Coastwide Evaluation and Classification of Pacific Region Estuaries based on Anthropogenic Activities and Significant Fish Habitat

Estuaries are highly productive and diverse ecosystems that represent a geographic bottleneck between marine and freshwater systems. Estuaries have been identified as ecologically and biologically significant areas (EBSAs) in Canada’s Pacific Region because of their importance for the aggregation, productivity, and fitness of anadromous fishes, including Pacific salmon. However, estuaries are also the site of many anthropogenic activities, and the degradation of estuarine habitats such as eelgrass beds has had corresponding impacts on many species of ecological, economic, and cultural importance. To support a regional request for information to aid integrated coastal planning, a coastwide classification of estuaries based on anthropogenic activities was completed. Anthropogenic activities and associated stressors relevant to estuary habitats were identified through a literature review and used to guide the compilation of spatial datasets. The spatial datasets were then used in a cluster analysis that identified estuaries that share similar activity types and levels of use. Ecological information was then compiled and mapped to highlight how estuarine fishes and fish habitats considered significant or sensitive relate to the results of the clustering analysis and individual estuaries. This broad-scale analysis represents an initial assessment of BC’s estuaries that can help guide localized efforts and identify opportunities for management efficiencies among estuaries that face similar activities and stressors. Research needs for future evaluations at a finer-scale scale are detailed, as are linkages with projects underway within specific estuaries, to highlight opportunities for collaboration as priority estuaries are identified for management and conservation action.

This data record includes select Appendix tables associated with the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) research document entitled “Coastwide Evaluation and Classification of Pacific Region Estuaries based on Anthropogenic Activities and Significant Fish Habitat”.  The Science Advisory Report from the regional peer review meeting held on April 12-13, 2023 is available at: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/SAR-AS/2023/2023_039-eng.html 

The Appendix tables contain information summarized for individual estuaries along the Pacific Coast of Canada, as follows:

Table G1 - Activity data by estuary including cluster assignment, coordinates of estuary centroid, bioregion, estuary and watershed areas, and activity count,. Activities marked with * are restricted datasets and the column is left blank. Area based activities were quantified using a generic raster cell constant value, and the extent of some activities were quantified by buffering and applying a distance decay to the raster values resulting in “generic area units” of overlap with estuaries. Refer to data dictionary (Table G4) for column descriptions and units.

Table G3 - Ecological data by estuary including cluster assignment, coordinates of estuary centroid, and bioregion. See section 3.4 for details on how each metric was calculated. Refer to data dictionary (Table G4) for column descriptions and units.

Table G4 – Data dictionary in English and French describing column headers and units for fields in Tables G1 and G3.

Spatial data for the associated estuaries were mapped by the Pacific Estuary Conservation Program (PECP, Ryder et al. 2007) and the Pacific Birds Habitat Join Venture (PBHJV, PBHJV 2020) and are available for download at: https://pacificbirds.org/2021/02/an-updated-ranking-of-british-columbias-estuaries/

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada