The Edge of the Continent
The coastline of Newfoundland and Labrador is a dramatic interface of geology and oceanography. Here, the northernmost vestiges of the Appalachian Mountains, worn down by millennia of erosion and glaciation, plunge into the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Labrador Current. The result is a rugged, deeply indented coastline of fjords, cliffs, and stony beaches, perpetually shrouded in the famous North Atlantic fog. This is a landscape where human culture and the natural world are fundamentally shaped by the sea.
For centuries, this region was defined by the immense productivity of its offshore fishing grounds, particularly the Grand Banks. The collapse of the cod stocks in the early 1990s was a profound ecological and social shock from which the ecosystem is still recovering. Our work here focuses on documenting this recovery, studying the shifting food webs, and highlighting the incredible resilience of both the marine life and the coastal communities that depend on it. We explore everything from the colossal seabird colonies to the annual migration of whales and icebergs along "Iceberg Alley."
A Convergence of Life
The cold Labrador Current meeting the warmer Gulf Stream creates one of the most productive marine environments in the world. This upwelling of nutrients fuels massive blooms of phytoplankton, the base of a food web that supports a breathtaking abundance of life. Each summer, the coast becomes a feeding ground for up to 22 species of whales, including the world's largest population of humpback whales, as well as fin whales, minke whales, and orcas. Below the surface, the recovering cod stocks are joined by an explosion in populations of crab and shrimp.
The most visible manifestation of this marine bounty is the seabird colonies. Newfoundland's coastal islands host some of the largest and most spectacular seabird nesting sites in the world. Places like the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve are home to millions of birds, including North America's largest colony of Atlantic Puffins, and staggering numbers of Common Murres and Northern Gannets. Our research involves using drone surveys to create accurate population counts and acoustic monitors to study colony dynamics, providing vital information on the health of the marine ecosystem as a whole.
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Their arrival coincides with the spawning of capelin, a small, silvery fish that is their primary food source. We use photo-identification of their unique tail flukes to track individual whales, building a long-term dataset on their migration and population health.
Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
Known as the "sea parrot." The success of their breeding season—how many chicks they successfully fledge—is a direct indicator of the availability of small fish like capelin and sand lance, making them a crucial barometer of ocean health.
A Culture Tied to the Tides
The culture of Newfoundland's coastal communities, or "outports," is one of resilience, resourcefulness, and deep connection to the sea. For generations, life was dictated by the rhythms of the fishery. The cod collapse forced a painful but remarkable adaptation. While many communities struggled, others found new livelihoods in the booming crab and shrimp fisheries, aquaculture, and a growing ecotourism industry focused on whale watching and iceberg viewing.
We work with local fishers, tourism operators, and community leaders to integrate scientific documentation with local knowledge. Fishers possess an unparalleled, fine-scale understanding of the ocean, noticing subtle shifts in currents, temperatures, and species distribution long before they appear in scientific datasets. By collaborating, we can build a richer, more complete picture of this dynamic environment. This partnership ensures that conservation efforts are practical, community-supported, and contribute to a sustainable future where both the marine ecosystem and coastal cultures can thrive.