Funk Island Deep Closure
- Location
- Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Bioregion (Newfoundland and Labrador)
- Approximate Size (km2) contribution to Marine Conservation Targets
- 7,274 km2
- Approximate % coverage contribution to Marine Conservation Targets
- 0.13%
- Conservation Objective
- Conserve benthic habitat and Atlantic cod
Ecological Components of Interest
Funk Island Deep Closure
Species of regional importance: Atlantic cod
- Why it is important: Atlantic cod is a culturally iconic species which supports recreational and commercial fisheries in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Habitat that is important to biodiversity conservation: the bottom habitat in the area.
- Why it is important: The bottom habitat in this area overlaps Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) that support a high diversity of benthic fish species. For example, the habitat is an important snow crab fishing ground.
Prohibitions
The ecological components of interest are effectively conserved through the following prohibitions:
Bottom trawl, gillnet, and longline.
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
By protecting the bottom habitat, this closure also protects significant concentrations of groundfish and other fish species. The smooth skate Funk Island Deep population which is listed as endangered (COSEWIC) is found within this closure.
This closure overlaps a significant portion of the Notre Dame Channel and a portion of Fogo Shelf EBSAs.
This area is also a significant feeding area for marine mammals.
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