These banks are separated by basins and troughs ranging from 160 m to 300 m in depth. A submarine canyon, the Gully, over 1000 m in depth, forms a deep notch at the edge of the continental shelf. As it moves south, the Nova Scotia Current mixes with offshore waters, increasing biological productivity seawards across the continental shelf, an unusual situation.
Sea ice is negligible.
Upwelling is common. The Gulf Stream has a strong influence on this region and a variety of species more commonly found further south appear at regular intervals, a result of the warm water cores that spin off from the main current. The Coast A low-lying, indented rocky coast with large embayments , headlands , low cliffs and numerous coastal islands is typical of this region. Sable Island, some 200 km offshore, is an extension of the Sable Island Bank. The Wildlife Along with the Grand Banks, the Scotian Shelf is one of the most heavily utilized fishing areas in the Atlantic region.