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The Grand Banks is one of the richest and most productive upwelling zones in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Grand Banks has long been a highly prized fishing area because of its huge schools of fish. The ecoregion is also home to 30 species of marine mammals that thrive on abundant plankton, cod, and herring. More than 100 species of marine worms live here, too, stirring up sediment on the ocean floor, thus releasing nutrients.
The Grand Banks extends for hundreds of miles. The cold Labrador Current and the warm Gulf Stream meet near the Banks, a mixture that produces unusual air masses and heavy fog. Icebergs and severe storms are also common. This might seem like a harsh environment, but the mingling of cold and warm water and the constant upwelling of nutrient-rich water to the surface have many benefits. For one, they create perfect conditions for plankton, a major food source for fish. Grey and harbor seals rest and breed on coasts, but take to the sea when they get hungry. They share the waters with several species of whales, including the beluga, fin, humpback, and northern right. Many smaller species also contribute to the rich ecosystem, including mackerel, Atlantic herring, and North Atlantic cod.
Overfishing, particularly of herring and cod, has altered marine communities. Waste from industries, cities, and agriculture has degraded estuaries and coastal waters. Beluga whales suffer from diseases associated with a suppressed immune system and toxins in their blubber.
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