Life in the water

The monkfish

Close to the bottom, down to 800 m, but more often to 100 m depth.

Monkfish prefer gravel or sandy bottoms, in which they can partially bury themselves to better surprise their prey.

the deepwater redfish

Near the bottom, usually between 100 and 700 m depth, but can reach depths of up to 1400 m.

Deepwater redfish stay close to the bottom during the day and come up at night to feed.

The slimy whip weed

Coastal zone, up to 3 m depth.

Slimy whip weed clings to rocky bottoms and likes areas exposed to waves.

The knotted wrack

Coastal zone, between high and low tide limits, up to 15 m deep and above where rockweed is found.

Knotted wrack prefers relatively calm, sheltered environments, such as bays, where it forms dense bushes.

The saccorhiza dermatodea

Coastal zone, in cold waters.

This leathery kelp favours a turbulent environment, which ensures a constant renewal of the nutrients around it.

The northern propellerclam

Buried in sandy bottoms, usually at water depths between 50 and 150 m, but can reach depths of 600 m.

The northern propellerclam favours cold waters between −1 and 6 °C. It buries itself completely in the sand, albeit only a few centimetres deep.

The rockweed

Coastal zone, up to 6 m depth.

Rockweeds favour cold temperate waters.

The lumpfish

Near the bottom, between 50 and 150 m depth.

Lumpfish can withstand temperatures between 1 and 11 °C. They can occasionally withstand temperatures up to 20 °C for less than 24 hours. They prefer rocky areas with abundant vegetation for hiding.

The Atlantic surf clam

Coastal zone, usually down to 45 m.

The Atlantic surf clam buries itself in shallow sand. It prefers bottoms with strong currents.

The American eel

Near the bottom, between 0 and 464 m depth, in fresh or brackish water.

Eels prefer muddy, algal and rocky bottoms.

Its habitat will vary over the course of its life. The American eel lives in fresh water and migrates to salt water to reproduce. It is a catadromous fish.

The winter skate

On the bottom, usually at depths shallower than 110 m but can reach depths greater than 700 m.

The winter skate prefers a sandy or gravelly sea bottom and water temperatures between −1.2 and 15 °C.

The striped bass

Near the bottom, up to 30 m in depth.

Its habitat varies throughout its life. The striped bass lives in salt water and migrates to fresh water to reproduce. It is an anadromous fish.

The marlin-spike

Found in the water column and near the bottom, down to 2295 m depth.

The marlin-spike is usually found at temperatures between -2 °C and 16 °C.

An eel at night

Some animals are more nocturnal than others. This eel is taking advantage of the stillness of the night to go for a swim.

The gutweed

Coastal zone, up to 10 m deep.

Gutweed tolerates variable salinity and can be found in a wide variety of environments: ditches, rocky basins, estuaries, lagoons, marine water, etc. However, it favours calm environments.

The laver seaweed

Coastal zone.

Nori does well in the open air. However, it favours shady, rocky environments exposed to waves and currents.

It clings to rocks or other algae in a scattered manner.

Diving through seaweed

Seaweed is a refuge for many species, both large and small.

Les phoques du Groenland vu du ciel

Horizon sur groupes de phoques du Groenland sur la banquise du Saint-Laurent.

The Irish moss

Coastal zone, up to 10 m deep, in cold waters.

Temperatures that are too warm or freezing are lethal for Irish moss. However, it tolerates brackish waters.

Irish moss forms dense colonies that can look like a thick carpet when found in abundance.

It often coexists with rockweed. Along the southern Gaspé Peninsula, it can also be found among fields of kelp at between 1 and 5 m depth.

Sea lettuce

Coastal zone, up to 10 m depth, in salt or brackish waters.

Sea lettuce prefers calm, moderately exposed environments because it detaches easily.

It is a rather dispersed alga. You will not find them clustered together in dense underwater forests.

Harp seal

Offshore, near the coast, on ice floes. Dives to depths of 400 m.

Seasonal resident of the St. Lawrence in fall and winter; returns to the Arctic and Greenlandic waters in spring.

The cunner

Close to the bottom, 10 to 130 m depth, in salt water.

The cunner is a sedentary fish that lives in coastal waters. It lives on or near the seafloor, in beds of seagrass and hard surfaces, such as rocks, wharves and shipwrecks.

The Atlantic razor clam

Coastal zone, at low tide, down to 35 m depth.

Atlantic razor clam live vertically buried in sand or mud, often in colonies called beds. Razor clams bury themselves up to 50 cm below the surface of the seabed. However, they are not completely sedentary. They can even swim and jump.

The oarweed

Coastal zone, up to 20 m depth.

Oarweed likes rocky, wave-exposed areas. The division of the frond depends, in particular, on the agitation of its environment.

The dulse

Coastal zone, below the low tide mark.

Dulse prefers environments exposed to strong currents. This alga attaches itself to rocks or oarweed stipes.

Devaleraea ramentacea

Coastal zone, in cold waters.

Devaleraea ramentacea settles on rocks in environments exposed to waves.

Surf clam hiding in the soil

Burying yourself in the sand can be a long and tedious operation for a surf clam.

The snow crab

On the bottom, usually between 50 and 350 m depth, but it can be found at depths down to 2000 m.

The Atlantic cod

Found in the water column, usually between 100 and 150 m depth, but they can go as deep as 600 m.

The juveniles remain close to the bottom in shallower waters and coastal meadows that protect them from predators.

It’s feeding time for cunner

One fish misfortune is another fish gain. Cunner have found a meal they like: a lobster carcass.

The green sea urchin

Coastal zone, down to 800 m depth.

The green sea urchin favours cold waters.

The Atlantic bluefin tuna

In the water column, usually between the surface and a depth of 100 m, but can reach depths of over 1000 m.

The Atlantic bluefin tuna is a highly migratory species, which travels no less than 10,000 km per year. It can tolerate wide temperature variations, from 3 to 30 °C.

During the summer, it feeds in Canadian waters, including the Gulf of St. Lawrence; it spends the winter in the Gulf of Mexico. Atlantic bluefin tuna regularly travels in shoals.

The smooth skate

On the bottom, at depths usually between 150 and 550 m; it has been observed at depths down to 1436 m.

The smooth skate favours clay and muddy sea bottoms and temperatures of 3 to 10 °C.

The Atlantic hagfish

On the bottom, usually between 30 m and 460 m deep, but can reach depths of up to 1,200 m.

Hagfish prefer soft, muddy or clay bottoms, where they burrow and spend most of their time.

It favors temperatures below 12 °C, and waters with high levels of salinity.

The yellowtail flounder

On the bottom, at depths ranging from 25 m to 365 m.

The yellowtail flounder likes sandy and muddy bottoms. It favours cold water between 2 and 6 °C.

Sea lamprey

In the water column, down to 4000 m depth.

Sea lamprey can withstand temperatures between 1 and 20 °C.

Its habitat varies throughout its life. Certain sea lamprey populations live in salt water and migrate to fresh water to reproduce. It is an anadromous fish. Other populations spend their lives in freshwater lakes.

The American plaice

On the sea bottom; can be found at several thousand metres depth, but usually down to 300 m.

A cold-water species, the American plaice can adapt to temperatures ranging from 1.5 to 13 °C.

The Atlantic salmon

In the water column at shallow depths

Its habitat varies throughout its life. Salmon live in salt water and migrate to fresh water to reproduce. It is an anadromous fish.

Atlantic salmon live in rivers that have a good oxygen supply, a gravel or rocky bed and a relatively strong current.

The softshell clam

Buried between 30 and 40 cm in muddy or sandy bottom sediments along the coast; softshell clams can be found even at water depths of 20 m.

The barndoor skate

On the bottom, down to 1000 m depth and greater, between 1.2 and 20 °C.

The rainbow smelt

In the water column, usually 150 m depth, but can reach 450 m depth in waters with variable salinity.

Anadromous fish, rainbow smelt are found at the mouths of rivers in winter.

The winged kelp

Coastal zone, below the low tide line.

The winged kelp prefers dynamic environments exposed to waves, such as rocky headlands or capes. It is often the first seaweed species to settle on bare substrates.

It favours cold water and will die in water above 16 °C.

The Stimpson’s surf clam

Coastal zone, between the low tide line and 100 m depth.

Stimpson’s surf clams bury themselves in sandy bottoms and favour water temperatures below 15 °C.

The orange-footed sea cucumber

Coastal zone, 20 to 500 m depth.

The spotted wolffish

On the seabed, at 25 to 600 m depth.

The spotted wolffish prefers cold water, below 5 °C. It settles on sand, mud and shell sea bottoms with rocks or large stones nearby.

The atlantic rock crab

On the seabed, between 0 and 575 m depth.

Juvenile crabs stay close to the shore on a rocky substrate. Adults will hide in deeper zones.

The haddock

Close to the bottom, between 50 and 200 m depth, in cold waters between 4 and 10 °C.

Haddock seek out rocks and hard bottoms of sand, gravel or shells.

They follow seasonal migrations: to deeper waters in the winter to avoid the cold and to the open sea in the summer.

Interaction between two rock crabs

When two crabs meet, it’s not always easy..

The blue mussel

Coastal zone, in shallow, temperate waters, on a support to which it can affix itself.

The blue mussel is highly tolerant of variations in temperature and salinity.

The deep sea scallop

On the seabed, down to 384 m depth.

It prefers gravel or sandy bottoms and lives in cold water.

Waters warmer than 20 to 23 °C can be deadly for scallops.

The American cupped oyster

Coastal zone, up to 10 m depth, in brackish or salt water.

Will stick to hard surfaces such as rocks or shells.

The American cupped oyster can withstand temperatures from −2 to 36 °C.

The Atlantic sturgeon

Close to the bottom, ideally in a river connected to the sea, between 1 and 50 m depth.

Its habitat will vary throughout its life. The Atlantic sturgeon lives in salt water and migrates to fresh water to spawn. It is an anadromous fish. It favours the sandy or muddy bottoms of the estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The ocean pout

Found close to the bottom, at depths greater than 300 m.

The ocean pout is often found between algae and rocks on rather hard bottoms. It tolerates water temperatures between −0.5 and 16 °C.

The Arctic wedge clam

Coastal zone, between 0 and 90 m depth.

The Arctic wedge clam can bury itself in both sand and mud.

The toad crab

They live on the seabed, usually less than 60 m depth, but can reach depths of up to 400 m.

Toad crabs live in sandy and rocky areas, tolerating temperatures ranging from -1 to 15 °C.

The alewife

In the water column, generally between 56 and 110 m deep; it can go to depths of up to 145 m. As an adult, it can withstand water temperatures of up to 25 °C.

Its habitat varies throughout its life. The alewife lives in salt water and migrates to fresh water to spawn. It is an anadromous fish.

The winter flounder

On the bottom, at depths of around 100 m.

The winter flounder tolerates variations in salinity. It can, therefore, be found in brackish waters. It favours temperatures between 12 and 15 °C.

The atlantic tomcod

Close to the bottom, at a depth that does not go below 70 m.

Its habitat varies throughout its life. The Atlantic tomcod lives in salt water and migrates to fresh water to reproduce. It is an anadromous fish.

It favours shallow coastal waters and estuaries.

The sieve kelp

Coastal zone, between 10 and 40 m depth, or deeper when the water is sufficiently clear to ensure its development. It is therefore the deepest algae that you will encounter.

Sea colander attaches itself to rocks and between sugar kelp and Atlantic wakame when enough space is available.

The American lobster

Close to the bottom, usually less than 50 m depth, but can go to almost 500 m depth.

Lobsters like rocky bottoms where they can hide during the day. If there is seaweed, it’s even better. They do not like too much light.

The sugar kelp

Coastal zone, up to 15 m depth, below the low tide zone and near the shore.

Sugar kelp favours cold water and prefers sheltered or semi-sheltered areas.

The waved whelk

Coastal zone, up to 30 m depth.

The waved whelk favours cold waters and sandy or rocky bottoms.

The thorny skate

On the sea bottom, between 100 and 500 m depth, but it can be found down to 1200 m.

The thorny skate favours a wide variety of sea floors: sand, gravel, mud and broken seashells. It lives offshore in temperatures that vary between 0 and 10 °C.

The witch flounder

On the bottom, depths between 45 and 400 m but can go down to 1600 m

The witch flounder favours cold water between 2 and 6 °C and sandy, clay and muddy bottoms.

Atlantic mackerel

In the water column, down to 1000 m depth but more frequently found down to 200 m, in cold to temperate waters. A migratory and gregarious fish.

Atlantic mackerel live at the bottom of the water column in winter and rise to the upper layers in spring. They arrive in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence toward the end of May. After spawning, they disperse into the estuary and return to the gulf between September and November.

The Greenland cockle

Coastal zone, up to 100 m depth.

The Greenland cockle buries itself in soft sea bottoms of sand or mud.

The silver hake

In the water column, usually between 50 and 400 m depth, but silver hake has been observed as far down as 914 m.

Silver hake are found closer to the shore when the water is warmer and migrate to deeper waters in winter.

The sea lace

Coastal zone, up to 20 m deep.

The sea lace favours submerged but sheltered environments near river mouths and in the shallow sea lagoons of the Magdalen Islands. It easily tolerates variations in temperature and salinity.

The sea lace adheres to surfaces such as pebbles that are slightly buried in the sand, empty mollusc shells and even on other algae. It can also serve as a support for other plants.

One-on-one with a lobster

When a lobster feels it is in danger, it stands on its feet, claws raised and threatening.

The sea raven

Close to the seabed, down to 180 m depth.

The sea raven lives on rocky or hard bottoms and prefers temperatures between -2 and 16 °C.

The brook trout

Mainly found in the fresh, well-oxygenated waters of streams, rivers and lakes.

Its habitat varies throughout its life. In eastern Quebec, in rivers presenting no major obstacles, these fish can migrate to salt water to grow for a time. It then returns to fresh water to reproduce. It is an anadromous fish.

Les fonds du Saint-Laurent

If you could see beneath the surface, here’s an example of the seabed you might see.

The Atlantic halibut

On the seabed, between 10 and 2000 m depth.

The grey seal

It is a year-round resident of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Somewhat gregarious when on land, rather solitary when swimming and hunting. Dives from 60 to 100 m deep, sometimes as deep as 200 m.

The northern shrimp

On the bottom, usually between 50 and 500 m depth but can be found at depths down to 1450 m.

Northern shrimp live on sandy and muddy sea bottoms. They like cold water, ideally at a temperature of 2 to 6 °C.

The sculpin

On the seabed, down to 450 m depth.

On muddy or sandy sea bottoms or on beds of seaweed near the coast.

The capelin

In the water column, up to 725 m depth offshore, but on average down to 200 m.

During spawning, capelin migrate close to the coast or on the sea bottom.

The Northern shortfin squid

In the water column, down to 500 m depth.

Squid stay in the deep during the day and migrate near the surface at night to nourish themselves.

The Greenland halibut

On the bottom, usually between 500 and 1000 m depth, but can go down to 2000 m.

Greenland halibut prefers cold temperatures of −0.5 to 6 °C.

The Atlantic herring

In the water column, in open seas and near coasts, up to 365 m deep.

Their habitat zones vary. During the day, herring remain in deep waters. At night, they come to the surface to feed.

Atlantic herring live in schools of thousands of fish in cold waters.