A deep submarine channel supporting sensitive benthic habitat, important shark and ray habitat, and concentrations of sea pens and corals.
Laurentian Channel
Why it is protected
Protect sea pens and other sensitive benthic organisms.
Protect habitat for black dogfish, porbeagle shark, smooth skate and northern wolffish.
Protect leatherback sea turtles and marine mammals from human-caused harm.
Habitats and significant life
Habitats: Deep channel, Sea-pen fields, Soft sediment, Continental slope.
Significant species: Sea pens, Black dogfish, Porbeagle shark, Smooth skate, Northern wolffish, Leatherback sea turtle.
Rules and activities
The regulations establish management zones with different permitted activities.
Activities likely to damage organisms or habitat are prohibited unless specifically excepted or approved.
Governance
Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Pressures
Fishing interactions; Vessel traffic; Ocean noise; Climate-driven change.
Protection effectiveness
These dimensions are intentionally separate: a valid designation or active management program does not, by itself, prove ecological recovery.
Habitats and marine life connections
Ecologically related protected areas
These places share documented habitat types or the same ocean region. The relationship is ecological context, not proof of direct connectivity.
Condition and evidence
MLL reports what the available evidence supports. It does not infer ecological health from designation or mapped coverage.
Insufficient evidence
Official protection and management information is available, but the evidence reviewed does not support a single current ecological condition trend for this protected area.
Protection framework
Positive evidenceThe oceans act marine protected area is implemented; this describes legal status, not ecological outcome.
- Evidence period
- 2019–present
- Geographic scope
- Entire designated area
- Confidence
- high
- Reviewed
- 2026-09-12
Ecological outcome
Insufficient evidenceA comparable, current ecological trend has not yet been established in this MLL review.
- Evidence period
- Current public evidence review
- Geographic scope
- Entire protected area
- Confidence
- not-assessed
- Reviewed
- 2026-09-12
How to read this: Insufficient evidence means the available evidence cannot support a conclusion. It does not mean the MPA is in poor condition.
Sources
Laurentian Channel MPA — Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Verified 2026-09-12.