AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Grey seal distribution and abundance in the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, including Saguenay River

Data were collected during aerial surveys carried out at low tides in June and August 1994-1997, 2000 and 2001. June and August are respectively pupping and moulting seasons, when the haulout sites are intensively used by seals. Features in this layer show the Grey seal distribution and mean abundance for all aerial surveys (tables 4 and 6, figures 4 and 6 from Robillard et al. 2005). In the estuary, areas of high abundance have more than 25 individuals, areas of medium abundance have between 5 and 25 individuals and areas of low abundance have fewer than 5 individuals. In the Gulf, areas of high abundance have more than 70 individuals and areas of medium to low abundance have fewer than 70 individuals.

Data are valid only during summer because Grey seals in the Estuary and northern Gulf migrate to the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence in the fall. These seals will spend the winter on Sable Island, on the ice shelf in the Northumberland Strait or on neighboring islands. During the summer, in the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, its distribution is not uniform between the different concentration areas identified, but it is similar between June and August. However, there are some areas where Grey seals are more abundant in August than in June. Abundance classes are arbitrary but fit with the published results of haul-out sites utilization from Robillard et al. (2005). Data shown are a picture of the situation in 2005 because it is the most recent mapping available for this species.

Data sources and references:

Lavigueur, L., Hammill, M.O., and Asselin, S. 1993. Distribution et biologie des phoques et autres mammifères marins dans la région du parc marin du Saguenay. Rapp. manus. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 2220: vi + 40.

Lesage, V., and Hammill, M.O. 2001. The status of the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus, in the Northwest Atlantic. Can. Field-Nat. 115(4): 653-662.

Robillard, A., V. Lesage, and M.O. Hammill. 2005. Distribution and abundance of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina concolor) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, 1994–2001. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2613: 152 pp.

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

Description:
Seasonal mean oxygen concentration 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:
Oxygen concentrations 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 oxygen concentration 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
Distribution of Sea Scallop on German Bank

The data layer (.tif) presented are the results of using MaxEnt to produce a single species habitat map for Sea Scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) on German Bank (off South West Nova Scotia, Canada). Presence data derived from videos and still images were compared against environmental variables derived from multibeam bathymetry (Slope, Curvature, Aspect and Bathymetric Position Index (BPI)), and backscatter data (principal components: Q1, Q2, and Q3).  Results represent a probability of habitat suitability for Sea Scallop on German Bank.

Probability of suitability: The probability that a given habitat is suitable for a species based on presence data and underlying environmental variables (i.e. probability of species occurrence).

Reference:
Brown, C. J., Sameoto, J. A., & Smith, S. J. (2012). Multiple methods, maps, and management applications: Purpose made seafloor maps in support of ocean management. Journal of Sea Research, 72, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2012.04.009

Cite this data as: Brown, C. J., Sameoto, J. A., & Smith, S. J. Data of: Distribution of Sea Scallop on German Bank. Published: February 2021. Population Ecology Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/2bb98a09-5daf-42c4-94e8-e5de718b821d

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Ocean Weather Station Papa, 1949-1981

The Canadian Weathership Program collected meteorological data at Station Papa (50N, 145W) in the North Pacific Ocean between 1949 and 1981. In 2014, researchers at the University of Washington (UW) Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) analyzed this historic data to determine its efficacy as a scientific tool. The data available here are the Government of Canada data files that were utilized for this analysis. The "OWSP Full Data (1949-1981)" file contains the entire Canadian Weathership Program record of data collected from Station Papa and the "OWSP Daily Averaged Wind Speed and Wave Height Data (1949-1981)" file contains daily averaged values of wind speed and wave height generated by the UW APL and NOAA PMEL researchers. The Data Dictionary for each data file contains notes on any quality controls that were applied to the data by the UW APL and NOAA PMEL researchers. The UW documents titled, "Data Documentation for Dataset 1170 (DSI-1170), Surface Marine Data, National Climatic Data Center" (https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/bitstream/handle/1773/25570/td1170.pdf?sequence=6&isAllowed=y) and "Table detailing units of data values in each file" (https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/handle/1773/25570), provide further information on the key values, point scales, and other units that were used in these datasets.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Zooplankton Database

Zooplankton and ichthyoplankton data are archived in the Institute of Ocean Sciences (IOS) Zooplankton Database. The data available spans from 1980 to 2018 and is an extraction of vertical net hauls as biomass by major taxa collected during surveys conducted in the oceanic and coastal waters of the Northeast Pacific Ocean. The majority of vertical net hauls in this data set were collected from 10 metres above the sea floor or an approximate maximum depth of 250 metres. For further data requests, please use the contact information provided.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Extreme Sea Levels for Harbours in British Columbia

This dataset provides 30-year, 50-year, and 100 year return levels for small craft harbours in British Columbia, relative to the mean sea level over 1993-2020. The return levels are derived from coastal sea levels for the period from 1993 to 2020, simulated using a high-resolution Northeast Pacific Ocean Model (NEPOM).

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Widespread genetic similarity between Northwest Atlantic populations of the horse mussel, Modiolus modiolus

Effective conservation planning relies on understanding population connectivity which can be informed by genomic data. This is particularly important for sessile species like the horse mussel (Modiolus modiolus), a key habitat-forming species and conservation priority in Atlantic Canada), yet little genomic information is available to describe horse mussel connectivity patterns. We used more than 8000 restriction-site associated DNA sequencing-derived single nucleotide polymorphisms and a panel of 8 microsatellites to examine genomic connectivity among horse mussel populations in the Bay of Fundy, along the Scotian Shelf, and in the broader northwestern Atlantic extending to Newfoundland. Despite phenotypic differences between sampling locations, we found an overall lack of genetic diversity and population structure in horse mussels in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. All sampled locations had low heterozygosity, very low FST, elevated inbreeding coefficients, and deviated from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium, highlighting generally low genetic diversity across all metrics. Principal components analysis, Admixture analysis, pairwise FST calculations, and analysis of outlier loci (potentially under selection) all showed no independent genomic clusters within the data, and an analysis of molecular variance showed that less than 1% of the variation within the SNP dataset was found between sampling locations. Our results suggest that connectivity is high among horse mussel populations in the Northwest Atlantic, and coupled with large effective population sizes, this has resulted in minimal genomic divergence across the region. These results can inform conservation design considerations in the Bay of Fundy and support further integration into the broader regional conservation network.

Cite this data as: Van Wyngaarden, Mallory et al. (2024). Widespread genetic similarity between Northwest Atlantic populations of the horse mussel, Modiolus modiolus.  Published: May 2025. Coastal Ecosystem Science Division, Maritimes Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, NS.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Ocean Data Inventory ( ODI ): A Database of Ocean Current, Temperature and Salinity Time Series for the Northwest Atlantic

The Ocean Data Inventory database is an inventory of all of the oceanographic time series data held by the Ocean Science Division at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography. The data archive includes about 5800 current meter and acoustic doppler time series, 4500 coastal temperature time series from thermographs, as well as a small number (200) of tide gauges. Many of the current meters also have temperature and salinity sensors. The area for which there are data is roughly defined as the North Atlantic and Arctic from 30° - 82° N, although there are some minor amounts of data from other parts of the world. The time period is from 1960 to present. The database is updated on a regular basis.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Seasonal Salinity Climatology of the British Columbia Exclusive Economic Zone (2001-2020)

Description:
Seasonal climatologies for salinity of the Northeast Pacific Ocean were computed to cover the period 2001 to 2020. Historibal observations included all available conductivity-temperature_depth (CTD), bottle and profiling floats in the NODC World Ocean Database, Marine Environmental Data Services (MEDS), Institute of Ocean Sciences Water Properties website and the Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS Pacific).

Methods:
Interpolation was carried out in up to fifty-two vertical levels from surface to 5000m. Data-Interpolating Variational Analysis (DIVA) was used for spatial interpolation for all years within each season and estimates projected onto a consistent grid. The average of the grid nodes was calculated to obtain the seasonal climatology. DIVA was used again on the final climatology followed by a median filter and a 5-point smoother. 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 (EEZ), a subset of seasonal climatology of the Northeast Pacific Ocean, with high spatial resolution of 1/300 degree.

Data Sources:
NODC, MEDS, IOS and CIOOS Pacific Data.

Uncertainties:
Uncertainties are introduced when quality controlled observational data are spatially interpolated to varying distances from the observation point. Climatological averages are calculated from these interpolated values.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Important Areas for Geography in West Coast Vancouver Island Ecoregion

This layer details Important Areas (IAs) relevant to important geographic features in the West Coast Vancouver Island (WCVI) 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).

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 IA's 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.

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

Other datasets in this series detail IAs for birds, cetaceans, fish, other vertebrates, corals and sponges, and other invertebrates.

This package also includes project documentation and tech reports relevant to the IA process and its role within the selection of EBSAs.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler data from the Coast of Bays, Newfoundland

The dataset includes timeseries of horizontal current speed and direction, vertical current speed, water depth, and temperature at instrument depth from Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) moorings. Data were collected 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. This dataset is the third of a series aiming to provide an oceanographic knowledge baseline of the Coast of Bays, Newfoundland. It consists of 73 ADCP timeseries varying in length from about 26 days to 235 days collected between 2009 and 2014. 

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), Proceedings (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/Pro-Cr/2017/2017_043-eng.html) and several research documents were published.

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

Bluefin tuna landings are reported to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and stored in the Maritime Fishery Information System Database. This database was queried in January 2016 for all reported landings of Bluefin tuna in coastal Nova Scotia. Longline data was excluded due to location uncertainties associated with the gear. Bluefin tuna sightings are also reported opportunistically to the DFO Whale Sightings Database. The Coastal Oceanography and Ecosystem Research section considered these landings and sightings to estimate the presence of Bluefin tuna within the Area Response Plan areas. Bluefin tuna presence varies seasonally and this spatial information should be used in conjunction with temporal information.

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 Bluefin Tuna 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/0c3b25df-f831-43e8-a8ac-336e1467c4fe

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Fish Habitat Assessment Output from Bay of Quinte Suitability Modelling: Average Water Level (75.0m ASL) - Juvenile/Adult Habitat - Low Vegetation Association Species (Warmwater Guild)

Fish Habitat Assessment Output: 14 of 16

Average Water Level (75.0m ASL) - Juvenile/Adult Habitat - Low Vegetation Association Species (Warmwater Guild)

Habitat suitability was assessed for the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern, at a 3 m grid resolution, using the Habitat Ecosystem Assessment Tool (HEAT), temperature algorithms, vegetation models, and water level input. Habitat classifications were based on three variables: depth (elevation), vegetation, and substrate; and modified by temperature suitabilities. The final suitability maps were based on documented habitat and temperature associations for the fish in the area. Different life stages (spawning requirements, nursery habitat, adult habitat) were modeled for the years of 1972-2011. Suitability values were scaled from 0 (not suitable) to 1 (highly suitable) and converted to suitability classes of very low, low, medium, and high. The final maps for each guild – life stage combination are maximum suitability values from the 39-year period modelled.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Beluga whale seasonal distribution in the St. Lawrence Estuary

This layer represents the seasonal distribution of St. Lawrence Estuary beluga whale population (Delphinapterus leucas). Summer distribution is based on many surveys conducted between the end of August and early September. Fall and winter distributions are based on aerial surveys conducted during mid-October, November and from December to March 1989-1990. Spring distribution is based on anecdotal reports and two aerial surveys conducted in late April and early June 1990.

Beluga whale seasonal distribution can change according to sea ice cover, predation risk and food availability. This layer represents the general seasonal distribution and does not account for the sexual segregation among males and females in the St. Lawrence Estuary.

This layer do not represent the beluga's critical habitat. See the data layer “Beluga whale critical habitat in the Saguenay River and the St. Lawrence Estuary” (https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/fdfef550-b94c-466c-9dcb-24c297c00e3e). 

Data source : 

Mosnier, A., Lesage, V., Gosselin, J.-F., Lemieux Lefebvre, S., Hammill, M. O., Doniol-Valcroze, T. 2010. Information relevant to the documentation of habitat use by St. Lawrence beluga (Delphinapterus leucas), and quantification of habitat quality. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec., Res. Doc. 2009/098. iv + 35 p.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Atlantic Salmon Smolt Data from the Margaree River, Nova Scotia

PURPOSE:
To estimate the abundance of Atlantic salmon smolts in the Margaree River watershed.
            

DESCRIPTION:
A rotary screw trap (RST; also known as a smolt wheel) is used to perform a capture-mark-recapture experiment on the main stem of the Margaree River. Smolts are captured at the wheel, a subset are tagged (max 200 individuals daily) and released upriver. Individuals not tagged are enumerated and released at the wheel. A fraction of tagged individuals are recaptured at the wheel. Trap efficiency and smolt abundance can be calculated from this data.
            

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
Important Areas for Other Vertebrates in West Coast Vancouver Island Ecoregion

This layer details Important Areas (IAs) relevant to key vertebrate species, other than fish and cetaceans, in the West Coast Vancouver Island (WCVI) 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 birds, cetaceans, coral and sponges, fish, geographic features, and invertebrates.

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