AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Predicted Distribution of the Glass Sponge Vazella pourtalesi on the Scotian Shelf and its Persistence in the Face of Climatic Variability

Emerald Basin on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, Canada, is home to a globally unique aggregation of the glass sponge Vazella pourtalesi, first documented in the region in 1889.  In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) implemented two Sponge Conservation Areas to protect these sponge grounds from bottom fishing activities. Together, the two conservation areas encompass 259 km2. In order to ascertain the degree to which the sponge grounds remain unprotected, we modelled the presence probability and predicted range distribution of V. pourtalesi on the Scotian Shelf using random forest modelling on presence-absence records.  With a high degree of accuracy the random forest model predicted the highest probability of occurrence of V. pourtalesi in the inner basins on the central Scotian Shelf, with lower probabilities at the shelf break and in the Fundian and Northeast Channels.  Bottom temperature was the most important determinant of its distribution in the model.  Although the two DFO Sponge Conservation Areas protect some of the more significant concentrations of V. pourtalesi, much of its predicted distribution remains unprotected (over 99%). Examination of the hydrographic conditions in Emerald Basin revealed that the V. pourtalesi sponge grounds are associated with a warmer and more saline water mass compared to the surrounding shelf. Reconstruction of historical bottom temperature and salinity in Emerald Basin revealed strong multi-decadal variability, with average bottom temperatures varying by 8˚C. We show that this species has persisted in the face of this climatic variability, possibly indicating how it will respond to future climate change.

Cite this data as: Beazley, Lindsay ; Wang, Zeliang ; Kenchington, Ellen ; Yashayaev, Igor ; Rapp Tore, Hans ; Xavier, Joana R. ; Murillo, Francisco Javier ; Fenton, Derek ; Fuller, Susanna(2023). Predicted distribution of the glass sponge Vazella pourtalesi on the Scotian Shelf and its persistence in the face of climatic variability. Published April 2023. Ocean Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/326bfc06-4b48-408f-9a74-1e118665e7b0

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Seasonal current speed climatology of the Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone from BCCM model (1981-2010)

Description:
Seasonal mean current speed from the British Columbia continental margin model (BCCM) were calculated as the root mean square of the zonal (U) and meridional (V) velocities and averaged over the 1981 to 2010 period to create seasonal mean climatology of the Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone.

Methods:
Current speeds at up to forty-six linearly interpolated vertical levels from surface to 2400 m and at the sea bottom are included. Spring months were defined as April to June, summer months were defined as July to September, fall months were defined as October to December, and winter months were defined as January to March. The data available here contain raster layers of seasonal current speed climatology for the Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone at 3 km spatial resolution and 47 vertical levels.

Uncertainties:
Model results have been extensively evaluated against observations (e.g. altimetry, CTD and nutrient profiles, observed geostrophic currents), which showed the model can reproduce with reasonable accuracy the main oceanographic features of the region including salient features of the seasonal cycle and the vertical and cross-shore gradient of water properties. However, the model resolution is too coarse to allow for an adequate representation of inlets, nearshore areas, and the Strait of Georgia.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Likelihood of Presence of Finback Whales in Area Response Planning Pilot Areas

Likelihood of Presence of Finback Whales in the Bay of Fundy and Port Hawkesbury Area Response Plan. The Coastal Oceanography and Ecosystem Research section (DFO Science) reviewed reported opportunistic whale sightings and local knowledge sources to estimate areas where Finback whales are seasonally present and delineate these areas.

A version of this dataset was created for the National Environmental Emergency Center (NEEC) following their data model and is available for download in the Resources section.

Cite this data as: Lazin, G., Hamer, A.,Corrigan, S., Bower, B., and Harvey, C. Data of: Likelihood of presence of Finback Whale in Area Response Planning pilot areas. Published: June 2018. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews, N.B. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/7e2f85b3-19eb-4ecf-8557-69c8df1bc084

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Vessel Density Mapping of 2016 AIS Data in the Northwest Atlantic

The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a global, satellite-based and terrestrial-based ship tracking system that uses shipborne equipment to remotely track vessel identification and positional information and is typically required on vessels of 300 gross tonnage or more on an international voyage, of 500 gross tonnage or more not on an international voyage, and passenger ships of all sizes. AIS tracking technologies are primarily used in support of real-time maritime domain awareness and for maritime security and safety of life at sea. This report describes a geographic information system (GIS) analysis of 2019 AIS data to produce yearly and monthly vessel density maps of all vessel classes combined and yearly density maps of each vessel class. The year 2019 was selected to portray shipping densities in a pre-COVID 19 pandemic depiction of the maritime transport sector in the Northwest Atlantic. Vessel density map applications include use in spatial analysis and decision support for marine spatial planning. In 2023 the process was applied to the years 2013 through to 2022 and were made available using the same processes that were applied to the original 2019 datasets.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Vertical allowance gridded dataset for Canada

Sea level rise increases coastal flooding in many areas of Canada. The Canadian Extreme Water Level Adaptation tool has been developed to accommodate sea level rise. The infrastructure needs to be built higher in order to reduce the risk of flooding.  The vertical allowance is the recommended height that the infrastructure to be raised in future years relative to year 2010. The vertical allowance depends on (1) statistics of historical storm surge and tides, and (2) the best estimate and associated uncertainty of future sea level rise. The vertical allowance preserves the frequency of flooding events at some future time under uncertain sea level rise. Vertical allowances are provided for scenarios based on the fifth assessment report (AR5) of IPCC for the period of 2020-2100 and the sixth assessment report (AR6) of IPCC for the period of 2020-2150.

Cite this data as: Zhai, L., Greenan, B., Perrie, W. Data of:
Vertical allowance gridded dataset for Canada.
Published: February 2024. Ocean Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S.
https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/5c164079-9785-42fa-8fa5-d886ccbae3b3

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Impacts of coastal acidification and climate change stressors on the Atlantic sea scallop: larval supply, recruitment and adaptive capacity to multiple global change drivers

This dataset was collected in support of a Competitive Science and Research Fund project (21-CC-05-06 Impacts of coastal acidification and climate change stressors on the Atlantic sea scallop: larval supply, recruitment and adaptive capacity to multiple global change drivers) lead by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). The objective of this research is to characterize coastal environmental conditions associated with scallop spawning and larval drift in Passamaquoddy Bay, New Brunswick. This dataset includes temperature, conductivity, salinity, sigma-theta, sea pressure, and depth information taken at weekly intervals at the sampling stations. In total, this dataset represents a total of 62 CTD profiles collected across 3 sampling stations over 22 sampling days from June to October 2022. Sampling stations were selected to compare scallop recruitment signals from Chamcook Harbour, a decommissioned scallop aquaculture site in Big Bay (MS-1077) and in the middle of Passamaquoddy Bay. Data were processed in accordance with instrumentation manufacturer guidelines and DFO Ocean Data and Information Section QAQC procedures. 

Cite this data as: Miller, E., Quinn, B., Azetsu-Scott, K., Childs, D., Gabriel, C-E., Newhook, M. 2025. Impacts of coastal acidification and climate change stressors on the Atlantic sea scallop. Published October 2025. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews, N.B

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Likelihood of Presence of Harbour Porpoise in Area Response Planning Pilot Areas

Likelihood of Presence of Harbour Porpoise in the Bay of Fundy and Port Hawkesbury Area Response Plan. The Coastal Oceanography and Ecosystem Research section (DFO Science) reviewed reported opportunistic whale sightings and local knowledge sources to estimate areas where Harbour Porpoises are seasonally present and delineate these areas.

A version of this dataset was created for the National Environmental Emergency Center (NEEC) following their data model and is available for download in the Resources section.

Cite this data as: Lazin, G., Hamer, A.,Corrigan, S., Bower, B., and Harvey, C. Data of: Likelihood of Presence of Harbour Porpoise in Area Response Planning Pilot Areas. Published: June 2018. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews, N.B. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/58ea48ab-f052-48ab-9c18-4353e51b8bea

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Seasonal salinity climatology of the Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone from BCCM model (1981-2010)

Description:
Seasonal mean salinity from the British Columbia continental margin model (BCCM) were averaged over the 1981 to 2010 period to create seasonal mean climatology of the Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone.

Methods:
Salinities at up to forty-six linearly interpolated vertical levels from surface to 2400 m and at the sea bottom are included. Spring months were defined as April to June, summer months were defined as July to September, fall months were defined as October to December, and winter months were defined as January to March. The data available here contain raster layers of seasonal salinity climatology for the Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone at 3 km spatial resolution and 47 vertical levels.

Uncertainties:
Model results have been extensively evaluated against observations (e.g. altimetry, CTD and nutrient profiles, observed geostrophic currents), which showed the model can reproduce with reasonable accuracy the main oceanographic features of the region including salient features of the seasonal cycle and the vertical and cross-shore gradient of water properties. However, the model resolution is too coarse to allow for an adequate representation of inlets, nearshore areas, and the Strait of Georgia.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Monitoring bay-scale bivalve aquaculture ecosystem interactions using flow cytometry

Bay-scale empirical demonstrations of how bivalve aquaculture alters plankton composition, and subsequently ecological functioning and higher trophic levels, are lacking. Temporal, inter- and within-bay variation in hydrodynamic, environmental, and aquaculture pressure limit efficient plankton monitoring design to detect bay-scale changes and inform aquaculture ecosystem interactions. Here, we used flow cytometry to investigate spatio-temporal variations in bacteria and phytoplankton (< 20 µm) composition in four bivalve aquaculture embayments. We observed higher abundances of bacteria and phytoplankton in shallow embayments that experienced greater freshwater and nutrient inputs. Depleted nutrient conditions may have led to the dominance of picophytoplankton cells, which showed strong within-bay variation as a function of riverine vs freshwater influence and nutrient availability. Although environmental forcings appeared to be a strong driver of spatio-temporal trends, results showed that bivalve aquaculture may reduce near-lease phytoplankton abundance and favor bacterial growth. We discuss aquaculture pathways of effects such as grazing, benthic-pelagic coupling processes, and microbial biogeochemical cycling. Conclusions provide guidance on optimal sampling considerations using flow cytometry in aquaculture sites based on embayment geomorphology and hydrodynamics.

Cite this data as: Sharpe H, Lacoursière-Roussel A, Barrell J (2024). Monitoring bay-scale bivalve aquaculture ecosystem interactions using flow cytometry. Version 1.2. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Samplingevent dataset. https://ipt.iobis.org/obiscanada/resource?r=monitoring_bay-scale_bivalve_aquaculture_ecosystem_interactions_using_flow_cytometry&v=1.2

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Pacific Salmon Stock Management Units

Salmon have a complex hierarchical population structure extending from groups of salmon at individual spawning sites all the way up to taxonomic species. These independently functioning aggregates are defined as Conservation Units (CUs) in the Wild Salmon Policy. A stock management unit (SMU) is a group of one or more CUs that are managed together with the objective of achieving a joint status.

There are 69 SMUs containing 468 CUs. In 2022, eight SMUs units did not have enough information to provide an assessment. Sixty-one units were assigned a forecast. There are ongoing requests to represent salmon information for these areas. Salmon are assessed and managed at different levels for different needs. The layers in this dataset include administrative areas, stock management units, and conservation units.

The data included is a shapefile containing a single feature class layer represented in point and polygon form, as well as a csv table (attributes) to present Stock Management Unit information in a simple, visual way.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Important Areas for Birds in Strait of Georgia Ecoregion

This layer details Important Areas (IAs) relevant to key seabird species in the Strait of Georgia (SOG) ecoregion. This data was mapped to inform the selection of marine Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSA). Experts have indicated that these areas are relevant based upon their high ranking in one or more of three criteria (Uniqueness, Aggregation, and Fitness Consequences). The distribution of IAs within ecoregions is used in the designation of EBSAs.

Canada’s Oceans Act provides the legislative framework for an integrated ecosystem approach to management in Canadian oceans, particularly in areas considered ecologically or biologically significant. DFO has developed general guidance for the identification of ecologically or biologically significant areas. The criteria for defining such areas include uniqueness, aggregation, fitness consequences, resilience, and naturalness. This science advisory process identifies proposed EBSAs in Canadian Pacific marine waters, specifically in the Strait of Georgia (SOG), along the west coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI, southern shelf ecoregion), and in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA, northern shelf ecoregion).

Initial assessment of IAs in PNCIMA was carried out in September 2004 to March 2005 with spatial data collection coordinated by Cathryn Clarke. Subsequent efforts in WCVI and SOG were conducted in 2009, and may have used different scientific advisors, temporal extents, data, and assessment methods. WCVI and SOG IA assessment in some cases revisits data collected for PNCIMA, but should be treated as a separate effort.

Other datasets in this series detail IAs for cetaceans, coral and sponges, fish, geographic features, invertebrates, and other vertebrates.

Though data collection is considered complete, the emergence of significant new data may merit revisiting of IAs on a case by case basis.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Commercial catches sampling program in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence – Arctic Lyre Crab (Hyas coarctatus)

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 Arctic Lyre Crab (Hyas coarctatus) includes the metadata, sample weight, specimen weight, the shell width, the shell state, the height of the right claw and sex. This dataset covers the period between 2002-2021. 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
Biodiversity of the Planning for Integrated Environmental Response Coastal Survey in the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf (2017-2021)

The Planning for an Environmental Response (PIER) initiative falls under the umbrella of the Government of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan (OPP), whose goal is preserving marine ecosystems vulnerable to increased transportation and the development of the marine industry. The PIERs’ main mandate is to acquire and update biological sensitivity data under its jurisdiction for preparation and response purposes in the event of an oil spill.

This dataset contains all observations of marine organisms noted during the analysis of 2959 underwater images sampled over a large extent of the coastal zone (≤10 m) of the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Quebec region). The dataset includes 21 490 occurrences of 150 taxa and informal categories including macroalgae, invertebrates and fish. Underwater images were collected between 2017 and 2021 according to a directed sampling protocol whose primary goal was to map large seaweed and eelgrass beds. Images were normally recorded as videos using a GoPro Hero camera installed on a pole and placed near the seabed from a small boat. The collected data served primarily as ground-truth data to validate coasting zone mapping based on aerial photographs within the framework of the PIER's initiative.

The two files provided (DarwinCore format) are complementary and are linked by the "eventID" key. The "event_information" file includes generic event information, including date and location. The "taxon_occurrence" file includes the original identifiers of the observed organisms (verbatimIdentification field), identification remarks and their taxonomy.

Taxonomic names were verified on the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) to match recognized standards. The WoRMS match has been put in the scientificNameID field in the occurrence file. Data quality control was performed using the R packages obistools and worrms. All sampling locations were plotted on a map to perform a visual check confirming that the latitude and longitude coordinates were within the described sampling area.

A visual dictionary was developed as an identification aid and accompanies this dataset (unilingual french only, the English version will be published soon). More data, including a visibility index, estimated macroalgae and eelgrass cover, substrate type and dominant macroalgae and animals were recorded but not included in this dataset. These data may be made available upon request.

Credits

Provencher-Nolet, L., Paquette, L., Pitre, L.D., Grégoire, B. and Desjardins, C. 2024. Cartographie des macrophytes estuariens et marins du Québec. Rapp. Tech. Can. Sci. halieut. Aquat. 3617 : v + 99 p.

Grégoire, B., Pitre, L.D., Provencher-Nolet, L., Paquette, L. and Desjardins, C. 2024. Distribution d’organismes marins de la zone côtière peu profonde du Québec recensés par imagerie sous-marine de 2017 à 2021. Rapp. tech. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 3616 : v + 78 p.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Beluga Calves Relative Summer Density in the St. Lawrence Estuary

This layer represents the relative summer density of beluga calves in the St. Lawrence Estuary based on 35 aerial surveys carried out from 1990 to 2009. The boundaries of the areas were determined by combining the highest densities until the desired proportion of the population was obtained using kernel density estimation in order to obtain a smooth and continuous density distribution.

Within Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the ecosystem approach is considered as a tool for operational planning, project implementation and preparation of advisory reports. In response to this strategic direction, the DFO science division is committed to implement the ecosystem approach in its activities as Ecosystem Research Initiatives (ERI) in each of the six administrative regions of DFO. In the Quebec region, two pilot projects were implemented, of which one aimed to define and characterize the habitat of the St. Lawrence beluga (Delphinapterus leucas).

Data sources and references:

DFO. 2016. Ecosystem Research Initiative (ERI): Integrated Advice on the Summer Habitat of the St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2016/030. 

Mosnier, A., R. Larocque, M. Lebeuf, J.-F. Gosselin, S. Dubé, V. Lapointe, V. Lesage, V., H. Bourdages, D. Lefaivre, S. Senneville and C. Chion. 2016. Définition et caractérisation de l'habitat du béluga (Delphinapterus leucas) de l'estuaire du Saint-Laurent selon une approche écosystémique. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2016/052. vi + 93 p.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada