Beluga whales, rated "in
danger of extinction", inhabit the estuary
full time, congregating in the upper estuary
and the fjord as far as Saint Fulgence during
summer and autumn, and moving downstream to
the lower estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence
during winter. Harbour porpoises, another endangered
species, minke whales, fin whales and blue whales
all visit the park regularly and can be seen
from points along the shoreline such as Pointe
de lÆIslet. Rare sightings of humpback whales,
sperm whales and white dolphins have been made
from the parkÆs rocky shores. The park also
protects staging areas for the small populations
of harbour seal, harp seal and grey seal. Much
of the food supply for the larger mammals can
be divided into three major classifications
of plant and animal organisms: plankton, such
as sea grass and some crustaceans living in
suspension; benthos, such as soft-shelled clams,
mussels, sponges and starfish, found living
along the riverbottom; and nekton “ mostly fish
- that move actively throughout the water. Atlantic
cod, red fish, and Greenland halibut are found
in the deeper parts of both rivers. Smelt, herring,
and capelin inhabit the entire estuary. The
Atlantic salmon and brook trout are migratory
fish and stickleback, flounder, eel and shad
arrive in the intertidal zone only at high tide.
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