AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Blue Whale - High density feeding areas

11 tagged Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) were tracked during the daytime movements as well as the feeding behaviour in the St. Lawrence River estuary. Kernel density was applied to derminate the high density feeding areas of all individuals combined (30, 40, 50, 60, 75, 95 %).

Doniol-Valcroze T, Lesage V, Giard J, Michaud R, 2012. Challenges in marine mammal habitat modelling: evidence of multiple foraging habitats from the identification of feeding events in blue whales. Endang Species Res, Vol. 17 : 255–268, doi : 10.3354/esr00427
(English version only)

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
A Video, Sidescan and Echosounder Survey of Nearshore Halifax Harbour

A novel towfish incorporating sidescan and video hardware was used to ground truth echosounder data for the nearshore of Halifax Harbour. The resulting sampling grid extended from the shoreline to a depth of 10 m, including Bedford Basin through the Inner Harbour to the Outer Harbour. Each of these three zones could be distinguished from the others based upon combinations of substrate type, benthic invertebrates, and macrophyte canopy. Bedford Basin had a relative lack of macrophytes and evidence of intense herbivory. The Inner Harbour was characterized by shoreline hardening due to anthropogenic activities. The Outer Harbour was the most “natural” nearshore area with a mix of bottom types and a relatively abundant and diverse macrophyte canopy. All survey data were placed into a GIS, which could be used to answer management questions such as the placement and character of habitat compensation projects in the harbour. Future surveys utilizing similar techniques could be used to determine long term changes in the nearshore of the harbour.

Cite this data as: Vandermeulen H. Data of: A Video, Sidescan and Echosounder Survey of Nearshore Halifax Harbour. Published: September 2021. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/9122c3e2-3cfc-45d0-ac36-aecb306130f6

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Exploratory Video-Sidescan and Echosounder Survey of Welch Cove

Towfish (sidescan and video) and echo sounder surveys were utilized to examine bottom type and macrophyte cover within the area of two coastal marine finfish aquaculture sites, one in New Brunswick (Welch Cove) and one in Nova Scotia (Jordan Bay). Both towfish and echo sounder data could be used independently of one another. However, the towfish data were very useful for ground truthing echo sounder based classifications. All survey data were placed into a GIS which could be used to answer management questions such as the placement of cages at sites, benthic impacts and baseline conditions to determine long term changes.

Cite this data as: Vandermeulen H. Data of: Exploratory Video-Sidescan and Echosounder Survey of Welch Cove. Published: June 2021. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/0083e317-8bb5-492a-8348-c021e183f307

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Ocean Bottom Temperature Variations from CIOPS-E and GLORYS12 Models at St. Anns Bank

These are derived products of ocean bottom temperature at St. Anns Bank Marine Protected Area (MPA), utilizing outputs from two numerical models: 1) Pseudo-analysis from the Coastal Ice-Ocean Prediction System for the East Coast of Canada (CIOPS-E v2.0.0) at 1/36° horizontal grid developed and implemented operationally at Environment and Climate Change Canada, covering 2016-2023 through combining research and operational runs from this system (https://eccc-msc.github.io/open-data/msc-data/nwp_ciops/readme_ciops_en/); 2) The Global Ocean Physics Reanalysis (GLORYS12v1), a 1/12° data assimilative reanalysis product produced by the Mercator Ocean International and implemented by the CMEMS, spanning from 1993 to 2023 ( https://doi.org/10.48670/moi-00021). The daily bottom temperature data presented here are calculated as daily area averages. The ocean bottom temperature data from the model available here are validated against in-situ observations from the open data (https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/910b8e22-2fd1-4ba1-8db6-d16763c7a625). These products may be used to gain knowledge of ocean bottom temperature changes in the MPA over the past 8 and 30 years.

Cite this data as: Casey, M., Hu, X, Tao, J., and Shen, H. Ocean Bottom Temperature Variations from CIOPS-E and GLORYS12 Models at St. Anns Bank. 
Published: August 2024. Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Maritimes region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth NS. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/019f9138-6e3c-4f0e-997e-879e1ec2c42d

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Commercial catches sampling program in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence – Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus)

Summary
The Quebec region of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is responsible for the assessment of several fish and invertebrate stocks exploited in the Estuary and the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. The commercial catches sampling program is one of the sources of information used to complete these assessments. The data collected by this program, at wharf or at sea, offers among other things the advantage of a relatively large spatio-temporal coverage and provides some of the necessary knowledge to assess the demography and the structure of the exploited populations. This program is implemented by specialized DFO staff whose main mandate is to collect biological data on groundfish, pelagic fish and marine invertebrate species that are commercially exploited in the various marine communities.

Data
This dataset on the Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) includes the metadata, sample weight, fish length, the sex and the number of specimens measured. This dataset covers the periods of 1976-1977 and 1984 to present. In order to protect the confidentiality of the sources, some informations (such as those concerning the vessel) have been excluded and others (such as the date of capture) have been simplified. Entries where there was only one vessel in a fishing area for a given year were also excluded. Further information including the fishing areas coordinates can be found by clicking on the «Atlantic and Arctic commercial fisheries» and «Fishing areas» links below.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Seasonal Movements and Diving of Ringed Seals, Pusa hispida, in the Western Canadian Arctic, 1999 – 2001 and 2010 – 2011

This record contains two datasets: 1. Raw unfiltered geographic coordinates and accuracy estimates of ringed seals tagged in the Western Canadian Arctic and 2. The location estimate from state-space models using a 12-hr time step. In total, 17 ringed seals were captured, measured, weighed, and tagged with satellite-linked transmitters (SDR-10, SDR-16, SPLASH) in June and July of 1999, 2000, and 2010. The tags, manufactured by Wildlife Computers Ltd. (Redmond, Washington, USA), sent data to polar orbiting satellites. Data were then retrieved via the Argos system (Harris et al., 1990). Tags collected and relayed information on movement (geographic positions) and diving data of the instrumented animals.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Coast of Bays Metrics: Geography, Hydrology and Physical Oceanography of an Aquaculture Area of the South Coast of Newfoundland

This dataset was compiled as part of a multiyear effort lead by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to support sustainable aquaculture regulation in the Coast of Bays, an area of the south coast of Newfoundland. It is the first of a series aiming to provide an oceanographic knowledge baseline of the Coast of Bays.

This dataset consists of GIS products and analyses summarized in a spreadsheet. The GIS data include vector shapefiles and raster TIFF images, providing information on the area of interest physical dimensions (e.g. bays area, volume, perimeter, length and width) and other physical characteristics (e.g. tidal volume and freshwater input).

A full description of the data and of its use in the context of the motivating project can be found in http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/ResDocs-DocRech/2017/2017_076-eng.html. Analyses from this dataset were presented during a Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) meeting which took place in St John’s in March 2015 (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/schedule-horraire/2015/03_25-26b-eng.html) and from which a Science Advisory Report (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/SAR-AS/2016/2016_039-eng.html) and Proceedings (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/Pro-Cr/2017/2017_043-eng.html) were published.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Commercial catches sampling program in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence – Atlantic surfclam (Spisula solidissima)

Summary
The Quebec region of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is responsible for the assessment of several fish and invertebrate stocks exploited in the Estuary and the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. The commercial catches sampling program is one of the sources of information used to complete these assessments. The data collected by this program, at wharf or at sea, offers among other things the advantage of a relatively large spatio-temporal coverage and provides some of the necessary knowledge to assess the demography and the structure of the exploited populations. This program is implemented by specialized DFO staff whose main mandate is to collect biological data on groundfish, pelagic fish and marine invertebrate species that are commercially exploited in the various marine communities.

Data
This dataset on the Atlantic surfclam (Spisula solidissima) includes the metadata, sample weight and the shell width of the specimens measured. This dataset covers the period of 2003 to present. In order to protect the confidentiality of the sources, some informations (such as those concerning the vessel) have been excluded and others (such as the date of capture) have been simplified. Entries where there was only one vessel in a fishing area for a given year were also excluded. Further information including the fishing areas coordinates can be found by clicking on the «Atlantic and Arctic commercial fisheries» and «Fishing areas» links below.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Benthic temperature data from the Gully MPA

Temperature logger data was collected from two Vemco miniloggers attached to range-testing moorings for an array of acoustic receivers at a depth of approximately 300 metres in the Gully MPA. The data covers 2021 through 2022.

Cite this data as: Jeffery, N., Heaslip, S., and Stanley, R. Data of: Benthic temperature data from the Gully MPA. Published: June 2023. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/900c02b2-7eb7-48e3-8b3e-c3e65c99a8e6

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Calanus spp. size and lipid content metrics in North Atlantic, 1977-2019

Data set covers metrics and metadata related to wild collected copepods Calanus spp. (C. hyperboreus, C. glacialis, C. finmarchicus) and Metridia longa: 
-	body size in prosome length [PL]
-	dry weight [DW]
-	lipid content (oil sac area [OSA] and oil sac volume [OSV])

Spatial coverage: 
North Atlantic sampling sites
-	Scotian Shelf (SS)
-	Gulf of Saint Lawrence (GSL)
-	Gulf of Maine-Georges Bank-Nantucket Shoals (GoM)
-	Newfoundland shelf (NFL)

Cite this data as: Helenius LK, Head EJH, Jekielek P, Orphanides CD, Pepin P, Plourde S, Ringuette M, Walsh HJ, Runge JA, Johnson CL. Calanus spp. size and lipid content metrics in North Atlantic, 1977-2019. Published September 2022. Ocean Ecosystem Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S.  https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/72e6d3a1-06e7-4f41-acec-e0f1474b555b

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Species Distribution Modelling of Corals and Sponges in the Maritimes Region for Use in the Identification of Significant Benthic Areas

Effective fisheries and habitat management processes require knowledge of the distribution of areas of high ecological or biological significance. On the Scotian Shelf and Slope, a number of benthic ecologically or biologically significant areas consisting of habitat-forming species such as sponges and deep-water corals have been identified. However, knowledge of their spatial distribution is largely based on targeted surveys that are limited in their spatial extent. We used a species distribution modelling approach called random forest (RF) to predict the probability of occurrence and biomass of sponges, sea pens, and large and small gorgonian corals across the entire spatial extent of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Maritimes Region. We also modelled the rare sponge Vazella pourtalesi, which forms the largest known aggregation of its kind on the Scotian Shelf. We utilized a number of data sources including DFO multispecies trawl catch data and in situ benthic imagery observations. Most models had excellent predictive capacity with cross-validated Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.760 to 0.977. Areas of suitable habitat were identified for each taxon and were contrasted against their known distribution and when applicable, the location of closure areas designated for their protection. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were developed to predict the biomass distribution of each taxonomic group and serve as a comparison to the RF models. The RF and GAM models provided comparable results, although GAMs provided superior predictions of biomass along the continental slope for some taxonomic groups. In the absence of data observations, the results of this study could be used to identify the potential distribution of sensitive benthic taxa for use in fisheries and habitat management applications. These results could also be used to refine significant concentrations of these taxa as identified through the kernel density analyses.

Cite this data as: Beazley, Lindsay; Kenchington, Ellen; Murillo-Perez, Javier; Lirette, Camille; Guijarro-Sabaniel, Javier; McMillan, Andrew; Knudby, Anders (2019). Species Distribution Modelling of Corals and Sponges in the Maritimes Region for Use in the Identification of Significant Benthic Areas. Published July 2023. Ocean Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/356e92f3-5bf3-4810-98b1-3e10cd7742aa

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Bay Scale Assessment of Nearshore Habitat Bras d'Or Lake - Eskasoni 2007

Bay Scale Assessment of Nearshore Habitat - Bras d'Or Lake - Eskasoni 2007 data is part of the publication Bay Scale Assessment of Nearshore Habitat Bras d'Or Lakes. 

A history of nearshore benthic surveys of Bras d’Or Lake from 2005 – 2011 is presented. 

Early work utilized drop camera and fixed mount sidescan. The next phase was one of towfish development, where camera and sidescan were placed on one platform with transponder-based positioning. From 2009 to 2011 the new towfish was used to ground truth an echosounder. The surveys were performed primarily in the northern half of the lake; from 10 m depth right into the shallows at less than 1 m. Different shorelines could be distinguished from others based upon the relative proportions of substrate types and macrophyte canopy. The vast majority of macrophytes occurred within the first 3 m of depth. This zone was dominated by a thin but consistent cover of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) on almost all shores with a current or wave regime conducive to the growth of this plant. However, the eelgrass beds were frequently in poor shape and the negative impacts of commonly occurring water column turbidity, siltation, or possible localized eutrophication, are suspected. All survey data were placed into a Geographic Information System, and this document is a guide to that package. The Geographic Information System could be used to answer management questions such as the placement and character of habitat compensation projects, the selection of nearshore protected areas or as a baseline to determine long term changes.

Vandermeulen, H. 2016. Video-sidescan and echosounder surveys of nearshore Bras d’Or Lake. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3183: viii + 39 p.

Cite this data as: Vandermeulen H. Bay Scale Assessment of Nearshore Habitat Bras d'Or Lake - Eskasoni 2007. Published May 2022. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Great Lakes Fish Biodiversity Database

The Great Lakes Fish Biodiversity Science Database is a compilation of fish community and habitat data from DFO Science surveys, primarily related to freshwater fishes of conservation concern in the Great Lakes basin. Data include: sampling site location, date, fish species and counts, and associated habitat information. Project-specific details including purpose/objectives and study methodology are often reported in the DFO Canadian data report of fisheries and aquatic sciences series.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Historical data of biodiversity of the Magdalen Islands Sea Scallop survey

A research survey of scallops (mainly sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus, but also Icelandic Scallop Chlamys islandica) using a dredge was carried out by DFO (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) every 1 or 2 years since 1992 in the Magdalen Islands (fishing area 20). The main objective of this research survey was to assess Sea Scallop stocks. Another objective was to document taxa associated with scallop habitat according to a fixed random sampling plan. Occurrences by species (or taxon) are presented by station. The taxonomic and geographical validity of the data was checked and the World Register of Marine Species served as the taxonomic authority for naming all taxa recorded during the survey. Epibenthic invertebrates (mainly molluscs, echinoderms and crustaceans) as well as demersal fish were identified from the dredge catches. The current data starting in 2021 are available at the following link : https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/6529a4b0-f863-4568-ac71-1fa26cf68679

The study area is located south of the Magdalen Islands and the sampling of scallop beds is carried out at depths of 10 to 38 m, generally around 25 to 35 m. A random selection of sampling stations is carried out from a fixed station grid. Sampling is done along transects at these randomly drawn stations in the study area. Sampling is done with a lined Digby scallop dredge (20 mm mesh) over approximately 500 m along the seabed. The four baskets of the dredge are examined for all scallops. Next, a basket (the first on the starboard side) is sorted and examined for associated species. Most specimens are counted by taxon. The presence or relative abundance of undersized and numerous, or colonial, organisms is noted. Special cases are sometimes retained for taxonomic analysis, for example, ascidians (to monitor invasive species) and sponges (to document new species).

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Oceans Act Areas of Interest

The selection of an Area of Interest (AOI) marks the beginning of the Oceans Act Marine Protected Area (MPA) establishment process led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The process includes completing detailed ecological and socioeconomic assessments, setting conservation objectives, determining boundaries and management measures, and eventually developing the regulations under section 35 of the Oceans Act. Collaboration, consultation, and engagement occurs with stakeholders and partners throughout each step of this process.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Ocean Salmon Program - Ricker Beam Trawl Juvenile Salmon Study from 1990 to 1993

During the period of 1990 to 1993, Robin J. LeBrasseur and N. Brent Hargreaves led a juvenile salmon migration research project off the west coast of Vancouver Island BC. This included the development of surface beam trawl gear that could be deployed from a large trawl vessel (CCGS W.E. Ricker) and operated in an offshore environment. This dataset contains the research survey catch data and individual fish examinations data.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Seamounts of the Northeast Pacific Ocean

Seamounts have been identified as Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) due to their unique oceanography and ecology; they frequently serve as sites for fisheries and as habitat for a number of species of conservation concern. A mix of isolated seamounts and seamount complexes are distributed throughout Canada’s Pacific offshore waters, although only a subset of these are named. We used several pre-existing spatial databases and predictive models to map all named seamounts within Canada’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), all named seamounts fished by Canada in international waters, and any predicted (modelled) unnamed seamounts in the EEZ. These data are intended to inform marine planning initiatives in BC by providing collaborative, peer-reviewed scientific data at scales relevant to a BC coast-wide analysis.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Gulf Region Sea Scallop Research Vessel Survey Data

PURPOSE:
The objective of the sea scallop survey is to obtain fishery independent data on the abundance, size distribution and location of scallops in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence and to provide science advice on stock status to fishery managers, decision makers and industry stakeholders.
            

DESCRIPTION:
The sea scallop research survey is conducted on CCGS MPerley (or chartered vessels) and has stratified random sampling. For each tow (or sample), data is recorded on tow, all specimens caught, geolocation, shell height frequency and biological samples.

This monitoring program is currently on-hold. It will resume if a survey is deemed necessary to provide a new or updated science advice in the future. Stock status is currently (2024) in the critical zone. Rebuilding plan to follow.
            

PARAMETERS COLLECTED:
Catch number (biological), catch weight (biological), individual lengths (biological), age (biological), meat weight (biological).

PHYSICAL SAMPLE DETAILS:
A sub-sample of scallop shells is retained and analysed for age determination in the lab.

SAMPLING METHODS:
From 2012 to 2016, an annual, rotational, multispecies research survey program for scallop in the sGSL was conducted to obtain fishery independent indices of abundance, biomass estimates, and biological characteristics information (shell height, meat weight, sex, clappers). One section of a SFA or the SFA in its entirety was surveyed per year, with the exception of SFA 23 which was excluded because of the low scallop fishing effort reported from this area in recent years. 

From 2019 to 2023, annual surveys were conducted on the three major beds in the Northumberland Strait (West Point and Cape Tormentine in SFA 22, Pictou in SFA 24), using a similar methodology as the previous surveys.

Methodology can be found in the Science Advisory Report and the Research Document listed in the citations list.

USE LIMITATION:
To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada