Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area

To protect corals, particularly significant concentrations of sea pens from harm due to human activities (e.g., fishing, oil and gas exploratory drilling, submarine cable installation and anchoring) in the Laurentian Channel. Also, to protect black dogfish, smooth skates, and porbeagle sharks from human induced mortality (e.g., bycatch in the commercial fishery) in the Laurentian Channel, as well as to promote survival and recovery of northern wolffish and leatherback sea turtles by minimizing risk of harm from human activities.

Laurentian Channel MPA Regulations prohibit activities that disturb, damage, destroy or remove from this Area, living marine organisms or any part of their habitat or that is likely to do so, unless listed as exceptions in the Regulations or approved by the Minister. Recreational and commercial fishing, and oil and gas exploration and exploitation are prohibited in all zones of the MPA. The Core Protection Zone provides additional protection by prohibiting anchoring and laying of submarine cables.

The Laurentian Channel is a deep submarine valley more than 1,200 km in length, stretching from the intersection of the St. Lawrence and Saguenay Rivers to the edge of the continental shelf off Newfoundland. The area of the entire Channel is approximately 35,800 km²; however, the MPA occupies only 11,580 km² of the total. The MPA includes the seabed, the subsoil to a depth of five metres, and the water column above the seabed.

The Laurentian Channel MPA provides important habitat for a variety of marine species. Black dogfish and juvenile smooth skate are present in high numbers throughout the area. Porbeagle and basking sharks move into the area in the spring and reside within the MPA throughout the summer, and one of only two known porbeagle mating grounds occurs within the MPA boundaries. Two species at risk, the Northern wolffish and the leatherback sea turtle, have been found in the area. At least 20 species of whales and dolphins have also been observed in the area, as it is a critical feeding area and migration route into and out of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In addition, the Laurentian Channel MPA has been described as having the highest sea-pen concentrations in the entire Newfoundland and Labrador Shelves bioregion.