Western Jordan Basin
Western Jordan Basin is proposed as a Tier 1 site for the Marine Conservation Network in the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy Bioregion.
The lead agency for this site is Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
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Location
Western Jordan Basin is located in the Gulf of Maine along the Canada-United States border, approximately 120 km southwest of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. This site occurs in the southwestern portion of Jordan Basin within Canadian waters. The basin itself is a large feature that extends further west into United States waters.
Map of proposed Western Jordan Basin network site
Simplified site coordinates
Boundaries are preliminary and subject to change following the public engagement.
| Point | Latitude | Longitude | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 43°17' 13.8" N | 67°36' 7.0" W | Starting at point 1, on the south-west side of the site, on the Canada/Us Boundary |
| 2 | 43°32' 8.3" N | 67°30' 44.7" W | Follow Canada/US boundary north to point 2 |
| 3 | 43°30' 31.3" N | 67°22' 31.1" W | Connect to point 3, north-east of point 2 |
| 4 | 43°24' 13.5" N | 67°24' 54.6" W | Connect to point 4, south-west of point 3 |
| 5 | 43°20' 21.9" N | 67°11' 43.8" W | Connect to point 5, north-east point of point 4 |
| 6 | 43°14' 46.1" N | 67°15' 5.2" W | Connect to point 6, south-east of point 5 and then connect point 6 to point 1 |
Size
559 km2
Features
- Presence of gorgonian corals, sea pens, sponges and other invertebrates that provide habitat for other species
- Surveys planned for 2024 will assist in confirmation of distribution and abundance
- Area of structural complexity with bedrock outcrops extending up from the floor
- Foraging habitat for seabirds
- Important habitat for groundfish
- Area of high fish diversity
- Area of high primary productivity
- Majority of the United States’ Gulf of Maine has been identified as North Atlantic right whale critical habitat under United States legislation. Role of Canadian portion remains unconfirmed.
- Existing Jordan Basin Marine Refuge to protect corals and sponges about 10 km to the east
- Representative examples of Gulf of Maine, basin and shelf flat habitats
Species
This area supports species, including:
- Depleted groundfish populations, such as:
- Spiny dogfish (assessed as special concern by COSEWIC)
- White hake (assessed as threatened by COSEWIC)
- American plaice (assessed as threatened by COSEWIC)
- Cusk (assessed as endangered by COSEWIC)
- Seabirds
- Gorgonian corals, sponges, anemones and sea pens
Use
- An important area for commercial fisheries, including groundfish (fixed and mobile gear), and hagfish.
- Licences issued to First Nations and Indigenous communities provide access to this area to fish for food, social, and ceremonial purposes.
- Low shipping traffic.
- Date modified: