American Bank is a submarine bank lying off the eastern tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in the Quebec portion of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It has a least depth of 12 m and comprises two shelves separated by a sharp ridge. American Bank lies entirely within the 1000-km2 Area of Interest. The area is characterized by the diversity of its habitats, seasonal or year-round occurrence of many commercially important species and whales, the presence of species at risk and a high diversity of molluscs and crustaceans. The area also has significant potential as a feeding ground for various species of fish and marine mammals and as refuge habitat for declining groundfish populations, including the southern Gulf cod stock. It has traditionally been a much sought-after fishing area.

The establishment of a Marine Protected Area would promote the productivity and diversity of species including many commercial ones and the recovery of species at risk found in this particular area.

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