AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Unionid Monitoring and Biodiversity Observation (UMBO) Monitoring data for freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in seven southwestern Ontario, Canada watersheds (1999-2024)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, has established the Unionid Monitoring and Biodiversity Observation (UMBO) network to track species-specific mussel abundance and population trajectories across seven watersheds in southern Ontario: Ausable River, Bayfield River, Grand River, Maitland River, Saugeen River, Sydenham River, and Thames River. The dataset includes results from 51 monitoring sites: 8 sites in the Ausable River, 1 site in the Bayfield River, 7 sites in the Grand River, 6 sites in the Maitland River, 4 sites in the Saugeen River, 13 sites in the Sydenham River, and 12 sites in the Thames River. Each river was sampled on a 5-10 year cycle, with Ausable River and Sydenham River sites having been sampled 3 times, and sites in all other rivers sampled twice.

Suggested Citation: Morris, Todd; Jean, Kari; McNichols-O'Rourke, Kelly (2025). Unionid Monitoring and Biodiversity Observation (UMBO): Monitoring data for freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in seven southwestern Ontario, Canada watersheds (1999-2024) [Dataset]. Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Burlington, ON.

Original data source: https://datadryad.org/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.m905qfvdx#readme https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.m905qfvdx

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Quota Holders Lists

This dataset contains lists of quota holders under Canada’s international trade agreements, including the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans‑Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The data supports transparency on the administration of tariff rate quotas.

Organization: Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada
California Sea Lion Haulout Counts in British Columbia

The United States population of California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) range from southeast Alaska to the Pacific coast of central Mexico. While this population does not breed in Canada, some sub-adult and adult males migrate northwards to British Columbia (BC) during the non-breeding season with an arrival in August–October and a departure in April–May. The population in coastal BC was assessed in 1985 and again in 2023 from dedicated over-winter aerial surveys. The most recent assessment used counts from 2020–2021surveys that were restricted to southern BC as few animals have been documented further north. 

Additional observations of California Sea Lions were collected while surveying sites for Steller Sea Lions. These opportunistic counts increased from approximately 1,000 animals in the mid-2000s to several thousand individuals in more recent years. Historically occupied sea lion rookeries and haul-out sites were surveyed with nearby areas monitored for potential shifts in distribution. This dataset contains counts that have been collected from sightings of individuals from 1971 through 2021and replaces a previous dataset limited to the 2016/2017 survey season.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
The commuter air pollution intervention study (CAPI) volatile organic compound (VOC) dataset

Although traffic pollutants can travel long distances, exposure to the highest levels of emissions occurs closest to the source, e.g., in a car in dense traffic. Time spent in vehicles may contribute up to half of commuters’ daily exposure to certain air pollutants. The commuter air pollution intervention study (CAPI) was conducted in 2014 in Montreal, Quebec. As part of a broader intervention study, Health Canada measured air pollutant levels inside and outside of cars driven for two hours through rush hour traffic during the fall. This dataset presents the descriptive VOC statistics obtained as part of this study and is intended to provide relevant Canadian data on exposure to VOCs while driving.

Organization: Health Canada | Santé Canada
Using Siphon Hole Morphometrics to Identify, Count, and Measure Soft-shell Clams (Mya arenaria)

PURPOSE:
Establishing efficient, non-destructive sampling methods for clam population assessments.

DESCRIPTION:
In the Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL) Management Region, clam assessments are uncommon due to limited resources and the labour-intensive nature of sampling clam beds. Furthermore, clam assessments typically rely on destructive sampling that disturbs sediment and removes animals from their habitat. Establishing efficient, non-destructive sampling methods for clam population assessments can reduce the impact of scientific sampling on these habitats and provide for more efficient monitoring. In this study, we tested the idea that visually observing siphon holes on the sediment surface could predict the presence, number, and size of soft-shell clams across different sites in the southern GSL. Siphon holes reasonably predicted the presence, number, and size/biomass of soft-shell clams in most, but not all, sites. Thus, in many habitats in the GSL, siphon holes can be used for population assessments, providing a powerful tool to enhance Science advice to fisheries managers.

Data was collected at the following sites:
* Maisonnette, Parc Maisonnette, Maisonnette, New Brunswick, Canada
* Kouchibouguac, Loggiecroft wharf, Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick, Canada
* Shemogue, Amos Point Road, Little Shemogue, New Brunswick, Canada
* Powell's Cove, Powell's Point Provincial Park, Little Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada
            
PARAMETERS COLLECTED:
- Clam abundance
- Clam biomass (total sample)
- Clam size (length, weight)
- Siphon hole abundance
- Siphon hole size
- Siphon hole characterization (i.e., identification of actual clam based on shape)
- Seawater temperature
- Sediment grain size
- Sediment organic content (%)
- Sediment relative moisture content (%)

NOTES ON QUALITY CONTROL:
Original data entry by Jillian Hunt and/or Isabelle Brennan. Data checked and validated prior to analysis by Jeff Clements. Data further checked and validated prior to publication by Amélie Robichaud.

PHYSICAL SAMPLE DETAILS:
No physical samples retained.
- Clam samples returned back to original habitat after measuring and weighing in the field.
- Sediment core samples stored in walk-in freezer and discarded after processing and analysis.

SAMPLING METHODS:
i. Identifying, counting, weighing, and measuring (with calipers) clams
ii. Identifying, counting, and measuring (with calipers) clam siphon holes
iii. Seawater temperature monitoring via data loggers
iv. Sediment grain size, organic content, and moisture content analysis

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
Bottom water pH in the Estuary and Gulf of St.Lawrence

Gridded pH of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence bottom waters including shallow waters. Data are a result of a 3D interpolation on a 1km x 1km x bottom depth grid. All the available CTD data sampled during the 2017 August and September multidisciplinary surveys were used.

Purpose

Since 1990, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been conducting an annual multidisciplinary survey in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence using a standardized protocol. In the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, these bottom trawl surveys has been carrying out each September since 1971. These missions are an important source of information about the status of the marine ressources.

The objectives of the surveys are multiple: 
to estimate the abundance and biomass of groundfish and invertebrates, to identify the spatial distribution and biological characteristics of these species, to monitor the biodiversity of the Estuary and Gulf and finally, to describe the environmental conditions observed in the area at the moment of the sampling.

The southern Gulf surveys are realized using the following standardized protocol:
Hurlbut,T. and D.Clay (eds) 1990. Protocols for Research Vessel Cruises within the Gulf Region (Demersal Fish) (1970-1987). Can. MS Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. No. 2082: 143p.

The sampling protocols used for the Estuary and northern Gulf surveys are described in details in the following publications:

Bourdages, H., Archambault, D., Bernier, B., Fréchet, A., Gauthier, J., Grégoire, F., Lambert, J., et Savard, L. 2010. Résultats préliminaires du relevé multidisciplinaire de poissons de fond et de crevette d’août 2009 dans le nord du golfe du Saint-Laurent. Rapp. stat. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 1226 : xii+ 72 p. 

Bourdages, H., Archambault, D., Morin, B., Fréchet, A., Savard, L., Grégoire, F., et Bérubé, M. 2003. Résultats préliminaires du relevé multidisciplinaire de poissons de fond et de crevette d’août 2003 dans le nord du golfe du Saint-Laurent. Secr. can. consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. rech. 2003/078. vi + 68 p.

Annual reports are available at the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS), (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/index-eng.htm).

Bourdages, H., Brassard, C., Desgagnés, M., Galbraith, P., Gauthier, J., Légaré, B., Nozères, C. and Parent, E. 2017. Preliminary results from the groundfish and shrimp multidisciplinary survey in August 2016 in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2017/002. v + 87 p.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Variation in genomic vulnerability to climate change across temperate populations of eelgrass (Zostera marina)

A global decline in seagrass populations has led to renewed calls for their conservation as important providers of biogenic and foraging habitat, shoreline stabilization, and carbon storage. Eelgrass (Zostera marina) occupies the largest geographic range among seagrass species spanning a commensurately broad spectrum of environmental conditions. In Canada, eelgrass is managed as a single phylogroup despite occurring across three oceans and a range of ocean temperatures and salinity gradients. Previous research has focused on applying relatively few markers to reveal population structure of eelgrass, whereas a whole genome approach is warranted to investigate cryptic structure among populations inhabiting different ocean basins and localized environmental conditions. We used a pooled whole-genome re-sequencing approach to characterize population structure, gene flow, and environmental associations of 23 eelgrass populations ranging from the Northeast United States, to Atlantic, subarctic, and Pacific Canada. We identified over 500,000 SNPs, which when mapped to a chromosome-level genome assembly revealed six broad clades of eelgrass across the study area, with pairwise FST ranging from 0 among neighbouring populations to 0.54 between Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Genetic diversity was highest in the Pacific and lowest in the subarctic, consistent with colonization of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans from the Pacific less than 300 kya. Using redundancy analyses and two climate change projection scenarios, we found that subarctic populations are predicted to be more vulnerable to climate change through genomic offset predictions. Conservation planning in Canada should thus ensure that representative populations from each identified clade are included within a national network so that latent genetic diversity is protected, and gene flow is maintained. Northern populations, in particular, may require additional mitigation measures given their potential susceptibility to a rapidly changing climate.

Cite this data as: Jeffery, Nicholas et al. (2024). Data from: Variation in genomic vulnerability to climate change across temperate populations of eelgrass (Zostera marina) [Dataset]. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.xpnvx0kp2

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
ESTS Shoreline surveys data

This dataset contains baseline environmental data collected by the Shoreline Unit of the Emergencies, Science and Technology Section (ESTS) of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) as part of the Pre-Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (pre-SCAT) survey program. The data were gathered through pre-SCAT surveys conducted at sites located in high marine vessel traffic corridors across Canada, with the primary objective of documenting conditions along shorelines prior to any spill event. 

Pre-SCAT surveys systematically characterize the physical and chemical baseline state of intertidal and freshwater shorelines. For each survey site, data are collected across multiple parameters including sediment chemistry (total petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, n-alkanes, biomarkers, metals, and carbon), grain size distribution, beach transect elevation profiles, and site-level metadata such as geographic coordinates, sampling zone, and observed hydrocarbon presence. Sampling follows standardized ESTS analytical protocols to ensure consistency and comparability across survey campaigns conducted between 2014 and 2025. 

These baseline data serve two complementary purposes: they support operational spill response preparedness by providing responders with pre-disturbance conditions for shoreline assessment, and they contribute to the scientific knowledge base on the natural and anthropogenic chemical background of Canadian coastal and riverine environments. The dataset covers 16 survey projects, 467 sampling sites, and over 82,000 analytical records distributed across six relational tables available in SQLite and CSV formats. The data dictionary and explanation document is available in HTML.

Organization: Environment and Climate Change Canada | Environnement et Changement climatique Canada
Significant parameters for different species with status under the Species at Risk Act (SARA)

Layers that present various important parameters such as inventories, presence, sightings, distribution, relative occurrence or catch rates, critical habitat, breeding and feeding areas, potential spawning and haul-out sites for the different species with status under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

The act classifies those species as being either extirpated, endangered, threatened, or of special concern. Under SARA, Fisheries and Oceans Canada must produce recovery strategies and action plans for aquatic species listed as endangered or threatened. The act is part of Canada’s strategy to protect hundreds of wild plants and animal species from becoming extinct, and to help in their recovery.

The different species represented by the layers are the following:

1.	American shad (Alosa sapidissima)
2.	Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus)
3.	Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus)
4.	Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas)
5.	Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus)
6.	Copper redhorse (Moxostoma hubbsi)
7.	Eelgrass (Zostera marina)
8.	Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)
9.	Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina)
10.	Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
11.	Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)
12.	Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus)
13.	Northern wolffish (Anarhichas denticulatus)
14.	Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax)
15.	Sea pens (Pennatulacea)
16.	Seaweed
17.	Smooth skate (Malacoraja senta)
18.	Sponges
19.	Spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor)
20.	Striped bass (Morone saxatilis)
21.	Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata)
22.	Winter skate (Leucoraja ocellata)

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Biodiversity of the Benthic Infauna Box Core Survey from CBS-MEA program (2021-2024)

This dataset documents the infauna occurrences collected from 2021 to 2024 during the Canadian Beaufort Sea Marine Ecosystem Assessment (CBS-MEA) conducted by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). This scientific program focuses on the integration of oceanography, food web linkages, physical-biological couplings, and spatial and interannual variabilities. The program also aims to expand the baseline coverage of species diversity, abundances, and habitat associations in previously unstudied areas of the Beaufort Sea and Western Canadian Archipelago. The study took place mainly in the Canadian Beaufort Sea and the Amundsen Gulf. Sampling is done along transects at fixed stations in the study area. Catches are collected using a 50 x 50 cm box-corer. Two or three box core are collected per station to obtain replicates. A total of 29 stations were sampled for infauna in 2021, 14 in 2022, 21 in 2023 and 24 in 2024 between 21-653 m depth. Half of the box corer (0.125 m2) is sampled for infauna taxonomy. The first 20 cm of sediment are collected and sieved through a 0.5 mm mesh sieve. The samples are preserved in seawater-formaldehyde solution (10 % v/v). In the lab, infauna is identified to the lowest taxon level possible.
The data are presented in two files:
The "endofaune_evenement_infauna_event_en" file which contains information about missions, stations and deployments, which are presented under a hierarchical activity structure.
The "endofaune_occurrence_infauna_en" file that contains the taxonomic occurrences.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Large Gorgonian Coral Fields in the Eastern Arctic (Campelen Trawl Sample)

Polygons denoting concentrations of sea pens, small and large gorgonian corals and sponges on the east coast of Canada have been identified through spatial analysis of research vessel survey by-catch data following an approach used by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) in the Regulatory Area (NRA) on Flemish Cap and southeast Grand Banks. Kernel density analysis was used to identify high concentrations and the area occupied by successive catch weight thresholds was used to identify aggregations. These analyses were performed for each of the five biogeographic zones of eastern Canada. The largest sea pen fields were found in the Laurentian Channel as it cuts through the Gulf of St. Lawrence, while large gorgonian coral forests were found in the Eastern Arctic and on the northern Labrador continental slope. Large ball-shaped Geodia spp. sponges were located along the continental slopes north of the Grand Banks, while on the Scotian Shelf a unique population of the large barrel-shaped sponge Vazella pourtalesi was identified. The latitude and longitude marking the positions of all tows which form these and other dense aggregations are provided along with the positions of all tows which captured black coral, a non-aggregating taxon which is long-lived and vulnerable to fishing pressures.

These polygons identify large gorgonian coral fields from the broader distribution of large gorgonian corals in the region as sampled by Campelen trawl gear in the Eastern Arctic biogeographic zone. A 15 kg minimum threshold for the large gorgonian coral catch was identified as the weight that separated the large gorgonian field habitat from the broader distribution of large gorgonian corals with these research vessel tow data and gear type.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Marine mammal records collected by the At-Sea Observer program in Arctic, Newfoundland and Labrador and Maritimes regions.

Records of marine mammal sightings (N = 5,324) collected by ASOs and submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) between 1979-2024, across three DFO regions: the Arctic, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Maritimes. Methods for initial data compilation are provided in the associated technical report "Marine mammal records collected by the at-sea observer (ASO) program in Arctic, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Maritimes regions: a summary of challenges and opportunities for future research." 

Cite this data as: Feyrer, L.J., Colbourne, N., Lawson, J.W., Moors-Murphy, H.B., Ferguson, S. Dataset update to Marine mammal records collected by the At-Sea Observer program in Arctic, Newfoundland and Labrador and Maritimes regions. Published: February 2025. Ocean Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Sponge Fields in the Gulf (Western IIA Trawl Sample)

Polygons denoting concentrations of sea pens, small and large gorgonian corals and sponges on the east coast of Canada have been identified through spatial analysis of research vessel survey by-catch data following an approach used by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) in the Regulatory Area (NRA) on Flemish Cap and southeast Grand Banks. Kernel density analysis was used to identify high concentrations and the area occupied by successive catch weight thresholds was used to identify aggregations. These analyses were performed for each of the five biogeographic zones of eastern Canada. The largest sea pen fields were found in the Laurentian Channel as it cuts through the Gulf of St. Lawrence, while large gorgonian coral forests were found in the Eastern Arctic and on the northern Labrador continental slope. Large ball-shaped Geodia spp. sponges were located along the continental slopes north of the Grand Banks, while on the Scotian Shelf a unique population of the large barrel-shaped sponge Vazella pourtalesi was identified. The latitude and longitude marking the positions of all tows which form these and other dense aggregations are provided along with the positions of all tows which captured black coral, a non-aggregating taxon which is long-lived and vulnerable to fishing pressures.

These polygons identify sponge grounds from the broader distribution of sponges in the Southern Gulf region as sampled by Western II A gear in the Gulf biogeographic zone. A 3 kg minimum threshold for the sponge catch was identified as the weight that separated the sponge ground habitat from the broader distribution of sponges with these research vessel tow data and gear type.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Large Gorgonian Coral Fields in the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves (Campelen Trawl Sample)

Polygons denoting concentrations of sea pens, small and large gorgonian corals and sponges on the east coast of Canada have been identified through spatial analysis of research vessel survey by-catch data following an approach used by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) in the Regulatory Area (NRA) on Flemish Cap and southeast Grand Banks. Kernel density analysis was used to identify high concentrations and the area occupied by successive catch weight thresholds was used to identify aggregations. These analyses were performed for each of the five biogeographic zones of eastern Canada. The largest sea pen fields were found in the Laurentian Channel as it cuts through the Gulf of St. Lawrence, while large gorgonian coral forests were found in the Eastern Arctic and on the northern Labrador continental slope. Large ball-shaped Geodia spp. sponges were located along the continental slopes north of the Grand Banks, while on the Scotian Shelf a unique population of the large barrel-shaped sponge Vazella pourtalesi was identified. The latitude and longitude marking the positions of all tows which form these and other dense aggregations are provided along with the positions of all tows which captured black coral, a non-aggregating taxon which is long-lived and vulnerable to fishing pressures.

These polygons identify large gorgonian coral fields from the broader distribution of large gorgonian corals in the region as sampled by Campelen trawl gear in the Newfoundland - Labrador Shelves biogeographic zone. A 0.3 kg minimum threshold for the large gorgonian coral catch was identified as the weight that separated the large gorgonian field habitat from the broader distribution of large gorgonian corals with these research vessel tow data and gear type.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada