to the tidal amplitude is the length of the Bay.   The time it takes a tidal wave to move from the mouth of the bay to the head and back is almost exactly the same as the lunar tidal cycle. This forms a resonant wave called a "seiche" that adds to the already massive tides.

The wildlife in the Bay of Fundy is as incredible as the bay itself. The powerful tides and upwellings, especially in the Quoddy region in the outer Bay, constantly stir up nutrients from the bottom, resulting in large plankton production which forms the foundation of a short, efficient and intricate marine food web. Eight species of whales (including dolphins and porpoises) come to the Bay of Fundy in the summer and fall to feed on the ample krill population and rear their young.  The most famous summer visitor is the endangered Northern Right Whale, of which fewer than 350 individuals exist. A plethora of marine birds either make their homes in the Bay of Fundy, or use it as an important stop during migration. Yearly, millions of sandpipers and plovers stop at the inner Fundy mud flats to fatten up for their migratory flight.  Feeding on the mud shrimp corophium, they double their weight in a matter of days, then fly for 72 straight hours to their winter homes in South America. It doesn't stop at whales and birds. Seals, sharks, many species of fish, and myriad other animals thrive in the Bay of Fundy.  The Quoddy region in the lower Bay of Fundy has been identified as a biodiversity hot spot in the northwest Atlantic, and driver of the marine food web throughout the Gulf of Maine.

The Conservation Council of New Brunswick has been advocating on behalf of a healthy Bay of Fundy for two decades.  Check out CCNB's reports on the Bay of Fundy and the ecological challenges facing it.