Frequently Asked Questions

The Maurice Lamontagne Institute (MLI)
The marine environment
The marine resources

The Maurice Lamontagne Institute

When did MLI open?

The Institute officially opened in June 1987 but the first employees started working at MLI during the Fall of 1986.

How many employees work at MLI?

MLI has currently over 400 employees.

Is the MLI library open to the public?

Yes, Monday to Friday between 08h30 and 16h30.

The marine environment

Heading upstream, how far can we observe tides on the St. Lawrence River?

Tides can be observed daily as far as Lac Saint-Pierre up the St. Lawrence.

Where can we see the highest tides on the St. Lawrence?

The highest tides can be observed in the Île aux Coudres area and can reach an amplitude of  7 meters during periods of high tides.

How many vessels travel on the St. Lawrence each year?

According to Canadian Coast Guard statistics, between 6000 and 7000 vessel mouvements are noted in the St. Lawrence ports each year.

How long is Canada's coastline?

Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world. It is equal to 6 times the distance to go around the planet.

The marine resources

How can we tell the age of marine animals?

As rings can be observed on tree stumps, growth rings are visible on certain structures of many marine organisms. Fish otoliths (mineral structure of the inner ear) and also fish scales are used for ageing purposes. Similarly, the teeth of marine mammals (ex: seals) and the shells of mollusks (ex: scallops) are used to determine their age.  

What is aquaculture?

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): "Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Farming implies some form of intervention in the rearing process to enhance production, such as regular stocking, feeding, protection from predators, etc. Farming also implies individual or corporate ownership of the stock being cultivated. For statistical purposes, aquatic organisms which are harvested by an individual or corporate body which has owned them throughout their rearing period contribute to aquaculture, while aquatic organisms which are exploitable by the public as a common property resource, with or without appropriate licenses, are the harvest of fisheries."

What are the most commonly caught fish and crustacean species in Quebec?

The most commonly caught fish species are cod, Atlantic and Greenland (turbot) halibut, American plaice, herring, mackerel and eel. Snow crab, shrimp and lobster are the most widely fished crustacean in Quebec.

What is the best time to observe whales in the St. Lawrence Estuary?

In the St. Lawrence Estuary, whales are present in larger numbers from July through the fall. However, it is very important to avoid doing anything that might disturb these mammals. More specifically, you must keep your boat engine in neutral when you encounter some whales and approach them slowly. When you are leaving the area, wait until your boat is at least 400 metres away from the mammals before gradually picking up speed. Above all, make as few manoeuvres as possible and let them approach you instead.

For more information on the whales that frequent the St. Lawrence Estuary, visit the site Whales on-line, run by the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM).