AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Port of Sydney Cape Breton, Water Bird Surveys, Nova Scotia, Canada (2024)

From spring to winter 2024, point count waterbird surveys are being conducted at 14 sites across The Port of Sydney Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. This effort will continue through 2026. These surveys take place seasonally, focusing on select times in the fall, spring, summer, and winter. During each survey, data is collected on species identification, the number of individuals present, general behaviour such as resting, feeding, or flying, disturbances, and the birds' general location relative to the shore, categorized as inshore, nearshore, or offshore. Site-specific environmental conditions are also recorded, including weather variables like precipitation, wind, and cloud cover, as well as tidal state and movement, sea state, visibility, glare, and human activity at the sites.

These surveys are part of the Coastal Environmental Baseline Program under the Oceans Protection Plan, managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. With increased ship traffic and oil facilities, particularly in areas like Halifax Harbour and the Port of Sydney, waterbirds face significant risks, particularly from oil spills. The Migratory Birds Regulations prohibit harm to migratory birds in Canada, yet the threats from coastal industrial activity persist. This project aims to better understand where waterbirds are and when they are present in these harbours, helping improve protection measures during environmental incidents such as oil spills.

The Port of Halifax bird survey dataset related to this project is also available for consultation:

- [Port of Halifax Cape Breton, Water Bird Surveys](https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/ca-cioos_952f8200-0051-4af7-86f2-35e7345fb9f7)

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Guidebook for Conciling Recreation and Environment for the Mouth of Brochu River, Sept-îles (Quebec)

Awareness guide developed as part of the second phase of the project "Restoration and enhancement of the mouth of the Brochu River". The first phase of the project (2013-2014) involved enhancing the river mouth environment with nature observation posts and awareness boards, and with hosting meetings with local residents. The second phase (2014-2016) aimed at restoring this same natural environment by planting more than 60,000 Lyme grass plants over two years, in order to restore 10 000 m2 of degraded vegetation cover. 

In addition to restoration work, we have drafted the following guide and conducted awareness workshops for elementary school students, Gallix residents and ORV users.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Portrait of Beaches on the North Shore of the Estuary - Inventory of Problems and Recommendations (2009)

The north shore of the estuary has a great wealth that is accessible in most municipalities: magnificent sandy beaches that extend for tens of kilometers. In order to minimize the deterioration of the most fragile sectors and to mitigate the negative impacts of the use of beaches by humans, the ZIP Committee and its partners decided that it was essential first and foremost to establish an action plan aimed at the protection and/or restoration of beaches experiencing the greatest sources of disturbance.

The objective of this report is to present the main issues specific to beaches on the North Shore. In order to meet this objective, in 2009, 26 beaches on the north shore of the estuary were visited and characterized. For each of them, the following information was noted: the nature of the soil, the relief, the vegetation present, the length and width of the accesses, the presence of reception and awareness-raising facilities and the morphology of each beach. Particular attention was paid to the observation of environmental issues. Subsequently, the measures and recommendations to be taken for the sustainable maintenance of these coastal habitats were identified.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Database on Marine Seaweeds From the Sites of the Gaspésie Region (2019)

In order to contribute to the development of seaweed farming in the province of Quebec, Merinov, in collaboration with the University of Quebec at Rimouski, is working within the framework of the interregional program OPTIMAL launched in 2014, to search for sites with environmental characteristics corresponding to the optimal growth parameters of sweet kelp (Saccharina latissima) and long-stipe kelp (Saccharina longicruris). Various brown seaweed cultivation trials have been carried out in recent years. In 2018, a mapping of potential sites was established on the basis of already existing biotic and abiotic data.

Thus, in Gaspésie, sea production trials were carried out on six selected sites, namely Cap-d’Espoir, Gascons, Gaspé, Newport, Paspébiac and Bonaventure from 2018 to 2019. The kelp spawners were collected in the natural environment of each of the selected sites. The production of kelp seedlings was carried out in aquariums in Merinov’s laboratories and at the "Fermes Marines du Québec" hatchery. The sporulation and seeding of the collectors were done in August 2018. On each site, when possible, the seedlings of two strains were deployed at the time of the immersion of the seaweed wetting device. The kelp Saccharina longicruris from Bonaventure and the kelp Saccharina latissima from local environments of each site were used. The cords of the seedlings were rolled up at different positions on the wetting device. The seaweed was collected during the period from April 2019 to June 2019. Environmental and biomass data were collected.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Surface Current Forecasts of St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf

Ocean forecasts for the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence are produced by the Operational Oceanography scientific team of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maurice Lamontagne Institute, Mont-Joli, Québec. The forecasts of the surface currents are available for the next 48 hours to come. Two models are available: estuary-gulf and river-estuary. For more information, please see the [**data context**](https://ogsl.ca/en/ocean-forecasts-context/).

Access the data in the [**OCEAN FORECASTS**](https://ogsl.ca/en/ocean-forecasts-application/) application.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Coast to Coast: North Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence Component

This awareness-raising project carried out in 2020 is based on an interactive web module on coastal ecosystems and dynamics, issues, hazards (erosion and submersion), the importance of coastal environments and possible solutions. The idea was to create a content platform complementary to the Coast to Coast approach of the *Comité ZIP Sud de l'Estuaire* (ZIP SE) based in Rimouski. This approach is a citizen [**plateform**](https://cotesacotenord.com) aimed at mobilizing people and ensuring the health of coastal habitats in the St. Lawrence.
The cartographic data contains the location points of the sites presented on the Coast to Coast platform that are subject to coastal erosion or submersion, namely Gallix, Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, Nutashkuan, Sept-Îles, Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Rivière Saint-Jean, Sheldrake and Val-Marguerite.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Physico-Chemical (CTD) and Biogeochemical Data From the Saguenay Fjord and the St. Lawrence Estuary During the NSERC-Hypoxia 2021 Cruise

The overarching objective of the Hypoxia 2021 — C2021-06 cruise is to provide a new and informed assessment of the relationship between the reactivity of natural organic matter and the benthic ecosystem functioning in estuarine environments, with a focus on the hypoxic conditions in the deep waters. For this purpose, the cruise had assembled a team of researchers from three Québec institutions, ISMER-UQAR, McGill University and Concordia University, whose work is largely focused on the fate of the organic matter in natural environments as well as the benthic ecological processes it sustains. This initiative, supported by NSERC's Shiptime Program (NSERC — Shiptime 556538-2021), took place in August 2021 from the Estuary to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and via the Saguenay Fjord.

This dataset presents the vertical profiles of practical salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence, transmissivity, and density of a dozen stations, from the surface to 350 m deep. Although the probes were calibrated by the manufacturer during the year, discrete salinity samples were taken throughout the water column and analyzed on a Guildline Autosal 8400 salinometer calibrated with standard IAPSO (International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans) seawater and CTD profiles reprocessed after the mission. Similarly, dissolved oxygen concentrations were determined by Winkler chemical titration (Grasshoff et al., 1999) on about forty discrete water samples collected directly from Niskin bottles. The relative standard deviation, based on repeated analyses of samples taken from the same Niskin bottle, was less than 1%. These measurements were also used to calibrate the SBE-43 oxygen probe mounted on the rosette. 

The team on board consisted of 12 people, professors, young researchers and students. A biogeochemical database on discrete water samples is associated with this physicochemical dataset.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
WISE-Man Project (WaterSat Imaging Spectrometer Experiment), Characterization of Shallow Inland and Coastal Waters: Biogeochemistry Data

This dataset includes biogeochemical parameters analyzed in the laboratory of water samples, including water temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a, dissolved organic carbon, total organic carbon, nutrients, suspended particulate matter, phytoplankton, CDOM absorption, and more. It is also possible to consult the other datasets on different themes related to the WISE-man project:

- [Optical data](https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/ca-cioos_d624c859-5b72-4ee9-a832-d532582b1d3f)

- [Data on the intertidal environment](https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/a90987aa-61a3-4c0a-900f-3c97dfb2cca1)

- [Bathymetry](https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/ca-cioos_65fe38af-baea-46cf-a0c6-e17145ce2f07)

The WaterSat Imaging Spectrometer Experiment (WISE) is developed for optically shallow inland and coastal waters assessment. The WISE-Man project objective was to demonstrate the potential of hyperspectral imagery for mapping bathymetry, water column quality (or inherent optical properties) and retrieve bottom properties in order to respond to the pressing needs of science (e.g. ecology, geomorphology, coastal risk), resource management and defence operation. Within the framework of WISE-Man, an intensive fieldwork campaign was conducted in the Manicouagan; Baie-Comeau region in August 2019.

This project is part of the Coastal Environmental Baseline Program Initiative under the Oceans Protection Plan of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
WISE-Man Project (WaterSat Imaging Spectrometer Experiment), Characterization of Shallow Inland and Coastal Waters: Bathymetry

This dataset includes depths measured from a boat, using multi-beam and single-beam echo sounders. It is also possible to consult the other datasets on different themes related to the WISE-man project:

- [Optical data](https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/ca-cioos_d624c859-5b72-4ee9-a832-d532582b1d3f)

- [Biogeochemical data](https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/ca-cioos_dbc63b41-b1ab-46be-a1a2-388d07c70cbb)

- [Data on the intertidal environment](https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/a90987aa-61a3-4c0a-900f-3c97dfb2cca1)

The WaterSat Imaging Spectrometer Experiment (WISE) is developed for optically shallow inland and coastal waters assessment. The WISE-Man project objective was to demonstrate the potential of hyperspectral imagery for mapping bathymetry, water column quality (or inherent optical properties) and retrieve bottom properties; this in order to respond to the pressing needs of science (e.g. ecology, geomorphology, coastal risk), resource management and defence operation. Within the framework of WISE-Man, an intensive fieldwork campaign was conducted in the Manicouagan; Baie-Comeau region in August 2019.

This project is part of the Coastal Environmental Baseline Program under the Oceans Protection Plan of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program (PMZA-RIKI) 2015 to 2017: Biogeochemical Data

This dataset includes biogeochemical parameters analyzed in the laboratory from water samples, including salinity, chlorophyll a, dissolved organic carbon, total organic carbon, nutrients, suspended particulate matter, phytoplankton, CDOM absorption, and more. Optical data are available via the following dataset:

- [**Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program (PMZA-RIKI) 2015 to 2017: Optical Data**](https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/ca-cioos_3b3bb5ab-a5e0-4298-b942-054b3dbaf293)

The Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program (AZMP) of Fish and Oceans Canada (DFO), or *Programme de monitorage de la zone Atlantique (PMZA)* includes a network of autonomous oceanographic buoys across the coastal waters of the Maritime provinces of Canada. The station named PMZA-RIKI just in front of Rimouski has been equipped with an autonomous buoy in 2002, including multispectral sensors dedicated to satellite validation of radiometric products. In 2015, a project was put in place to assess the quality of the radiometric measurements available at the station PMZA-RIKI in order to use these data for the validation of operational ocean color radiometric products. The station was visited on several occasions from 2015 to 2017 onboard DFO small (i.e. 30-foot length) craft boats.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Compilation of Incidents Involving Marine Mammals in Distress Reported to the Réseau québécois d'urgences pour les mammifères marins (RQUMM)

Since 2004, the Réseau québécois d'urgences pour les mammifères marins (RQUMM) has recorded incidents involving marine mammals that died or experienced difficulties in the St. Lawrence River and the Gulf of St. Lawrence region of Quebec. It coordinates field operations and centralizes information on these incidents. The data are of the following nature: incident, carcass, stranding, entanglement.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Restoration of the Salt Marsh of the Rimouski ZICO (2012-2015)

A restoration project in the Sacré-Coeur marsh (Rimouski) began in the fall of 2012 with the financial support of the Community Interactions program (PIC) and the municipality of Rimouski. The MRC Rimouski-Neigette also supports this project. The salt marsh of more than 154 ha has exceptional ecological characteristics and is frequented by many species of migratory and nesting birds. However, in recent years, shoreline erosion caused by severe storms has dramatically affected it. 

The restoration project will therefore contribute to reducing habitat loss by promoting land use planning that considers coastal dynamics and the importance of ecosystems. Two sensitive sites, i.e., 1,500 square meters, have been identified east of the marsh for restoration in the spring of 2013. A gentle technique will be used with the planting of two native plants in the upper marsh: Spartina pectinata and Lyme grass on the beach.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Surface Water Temperature by Satellite Remote Sensing

The Maurice Lamontagne Institute remote sensing laboratory operates three satellite image receiving stations (Mont-Joli, Victoria and Resolute Bay) allowing the acquisition of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather satellite data and making it possible to present a complete coverage of the three oceans surrounding Canada. These data are processed to calculate sea surface temperatures and are used for oceanographic research and for ecosystem monitoring. These images allow the monitoring of the evolution of various physical processes and their coupling to biological processes. The images acquired during each satellite pass are used to generate a complete daily national coverage as well as averages over periods of several days. Please note: due to circumstances beyond our control, update services for remote sensing data are unavailable. Available period: 1985-05-01 to 2013-09-30. For more information, please see the [data context](https://ogsl.ca/en/satellite-remote-sensing-context/).

To obtain data, contact partner using responsible parties in the Contact section below.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
RQM - CTD Data From the Coriolis Concerted Mission (MAC2020): Odyssée Saint-Laurent 2020

The September 2020 concerted mission, funded by the Odyssée Saint-Laurent program of the Réseau Québec maritime (RQM), aimed to gather strategic scientific knowledge destined for the understanding and management of the St. Lawrence River and Gulf. This mission enabled extensive data acquisition for 9 research projects, largely focused on sediment sampling and analysis, as well as the study of drift currents as part of the TReX (TRacer Release eXperiment, RQM-MEOPAR) project. Particular attention was paid to characterize the industrial port areas of Sept-Îles, Baie-Comeau and Port-Cartier.

Vertical profiles of CTD data (conductivity, temperature, depth) were made in the water column at 36 stations between the mouth of the Saguenay River and the Îles-de-la-Madeleine in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. These profiles were taken from the surface to a maximum of 5 m from the seabed. They include measurements of temperature, salinity, density, dissolved oxygen, light transmission, vertical stratification, and sound velocity in seawater. Discrete water samples were collected at various stations and depths to compare CTD's direct measurements with laboratory analyses of dissolved oxygen concentration (11 samples, 5 stations, Winkler chemical titration). These comparisons were used to adjust the calibration of dissolved oxygen data from the CTD.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Community Aquatic Monitoring Programme (CAMP)

The CAMP aims to introduce young people to marine biology and techniques for sampling fish fauna. Young people are thus invited to participate in a scientific project that aims to develop a reference database on fish and crustaceans found at the mouths of rivers and in the bays of the North Shore, namely the *baie des Îles de Mai*, the *baie des Sept Îles*, the *rivière Moisie*, the *rivière Sheldrake*, the *rivière Saint-Jean* and the *petite rivière Natashquan*. During outings, young people are invited to follow a scientific protocol and are actively involved in sampling (taking physicochemical data from the water, inventorying fish using a beach seine, identifying and measuring organisms and algae). Data for this project has been collected since 2011. However, since 2017, data has been collected only in the Bay of Sept-Îles.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Microplastics in American lobster (Homarus americanus) and Mussel Species in Coastal Southwestern New Brunswick, Canada

This dataset consists of data collected by the Passamaquoddy Recognition Group Inc. (PRGI), which is an Indigenous not-for-profit organization led by the Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik. This project is funded by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Coastal Environmental Baseline Program (CEBP). Data will include samples collected from 2020-2027 and represents field sampling data as well as laboratory and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) data associated with the sampling of American lobster (Homarus americanus) and Northern Horse mussel (Modiolus modiolus) for the purpose of studying the presence and abundance of microplastics and micro-debris in this species.

**Sampling**: Samples were collected from the Port of Saint John region, Passamaquoddy Bay and around Grand Manan Island in New Brunswick. Samples were collected using standard lobster traps with PRGI technical staff present for all sampling activity. Retained lobsters were transported back to laboratory spaces in coolers and immediately euthanized via freezing.

**Laboratory Analysis**: Once lobsters are euthanized and dissected, digestion of organic tissue, and filtration begin. Digestive tracts and muscle tissues are dissected from the lobster, and whole mussels are placed in a 10% KOH solution. Samples are then transferred into a warming oven at 50 degrees Celsius for at least 24 hours. This process allows for the digestion of most organic material. Large undigested remains are passed through a sieve and analyzed visually by technicians under a dissection microscope. Any potential microplastics identified at this stage are isolated on a filter paper and stored on a petri slide. The remaining tissue is filtered using a 0.8 µm pore size filter and a vacuum pump. As with larger debris, these filters are also analyzed visually under a dissection microscope. Any potential microplastics are marked and numbered for FTIR identification. Dissection, digestion, and visual analysis are conducted in a lab space, making use of biosafety cabinets, and fume hoods to aid in the reduction of microplastic contamination of samples, whenever possible. All implements used are triple rinsed with filtered (0.8 µm or Milli-Q) water, and samples are covered when not being handled to reduce potential contamination. Environmental blanks, H20 blanks, and KOH blanks are taken throughout the process for quality control. As of 2022, PRGI conducts laboratory analysis in a dedicated in-house clean lab, minimizing exposure to contaminants by following cleaning procedures and low plastics laboratory dress code.

Once visual analysis is completed, petri slides with marked and numbered potential plastics are sent to Western Surface Science laboratory at the University of Western Ontario for FTIR analysis. This analysis indicates the chemical composition of identified particles and indicates if such particles are made of plastic or of other materials.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Estuary Fish Inventory Network (EFIN)

Since 2009, annual monitoring of the estuary fish population has taken place at four different experimental fishing sites located on both the north and south shores. Two of these stations are located in the middle estuary, at Rivière-Ouelle and St. Irenaeus, the other two in the fluvial estuary in Cap-Santé and St. Nicolas. All sampling operations of the St. Nicolas station fall under the responsibility of the Aquarium du Québec. The St. Lawrence Estuary Fish Inventory Network provides an updated picture of the dynamics of fish populations encountered in the fluvial and middle estuaries. These official data were produced as part of the St. Lawrence Action Plan 2011-2026.For more information, please see the [data context](https://ogsl.ca/en/biodiversity/fishes/mffp-efin/about). It is also possible to access the data in the application [BIODIVERSITY](https://ogsl.ca/bio/?lg=en).

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory