Machias Seal Island facts for kids
Machias Seal Island on the horizon
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| Geography | |||||||||||||||
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| Location | Far Northern region of the Gulf of Maine | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 44°30′0″N 67°6′4″W / 44.50000°N 67.10111°W | ||||||||||||||
| Archipelago | Grand Manan Archipelago (disputed) / Machias Seal Island & North Rock Archipelago (disputed) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 8 ha (20 acres) | ||||||||||||||
| Administration | |||||||||||||||
| Province |  New Brunswick |
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| Province | New Brunswick |
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| State |  Maine |
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| Demographics | |||||||||||||||
| Population | None (Two Canadian Coast Guard lighthouse keepers occupy the lighthouse on a rotational basis; temporary population increases in the summer with University of New Brunswick researchers and a Canadian Wildlife Service observer) (1995) | ||||||||||||||
| Additional information | |||||||||||||||
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Machias Seal Island is a small island in the Gulf of Maine, near the Bay of Fundy. It's about 16 kilometers (10 miles) southeast of Cutler, Maine, and 19 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick. Both the United States and Canada claim ownership of this island. The Canadian Coast Guard still has people working at the lighthouse on the island. The first lighthouse was built there in 1832.
Contents
Island Geography and Wildlife
Machias Seal Island is a small, rocky island with no trees. It is often covered in fog because of its location between the Gulf of Maine and the Bay of Fundy.
A Home for Seabirds
This island is a special place for many seabirds. It's a sanctuary where birds like Atlantic puffins, razorbills, and common murres come to nest and raise their young. You can also find common terns, Arctic terns, and Leach's storm-petrels here. It's a very important spot for these birds.
Nearby North Rock
Machias Seal Island is also close to a place called North Rock. This is another exposed rock formation in the water.
History of the Island Dispute
People from the Passamaquoddy Nation likely used Machias Seal Island long ago. However, no one ever settled there permanently when Europeans arrived. The island was mostly ignored during the American Revolutionary War.
Early Border Confusion
After the American Revolutionary War, the Treaty of Paris tried to set the borders between the United States and British North America. This treaty said that all islands within 20 leagues (about 111 kilometers or 69 miles) of the U.S. shores belonged to the U.S., unless they were already part of Nova Scotia.
The problem was that Machias Seal Island was within 20 leagues of the U.S. coast. But it was also close to Grand Manan Island, which was part of Nova Scotia (now New Brunswick). This made it unclear who owned Machias Seal Island.
The Lighthouse and Later Treaties
Because of this confusion, both countries claimed the island. In 1832, Britain (which controlled Canada at the time) built a lighthouse on Machias Seal Island. This was a way for them to show they owned the island. Before this, neither country had a strong presence there.
Later treaties, like the Treaty of Ghent in 1814, tried to sort out other island disputes. But Machias Seal Island was not directly mentioned. The border in the Grand Manan Channel was later set in 1908–1910, but it still left Machias Seal Island in a disputed area.
Canada's Interest in the Island
Canada has always shown interest in Machias Seal Island. This is mainly because the Canadian Coast Guard has continuously staffed the lighthouse there.
Lighthouse Keepers and Protection
For many years, lighthouse keepers and their families lived on the island. Today, two lighthouse keepers from the Canadian Coast Guard live on the island. They rotate every four weeks and are flown in by helicopter. They also help the Canadian Wildlife Service look after the Machias Seal Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary, which protects the seabirds.
Canada considers the island to be fully owned by its federal government. It has always been part of Canadian electoral districts. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) enforce laws there.
United States' Interest in the Island
The United States has had less direct presence on the island.
World War I Presence
During World War I, in 1918, a small group of U.S. Marines was stationed on the island. This was done with Canada's agreement. Their job was to help protect the lighthouse from German U-boat attacks. The Marines left after a few months, and the U.S. has not had a permanent presence there since.
The "Grey Zone" Dispute
The ownership of Machias Seal Island is still unclear today. This is because when Canada and the United States went to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1979 to decide their ocean border in the Gulf of Maine, they decided not to settle the ownership of Machias Seal Island.
An Area of Overlapping Claims
Instead, they agreed on a starting point for the ocean border that was southwest of the island. This left Machias Seal Island and the waters around it in an area where both countries claim ownership. Local fishers call this area the "grey zone." It's about 72 kilometers (45 miles) wide.
Lobster Fishing Conflict
The "grey zone" has become a source of conflict, especially for lobster fishing. Both Canadian and American fishers operate in this area. They have different rules and ways of managing their fisheries. This leads to disagreements and competition.
For example, Canadian fishers wanted to close the summer season to let lobsters reproduce. American fishers preferred limits on how many lobsters could be caught. When both countries' catches declined, the conflict grew. Fishers from both sides have sometimes damaged each other's equipment. This ongoing dispute makes it harder to protect the lobster population.
Current Status of the Island
Since the 1984 ICJ ruling, Machias Seal Island and North Rock, along with the surrounding waters, have remained a topic of discussion for politicians in nearby fishing communities. While there aren't many other natural resources like oil or minerals, the lobster fishery is very valuable. Fishers from both countries sometimes overfish because there are no clear rules in the "grey zone."
Staffed Lighthouse for Sovereignty
In 1995, the Canadian Coast Guard automated most lighthouses to save money. However, the lighthouse on Machias Seal Island is still staffed by two lightkeepers. This is because Global Affairs Canada pays to keep them there to show Canada's claim to the island.
The lightkeepers help the Canadian Wildlife Service maintain the bird sanctuary. They also assist any wildlife researchers who visit the island. This continuous presence helps Canada maintain its claim over Machias Seal Island.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Machias Seal para niños
