Cold-water corals and sponge reefs

Cold-water corals and sponge reefs
Cold-water corals and sponge reefs
Coordinating the Government of Canada’s approach to cold-water coral and sponge conservation.
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@FishOceansCAN
(Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
@DFO_MAR
(Maritimes)
@DFO_NL
(Newfoundland and Labrador)
@DFO_Pacific
(Pacific)
Services and information
Program information
Centre of Expertise supports Canadian coral and sponge conservation efforts and raises awareness.
Corals and sponges, Maritimes Region
Ecological importance of corals and sponges of Atlantic Canada and related fisheries closures.
Coral and sponge conservation measures, Maritimes Region
Marine Protected Areas and marine refuges implemented in the waters of the Maritimes Region to protect coral and sponge habitats.
Coral and sponge research, Maritimes Region
Timing and goals of coral and sponge surveys, ongoing research and advice for researchers.
Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reef Conservation Initiative
Pacific fishing closures to protect 17 glass sponge reefs in the Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound.
Cold-water Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy
Pacific Cold-water Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy, BC initiatives and related efforts.
Coral and sponge conservation measures in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence Bioregion
Maps and data on 11 coral and sponge conservation areas in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence bioregion.
Most requested
Hecate Strait / Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs MPA
Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area
Test your coral and sponge knowledge with our quiz!
What we are doing
Publications
Coral & Sponge Conservation Strategy for Eastern Canada 2015
Maritimes Region Coral Conservation Plan 2006 to 2010
Pacific Region Cold-Water Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy 2010-2015
(PDF, 2,883 KB)
All related publications
Datasets
Coral and Sponge Concentrations in the Scotian Shelf Region of Canada
Coral and Sponge Concentrations in the Gulf Region of Canada
Sponge Fields in the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves (Campelen Trawl Sample)
Sponge Fields in the Gulf (Campelen Trawl Sample)
All related datasets
Videos
Bubblegum at the bottom of the sea: Atlantic coldwater corals
Deep Dive: protecting coldwater corals off Nova Scotia
Vazella is older than the dinosaurs! An amazing Atlantic sponge
Oasis of the Deep: Cold Water Corals of Atlantic Canada
All related videos
Features
Conserving our oceans
Protecting 30% of Canada's oceans by 2030.
United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030)
Canada supports the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (Ocean Decade).
Date modified:
2026-02-23