Slide 1


	In early 1995 a small group of researchers began meeting periodically at the Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research (ACER) at Acadia University in Wolfville to ruminate over this sorry catalogue of environmental abuses and their ecological effects. This ad hoc committee which eventually began to refer to itself as the Fundy Marine Ecosystem Science Project (FMESP – awkwardly pronounced “Fee-messp” by most) were particularly concerned about reports of changes in the nature of the Bay’s iconic mudflats and the world renowned shorebird populations that depend on them.
	During these discussions, it became apparent that there was a great deal of research and other environmental projects being undertaken by organizations and agencies all around the Bay. However much of this work was being carried out in relative isolation and with little appreciation of the complex interlinked ecological processes of the Bay as a whole. Indeed, it had been over two decades since scientists and environmental managers from around the Bay had really got together to consider the status of the Bay and the state of knowledge about it. The frantic interest in tidal power in the 1970s and early 1980s had stimulated much research and review, but this interest had soon faded.
	The FMESP group felt that it was time for a critical examination of what had been learned over the subsequent decades that might shed some light on the ecological problems now confronting the Bay. To this end the group compiled an overview document summarizing advances in several fields and also tabulated the many issues relating to the well-being of the Bay and its coastal communities.
	FMESP then determined to draw upon the expertise of the wider scientific and management communities to evaluate the information and conclusions in the overview document and more importantly what might be done collectively to promote the health and well being of the Bay and its coastal communities. Thus was launched the first Bay of Fundy Science Workshop at the Old Orchard Inn in Wolfville in late January 1996, attended by some 60 scientists and resource managers from both sides of the Bay.