AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Directory of Mariculture Sites in Quebec

Aquaculture in marine water (or mariculture) is a commercial activity regulated by the Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ) [French only]. In Québec, this activity mainly includes mussels and scallops culture. There are almost thirty companies located primarily on the Magdalen Islands and Gaspésie. Some companies are also found on the North Shore. The mariculture site directory developed by MAPAQ shows the full coordinates of the companies as well as the species they are allowed to cultivate, the type of activities, and the covered area of each site. Companies are grouped by administrative regions where they are located, thus facilitating research. For more information, please see the [**data context**](https://ogsl.ca/en/coastal-uses/environmental-references/mariculture/summary).

View data in the [**ENVIRONMENTAL REFERENCES**](https://slgo.ca/references/) application.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Manual for Kayakers on Good Practices for the Observation of Marine Mammals (2018)

Sea kayaking is becoming an increasingly popular activity. Ecological in terms of transport, kayaking allows you to fully enjoy nature in an environmentally friendly way. However, when it comes to the marine mammals observation, its advantage can become disruptive to the environment depending on the approaching method.

Through this guide, which summarizes the information available in this field, the message is intended to be uniform throughout the north shore of the St. Lawrence Estuary in order to promote activity in harmony with its environment and to support the sustainable development of the sector.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Exploring Nitrogen Cycling in Oxygen-Depleted Oceans: Description From Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

This dataset covers an in-depth study of the nitrogen cycle along the oxygen concentration gradient of the Laurentian Channel in the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf. The study, conducted during the summers of 2021 and 2022, aimed to assess the impacts of deoxygenation on the marine ecosystems of this region.
To do this, sampling was carried out aboard the Research Vessel Coriolis II. Water samples allowed the measurement of nutrient and dissolved gas concentrations, including N2, Ar and N2O, in the water column. Sediment samples were also collected to perform incubations and characterize pore waters, with the aim of evaluating the contribution of sediments to N2 production and nitrate consumption.
The results obtained provide significant insight into the processes of fixed nitrogen loss and changes in stoichiometric ratios induced by deoxygenation in the waters of the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf. This study thus allows for a better understanding of the impacts of this phenomenon on the nitrogen cycle and the functioning of these marine ecosystems.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Characterization of Sites Colonized by the Japanese Knotweed (2012-2015)

Between 2012 and 2015, the Comité ZIP Jacques-Cartier and the Comité ZIP des Seigneuries carried out the project “Preventing the proliferation of Japanese knotweed on the territory of the Montréal metropolitan community.” They identified shoreline sites where this invasive exotic species was likely to be present. These sites were characterized several times between 2012 and 2015. Each site was the subject of a biophysical inventory to determine the growth rate of Japanese knotweed colonies as well as their impact on biodiversity. 

The characterization data are accompanied by the paper [***Comprendre la prolifération de la renouée du Japon sur les rives du Saint-Laurent***](https://www.erudit.org/fr/revues/natcan/2016-v140-n2-natcan02523/1036499ar/) written by Valérie Aubin and Sylvie Bibeau, published in summer 2016 in the journal Le Naturaliste Canadien, vol. 140, no. 2.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Time Series of Underwater Noise at the MARS Station in the St. Lawrence Estuary (2021-2023)

This dataset contains the time series of the spectra of acoustic recordings obtained at the MARS station from 2021 to 2023. The MARS station is composed of 12 hydrophones (underwater microphones) distributed at depths of 80, 173 and 300m over four vertical moorings. These hydrophones record continuously several months a year near shipping lanes in the St. Lawrence Estuary off the coast of Rimouski.

The sample rate is 16 kHz (16000 samples per second) with a few short periods at 128 kHz for the years 2021 and 2022 and 32 kHz in 2023. The hydrophones used are GeoSpectrum M36-100s mounted on Aural-M3 recorders designed by Multi-Électronique.

The PyPAM library was used to produce the dataset. The signal from the acoustic recordings was converted into spectra (acoustic levels depending on frequency) covering 1 minute each. These were transformed into milli-decade hybrid spectra (with a reduced number of bands at high frequency) and median spectra of the latter were obtained on 1-hour periods. These time series make it possible to study the evolution of ambient noise mainly coming from the maritime traffic, but also from the geophony (noise from wind and waves) and the biophony (sounds produced by the marine species).
 
1-minute time series in milli-decade hybrid and the accurate position of the moorings are available on request.
 
This was carried out as part of the [MARS project](https://www.projet-mars.ca/en) whose aim is to study the noise radiated by the maritime traffic and to propose mitigation methods. The MARS project is co-led by the Institut des sciences de la mer (ISMER) of the Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR) and Innovation maritime (IMAR), with the support of MTE Instruments and OpDAQ Systems. It involves a partnership with the shipowners Algoma Central Corporation, CSL, Desgagnés, and Fednav, and is financially supported by Transport Canada, the Quebec Ministry of Economy and Innovation and the St. Lawrence Economic Development Council (SODES).

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Conservation and Enhancement Plan for the Marguerite River Marsh, Bécancour (2016)

The Marguerite River marsh, located in Bécancour, was developed by Ducks Unlimited Canada (CIC) in 1999. The work consisted of damming and flooding former abandoned agricultural land to create a permanent 8-hectare swamp. The borrowing bank for the construction of the dike (outer channel of the marsh) was excavated to provide good spawning and nursery habitat for fish. In 2014, a committee to beautify the Laviolette Bridge was set up and the Marguerite River marsh area was targeted for development projects. In addition, restoration work is planned for the loan bank's control structure in 2016-2017.

The Comité Zip Les Deux Rives has produced a document that aims to establish environmental conservation objectives, the enhancement elements that can be achieved, and the prohibitions affecting the site.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Ocean CTD Profiles From Jones Sound, Nunavut and Adjacent Waters Collected During The Ice2Ocean Project

This dataset contains a compilation of conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) profiles collected in Jones Sound and surrounding waterways by the collaborative Ice2Ocean project from 2019 onwards. The data were collected to support various research projects investigating the physical oceanography of Jones Sound, northern Baffin Bay, and surrounding waterways, with a focus on understanding changing coastal ocean conditions in the High Arctic, glacier-ocean interactions, and ocean biogeochemistry.   

Profiles were collected year-round as part of a partnership with the community of Ausuittuq (Grise Fiord) through augered holes in the sea ice at sites accessed by snowmobiles, or from small vessels during the open water season, including numerous local vessels, the polar yacht Vagabond, and the Government of Nunavut research vessel Nuliajuk. Full depth profiles of the water column were obtained along repeat transects by lowering an RBR CTD from the surface to the sea floor using a manual winch. The CTD was outfitted with external sensors for dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, turbidity, and photosynthetically-active radiation (PAR) and these fields are included in the dataset. Raw temperature and salinity data were processed in MATLAB by applying a low-pass filter and all fields were binned to 0.5 m depth bins. The external sensors fields have not undergone extensive quality control and require further assessment. Only downcasts are included in the dataset. Water bottle samples were collected at various depths at many of the CTD stations (bottle data is not included here).   
  
The CTD data included in this archive is part of an ongoing field program and will be updated annually.  
[Biogeochemistry data from Jones Sound and Nares Strait, 2021](https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/ca-cioos_9142525c-f0fd-4410-8461-3c496322a8b5) are also available.

For further information on this dataset please contact Andrew K. Hamilton ([akhamilton@ualberta.ca](mailto:akhamilton@ualberta.ca))

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Intervention Plan for the Rehabilitation of the Shell Banks of the Haute-Côte-Nord and Manicougan MRC (2004)

This intervention plan is part of a broader global project aiming at rehabilitation of the shellfish beds in the area of the Haute-Côte-Nord and the Manicouagan MRC. This project addresses a concern identified in the Ecological Rehabilitation and Action Plan (PARE) of the Comité ZIP de la Rive Nord de l’Estuaire. 

More specifically, the objectives aim to sensitize elected municipal officials, promote a common vision of the issue of wastewater treatment and identify measures adapted to different municipalities to reduce short, medium and long-term impacts of pollutants on human health and the quality of estuary waters.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Mi'gmaq and Malécite Commercial Fisheries of the Communities of Gesgapegiag, Gespeg and Viger (2010-2015)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) compiles information on commercial fisheries (fishing effort and lobster logbooks) in an Excel table. These tables were provided to the AGHAMM for the communities of Gesgapegiag, Gespeg, and Viger for the period 2010-2015. The AGHAMM used these raw data to create maps for the Atlas of Mi'gmaq and Malécite sites and uses of the marine St. Lawrence. The species caught by the communities are snow crab, rock crab, northern shrimp, lobster, Greenland halibut, atlantic halibut, whelk, sea cucumber, and green sea urchin. Three types of maps were produced: 
- sectors fished by species (whelk, lobster, rock crab, sea urchin, Atlantic halibut, and sea cucumber); 
- the total quantity fished (kg) by species and by communities by DFO fishing quadrilateral (northern shrimp, snow crab, and Greenland halibut); 
- the summary of commercial fisheries in number of species caught (polygons) and intensity of use of the territory (raster).

**Disclaimer:** The presented data should not be used as a substitute for consultation and dialogue with the communities.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
A Fishing Story: Elders' Knowledge at the Service of the Community!

Based on the stories of the elderlies, we drew up a portrait of capelin spawning on the North Shore in 2008. We used 1980 as the reference year to indicate what happened before and after this period. It seems that changes occurred after this reference year, according to several interviewees. Historical spawning site location maps were therefore produced based on this data. We also included the spawning sites currently used on the same maps so that we could compare firsthand whether there had been significant changes in capelin's habits. By consulting these maps, the reader can quickly identify the places deserted by capelin (e.g., the Bay of Sept-Îles).

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
The Bergeronnes Marshes - Characterization of Important Coastal Habitats on the North Shore of the St. Lawrence Maritime Estuary

A project to characterize important coastal habitats on the north shore of the St. Lawrence Estuary was funded for a period of 4 years (2018-2022). The purpose of this project is to generate reference ecological data to draw a global portrait of the state of coastal marshes in the upper north shore sector of Quebec.

This dataset covers two sectors in the municipality of Les Bergeronnes, two marshes located in the bays of Grandes and Petites Bergeronnes. In order to improve knowledge of these ecosystems, floristic and faunal inventories (ichthyological and benthic) were carried out and the various abiotic factors characterized. Geomorphological data has also been collected, but it is not included in this dataset. However, they remain available, contact the Comité ZIP de la Rive Nord de l'Estuaire (RNE) directly to access them. The ZIP RNE Committee holds orthomosaics of these two marshes as well as two ecogeomorphological boundaries (lower limit of marsh vegetation and coastline). 

A characterization report of the floristic, ichthyological and geomorphological aspects of the Grandes and Petites Bergeronnes marshes is also available.

It is possible to consult the datasets of the five other marshes that have been characterized as part of the project to characterize important coastlines:

- [**The Portneuf-sur-Mer Marsh**](https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/ca-cioos_5374b582-43aa-4ffa-8361-4a0d9f1f6b8e)

- [**The Mille-Vaches Bay Marsh**](https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/ca-cioos_f10f496a-acf4-4274-9c7b-7a005bcf54ed)

- [**The Pointe-aux-Outardes Marsh**](https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/ca-cioos_46d3ba2e-2fd3-4aad-a51a-f8343fbe6a73)

- [**The pointe des Fortin marsh**](https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/ca-cioos_3b8c6d97-6eb8-4e8d-9869-ccb2b9bab5f3)

- [**The Hickey marsh**](https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/ca-cioos_0925e105-860e-4fe7-83ac-afc5e4c2699e)

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

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Microplastics in surface water samples from Placentia Bay, Newfoundland (2018-2019)

This data was collected between 2018 and 2019 at 7 sites around Placentia Bay. Two of these sites were subject to repeat sampling. Surface water samples were collected in collaboration with local fish harvesters, who aided the team in towing a surface trawl (the Low-Tech Aquatic Debris Instrument, or LADI, a DIY citizen-science technology developed by the Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research) equipped with a plankton net for the filtering of surface waters for microplastics. 


Microplastic samples were analysed visually under a stereomicroscope for the identification and characterization of microplastics down to a lower size limit of 1mm.


This project is part of Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Coastal Environmental Baseline Program.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Charlevoix Coastal Restoration Plan (2018)

Characterization of coastal marshes along the St. Lawrence River in the Charlevoix sector. The characterization carried out in 2018 includes the municipalities of Baie-Saint-Paul (BSP), Isle-aux-Coudres (IAC), Petite-Rivière-Saint-François (PRSF) and Les Éboulements (Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive sector, SJDLR).

This dataset presents marshes characterization report that was produced with the aim of setting up future coastal restoration projects in the Charlevoix region. Vegetation data was collected in the different marshes and their influence (gain and loss) was also measured from historical maps from 1964 to 2012.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Sustainable Development Plan for Integrated Management of the Franquelin Coastal Zone to Baie-Trinité - Panoramas Sector (2008)

The coastal zone targeted by this project includes three municipalities: Franquelin, Godbout and Baie-Trinité. Together, they planned the development of their communities by grouping their forces under the name *“Corporation de Développement du Secteur des
panoramas”*. It is a stretch of coastline with great ecological wealth whose fragility is little known to communities and developers. The development of the tourism potential of this territory, if not regulated, could have harmful impacts on coastal habitats, the species at risk that live there and the resources available there.

The main objective of this project is therefore to ensure, through a concerted and integrated management approach, the sustainable development of maritime resources in the coastal zone of the Panoramas Sector. By “integrated management” we mean a process of continuous consultation with local actors for the development and implementation of sustainable land use plans, integrating social, cultural, economic and environmental values.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Porpoises After Dark: Seasonal and Diel Patterns in Pacific Harbour Porpoise Aggregations Near the Port of Prince Rupert (2016-2022)

Pacific Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena vomerina) occupy a large range throughout coastal waters of British Columbia. Despite their wide distribution, they remain largely data-deficient regarding abundance and population trends, and as such are listed as Special Concern under the Species At Risk Act. Harbour porpoises are also particularly sensitive to disturbance, especially vessel-related acoustic disturbance. Large aggregations of harbour porpoise have been documented in waters around the entrance to the Port of Prince Rupert during the winter months, however little is known about the annual fine-scale activity of this species in this highly trafficked area. 

In this multi-year study, we used a combination of land-based visual surveys and passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) devices (C-PODs and F-PODs) to address data gaps regarding density, diel patterns, and seasonality of harbour porpoise around Prince Rupert. Echolocation activity was detected during 96% of the 1086 C-POD (Cetacean -Porpoise Detector) deployment days and 100% of the 727 F-POD (Full waveform capture -Porpoise Detector) deployment days, with 86% of visual surveys recording harbour porpoise presence. We detected strong seasonal and diel trends in activity, with echolocation peaks between April and June and during the hours of darkness throughout the year. There was a notable increase in daytime activity of harbour porpoise between January and March, which coincides with the months of large aggregation observations.

This study indicates that despite the constant presence of large vessels, harbour porpoise continue to persist within waters surrounding Prince Rupert. This suggests the area is an important habitat for this species and also may indicate some extent of acclimatization to localized disturbance. It is possible to consult the scientific article related to this study:

- [**Porpoises after dark: Seasonal and diel patterns in Pacific harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena vomerina) aggregations at one of North America’s fastest growing ports**](https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1010095)

This project is part of Fisheries and Ocean Canada's Coastal Environmental Baseline Program.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Toxic algae, Driver of Environmental Change: eDrivers Project for the St. Lawrence System

The data we use to describe the risk of toxic algae come from an expert based map delineating the areas where coastal areas are at risk from five different toxins.  The map presents coastal areas at risk from: 1) paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins from the regular presence of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella (previously Alexandrium tamarense) at high concentrations, 2) amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) toxins from domoic acid 3) diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxins, 4) spirolides and 5) pectenotoxins, two toxins produced by dinoflagellates occurring in the St. Lawrence.

It is possible to consult the scientific report of the **eDrivers** project: [Characterizing Exposure to and Sharing Knowledge of Drivers of Environmental Change in the St. Lawrence System in Canada](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.00383/full) and the [additional data](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.00383/full#supplementary-material). It is possible to consult the application [eDrivers](https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/dataset/ca-cioos_7c51ad5f-c2a9-4f4a-a78c-0b652e630825).

**REFERENCE:**

- [Bates, S. S., Beach, D. G., Comeau, L. A., Haigh, N., Lewis, N. I., Locke, A., et al. (2019). Marine harmful algal blooms and phycotoxins of concern to Canada. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. In revision. Department of Fisheries and Oceans.](https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2020/mpo-dfo/Fs97-6-3384-eng.pdf)

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Microplastic distribution along a Saint-Lawrence river-to-sea continuum (2019)

Despite the close connection of freshwaters to human health, the occurrence and fate of microplastics in marine estuaries remain poorly documented. To study these particles in the Saint-Lawrence River (Quebec, Canada), surface water samples were collected along a river-to-sea continuum, from Saint-Louis Lake to Cacouna. The microplastics from these water samples were isolated and sorted by size range and by shapes: fibers (1 dimension), films (2 dimensions) or fragments (3 dimensions). Particles were identified by microscopy and infrared spectroscopy techniques. The physico-chemical (temperature, conductivity, pH and dissolved oxygen) gradients along the continuum were monitored at the time of sampling. Sampling of microplastics (0.3 – 3.2 mm) in surface water was carried out using an original pumping system (without plastic), at the rate of 3 replicates of 1,000 L per station.

This work provides the first set of data concerning the microplastic pollution in a major river-to-sea continuum of North America and describes the fate of these microplastics along horizontal physico-chemical gradients.

For more information you can consult the [scientific article](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030438942200766X?via%3Dihub) which results from these data:

- L. Rowenczyk, H. Cai, B. Nguyen, M. Sirois, M.-C. Côté-Laurin, N. Toupoint, A. Ismail, N. Tufenkji, From freshwaters to bivalves: Microplastic distribution along the Saint-Lawrence river-to-sea continuum, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Volume 435, 2022,128977, ISSN 0304-3894, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128977.

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory
Multiparametric Decision Support Tool for the Opening Date of the Lobster Fishery in LFA 22 : preseason lobster fishery

Data collected on lobsters in preseason fisheries. This fishery is carried out by Merinov as part of the project Deployment of a multiparametric decision support tool for the opening date of the lobster fishery for Lobster Fishing Area 22 (LFA22) of the Rassemblement des pêcheurs et pêcheuses des côtes des îles (RPPCI). This project is funded by the Quebec Fisheries Fund (MAPAQ and DFO), over 2 years. The fisheries are carried out on the two facades of the Islands, the North (Étang-du-Nord) and the South (Pearl Reef). For the year 2020, the fishing effort consists of 48 wooden cages submerged for 24 hours; the same boat is used for the pre-season, the Mytilus.


You can find the other data from the project “Multiparametric decision support tool for the opening date of the lobster fishery in LFA22" in the catalogue. Environmental monitoring data are available here (https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/ca-cioos_96bf3c76-a010-4637-bff5-59256f2637cc) and data on monitoring lobster egg development can be seen here (https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/ca-cioos_3baf0a9e-de19-42b4-bcf7-1d51369333bd).

Organization: St. Lawrence Global Observatory