Slope of Magdalen Shallows Coral Conservation Area

To protect cold-water coral habitat.

All fishing that uses bottom-contact gear is prohibited in the area.

The conservation area is home to many cold-water corals, especially large and small sea pens, which are long-lived, fragile, and slow to recover when hurt. When not protected, corals can easily be damaged by fishing or other human activities that come into contact with the sea floor. Corals form structures that act as spawning and breeding grounds, nurseries, and refuges for many other marine species in the area.