Jacques-Cartier Strait Sponge Conservation Area

To protect the habitats of cold-water sponges and other marine animals.

All fishing that uses bottom-contact gear (for example bottom trawls or traps) is prohibited in the area.

This conservation area is home to the highest concentration of cold-water sponges in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence bioregion. It is also home to many species of corals. Sponges and corals support greater biodiversity by creating structures that provide habitat for other kinds of marine animals. Many other aquatic species can be found within the area, including mammals like humpback whales and fin whales, and fish such as Atlantic salmon.