Saguenay Fjord Upstream closure
- Location
- Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence Bioregion (Quebec)
- Approximate Size (km2) contribution to Marine Conservation Targets
- 109 km2
- Approximate % coverage contribution to Marine Conservation Targets
- <0.01%
- Conservation Objective
- Protect habitat for the beluga whale and avoid stirring up contaminants contained in the river’s sediments
Ecological Components of Interest
Saguenay Fjord Upstream closure
Species of regional importance: beluga
- Why it is important: Beluga whales in this area are listed as threatened in the Species at Risk Act.
Habitat that is important to biodiversity conservation: beluga habitat
- Why it is important: This area, provides important habitat to this threatened species.
Prohibitions
The ecological components of interest are effectively conserved through the following prohibitions:
Otter trawl.
Other Considerations
No human activities that are incompatible with the conservation of the ecological components of interest may occur or be foreseeable within the area.
Environmental Context
The avoidance of contaminant re-suspension may be beneficial to a wide variety of other species. The Saguenay Fjord, which is adjacent to the Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park, contains numerous brackish water or salt water fish including Atlantic herring and capelin.
This area can act as a refuge area that may contribute to increased species productivity, which may then contribute to increased abundance within and adjacent to the area.
This closure also protects the habitat of the threatened American eel.
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