AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Atlantic Fisheries Management Areas (FMA)

Cartographic representations of Fisheries Management Areas (FMA)s in the Atlantic and Arctic Regions.

Currently Published Fisheries Management Areas:
Capelin
Crab
Herring
Mackerel
Salmon, Atlantic
Scallop
Shrimp
Snow Crab
Squid

Each polygon feature class delineates the coordinates of a different series of FMAs. Shapes have been drafted based on a combination of sources including: the Atlantic Fisheries Regulations, Integrated Fisheries Management Plans, indigenous treaties, the bounds of the Territorial Sea, and other information made public on Fisheries and Oceans websites. Information from Variation orders and Conditions of License were also incorporated. The specific sources used to construct each feature class is listed in its metadata and direct links to public sources are included.
The original documentation uses a diverse combination datums, or include coordinates with no listed datum. This data series has been projected into NAD83. Vertices in this dataset may differ from the original source documents to fix slivers, make areas congruent with coastlines, or align with other administrative boundaries. Changes made to the original areas in order to make drafting possible have been highlighted in the comments field in the attribute tables. Lines were first drafted as geodesics and vertices were added to approximate loxodromes using the Construct Geodesic Tool in ArcGIS Pro 2.9.8.
As documentation is drafted, additional FMAs will be added to the dataset. Currently drafted FMAs my change and expand into currently unmapped areas as new information is incorporated.
The feature classes produced as a part of this data series are cartographic representations of legal documents and are meant to be used for general reference in support of marine planning.  Whenever there is a difference between the original written source documentation and this digital representation, the originals should be considered authoritative. Every effort has been made to ensure that these files are as accurate as possible but these feature classes are not intended to be used for navigation, legal interpretation or enforcement.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Optical, chemical, and biological oceanographic conditions on the Scotian Shelf and in the eastern Gulf of Maine in 2019

Ocean physical conditions in the Maritimes Region in 2019 were characterized by cooler surface temperatures, continued warmer bottom temperatures and weaker stratification compared to recent years. Deep nutrient inventories were lower than normal over most of the region, with the exception of the Cabot Strait section where deep nutrients were near or higher than normal during the spring sampling and associated with record-warm water. Anomalies of surface nutrients were negative across the region, with the exception of positive anomalies observed at the deep shelf and offshore stations of the Louisbourg section. The spring phytoplankton bloom was near or slightly earlier than normal across the Scotian Shelf (SS) with near-normal duration. Peak chlorophyll a concentrations during the spring bloom occurred within a narrow time window across the SS. At Halifax-2 (HL2), the spring bloom was characterized by a high amplitude, and a rapid progression and decline. Plankton community changes persisted in 2019 with lower abundance of large phytoplankton (diatoms), mainly lower-than-normal biomass of zooplankton and abundance of Calanus finmarchicus, and higher-than-normal abundance of non-copepods. Arctic Calanus and warm-shelf copepods showed mixed abundance anomalies in 2019, reversing the pattern of 2018. Above-normal abundances of Oithona atlantica, especially at HL2, suggest a greater influence of offshore waters in recent years. Surface temperature in the Bedford Basin was near normal in 2019 with mainly cooler-than-normal temperatures from January to June and near- or slightly-above-normal temperatures from July to December. Bottom temperature and salinity were below normal in 2019 with near- or slightly-above-normal conditions at the start of the year and progressing toward cooler and fresher water from February to December. Surface and deep nitrate, phosphate and silicate were near or below normal, with surface phosphate reaching a record low in 2019. The 2018 Continuous Plankton Recorder data indicated an annual abundance of diatoms close to normal for the Eastern (ESS) and Western Scotian Shelf (WSS), while the abundance of dinoflagellates and the Phytoplankton Colour Index values were near (WSS) or above (ESS) normal. The annual abundance of Calanus CI-IV was near normal (ESS) or slightly below normal (WSS), while C. finmarchicus CV-VI levels were slightly below (ESS) or below (WSS) normal. The abundance of Calanus glacialis (ESS, WSS) and Para/Pseudocalanus and Limacina spp. (WSS) were lower than normal, while that of coccolithphore (ESS, WSS), and copepod nauplii and foraminifera (ESS) was higher than normal. "

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Dolly Varden Harvest Monitoring Biological Data 2007-2014

Situated in the Gwich’in settlement Area (GSA), the Rat River is inhabited by anadromous Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma malma) that are harvested by both Gwich’in and Inuvialuit beneficiaries. The harvest of Dolly Varden from the Rat River occurs during the summer at feeding areas along the coast (by the Inuvialuit) and during upstream migration in the Mackenzie Delta (by both Gwich’in and Inuvialuit). Dolly Varden stocks are co-managed under an Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) whose signatories include Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board, Fisheries Joint Management Committee, and Parks Canada Agency. The Rat River Working Group, the co-management body that makes recommendations for harvest levels for Dolly Varden stocks in the GSA, has supported research activities that facilitate implementation of the IFMP, including studies to monitor harvest levels and assess population status. Population studies (e.g., abundance estimates, biological and genetic sampling) and coastal harvest monitoring activities allow for a comprehensive assessment of this stock.  The data are used to inform co-management partners on the status of Dolly Varden from the Rat River.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Shrimp catch and bycatch estimates from trawling and trapping in Simoom Sound, British Columbia

These data sets provide information pertaining to shrimp and bycatch estimates associated with otter-trawling and trapping (November, 2000) and beam-trawling (February, 2001) in Simoom Sound. Data sets were compiled and formatted by Meagan Mak.

Abstract from report:
As part of a project investigating possible modification of marine ecosystems by shrimp trawling and trapping, we obtained information on catches offish, shrimp, prawns , and bycatch organisms as well as weight, sex ratios , egg location and colIateral damage to several species of pandalids and eualids. Focusing on the humpback shrimp (Pandalus hypsinotus), we assessed damage to the rostrum, carapace, abdomen, and tail fan on specimens caught by beam trawling, otter trawling, and trapping. Data are given from a preliminary study conducted in Northumberland Channel in June 2000 and more comprehensive sampling from Simoom Sound in November 2000 and February 2001.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Shallow substrate model (20m) of the Pacific Canadian coast

The shallow substrate bottom type model was created to support near shore habitat modelling. Data sources include both available observations of bottom type and environmental predictor layers including oceanographic layers, fetch, and bathymetry and its derivatives. Using weighted random forest classification from the ranger R package, the relationship between observed bottom type and predictor layers can be determined, allowing bottom type to be classified across the study areas. The predicted raster files are classified as follows: 1) Rock, 2) Mixed, 3) Sand, 4) Mud

The categorical substrate model domains are restricted to the extent of the input bathymetry layers (see data sources) which is 5 km from the 50 m depth contour.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Coastal Environmental Baseline Program (Maritimes Region), Northwest Fundy Shores conductivity, temperature and depth data

The Coastal Environmental Baseline Program is a multi-year Fisheries and Oceans Canada initiative designed to work with Indigenous and local communities and other key parties to collect coastal environmental data at a series of sites across Canada, to build a better understanding of existing marine ecological conditions. The program began data collection in 2019, and with the onset of Phase 2 in 2023, the Maritimes region study area was expanded and renamed ‘Northwest Fundy Shores’. A physical oceanography program was designed to align with the oceanographic interests and data needs of local interest holders. Starting in 2023, oceanographic parameters including water temperature, salinity, depth and turbidity have been monitored at a series of locations in Passamaquoddy Bay, the St. Croix River, and along the Bay of Fundy coast, including the Musquash estuary Marine Protected Area (MPA). This dataset includes seasonal CTD (conductivity, temperature and depth) and turbidity data starting in spring 2023.  Instruments are maintained through the winter months at a limited number of sites. Data collection methods are primarily moored instruments on the bottom in water depths of 5-90 meters, and a few buoyant surface floats. Overall, this dataset captures seasonal dynamics in near-shore marine environments in Passamaquoddy Bay, the St Croix River, the Bay of Fundy and the Musquash MPA. 

Cite this data as: Coastal Environmental Baseline Program (Maritimes Region), Northwest Fundy Shores conductivity, temperature and depth data. Published in May 2025. Coastal Environmental Baseline Program. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews, N.B.  14-02-2025

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Cumulative impacts from anthropogenic activities and stressors on marine ecosystems in Pacific Canada

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has conducted a cumulative human impact mapping analysis for Pacific Canada to support ongoing Marine Spatial Planning. Cumulative impact mapping (CIM) combines spatial information on human activities, habitats, and a matrix of vulnerability weights into an intuitive relative ‘cumulative impact score’ that shows where cumulative human impacts are greatest and least. To map cumulative impacts, a recently developed ecosystem vulnerability assessment for Pacific Canadian waters (Murray et al. 2022) was combined with spatial information on thirty-eight (38) different habitat types and forty-five (45) human activities following the methodology from Halpern et al.(2008) and Murray et al. (2015). The cumulative impact map is provided in a 1x1 km grid used for oceans management by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. For further information, please contact the data provider.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
ADCP current meter data in the Strait of Belle Isle

The Strait of Belle Isle connects the Labrador Shelf  and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Few observations of currents in the Strait of Belle Isle exist despite its important contribution to the heat, salt, and mass budgets of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This is because the deployment of instruments is complicated by the Strait’s remote location, its strong currents, and the presence of thick winter sea ice and icebergs. The present data set aims to provide a long-term time series of currents in the Strait of Belle Isle.

Data were collected using a moored Teledyne RDI Workhorse 300 KHz acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). The ADCP was mounted on a subsurface buoy anchored 5 m from the sea floor, in water approximately 70 m deep near the north shore of the Strait (56° 37.2 W, 51° 34.7 N). 

This instrument provides three-dimensional current profiles every 30 minutes at a vertical resolution of 4 m. Backscatter intensity is also collected at the same resolution. Raw data were processed using the Magtogoek software (https://github.com/iml-gddaiss/magtogoek), developed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Quality flags have been assigned to the data based on beam sidelobe contamination and required thresholds for extreme velocities, beam correlation and percentage of good four-beam transformations. The ancillary data used to apply this quality control are included in the data set.

Reference :
Shaw, J.-L., & Galbraith, P. S. (2023). Climatology of transport in the Strait of Belle Isle. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 128, e2022JC019084. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JC019084

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Development of a coastal species characterization approach using environmental DNA (eDNA) using the marker COI

Species characterization by environmental DNA (eDNA) is a method that allows the use of DNA released into the environment by organisms from various sources (secretions, faeces, gametes, tissues, etc.). It is a complementary tool to standard sampling methods for the identification of biodiversity. This project provides a list of invertebrates species whose DNA has been detected in water samples collected at 2018 using the marker COI.
The surveys were carried out in the summer of 2018 from August 11 to 14, between Forestville and Godbout (Haute-Côte-Nord). Sampling was carried out between 9-52 meters depth in 40 stations with one sample par station. Two liters of water were filtered through a 1.2 µm fiberglass filter. DNA extractions were performed with the DNeasy Blood and Tissue extraction kit (Qiagen). Negative field, extraction and PCR controls were added at the different stages of the protocol. Libraries at the COI locus were prepared by Genome Quebec and sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq PE250 system. The bioinformatics analysis of the sequences obtained was carried out using an in-house analysis pipeline as reported in Bourret et al. 2022. A first step made it possible to obtain a molecular operational taxonomic unit table (MOTU) using the cutadapt software for the removal of the adapters and the DADA2 R package for the filtration, fusion, chimera removal and data compilation. The MOTUs table was subsequently corrected by taking into account the negative controls, where the number of observations in the latter was removed from the linked samples. Singleton MOTUs have also been removed. Finally, the taxonomic assignments were carried out on the MOTUs using the IDTAXA classifier (present in the DECIPHIER R package) using a training set trained on the COI reference bank for Golf St-Laurent (GSL-rl v1.0, https://github.com/GenomicsMLI-DFO/MLI_GSL-rl) and a threshold of 40. Detections with an “Unreliable due to gaps” category were reported at the genus level only.
The file provided includes generic activity information, including site, station name, date, marker type, assignment types used for taxa identification, and a list of taxa or species. The list of taxa has been verified by a biodiversity expert from the Maurice-Lamontagne Institute.
This project was funded by Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Coastal Environmental Baseline Data Program under the Oceans Protection Plan. This initiative aims to acquire baseline environmental data that contributes to the characterization of significant coastal areas and supports evidence-based assessments and management decisions to preserve marine ecosystems.

Data are also available on SLGO platform : https://doi.org/10.26071/ogsl-cd4c205b-f63b

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Fish Habitat Assessment Output from Bay of Quinte Suitability Modelling: High Water Level (75.4m ASL) - Juvenile/Adult Habitat - Low Vegetation Association Species (Warmwater Guild)

Fish Habitat Assessment Output: 6 of 16

High Water Level (75.4m 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
Bottom temperature data from St. Anns Bank MPA acoustic telemetry receivers deployed 2015 to 2022

The St. Anns Bank Marine Protected Area was established in June 2017. Data describing the spatial-temporal patterns and drivers of species movement is essential for evaluating species composition and to gauge the protective capacity of the MPA. Since 2015, an acoustic telemetry receiver array has been deployed and re-deployed annually in St. Anns Bank Marine Protected Area. Each receiver detects tagged fish that swim past and records hourly bottom temperature. Here we provide the bottom temperature data recorded on 46 receivers. Note that in 2021 the array design (mooring positions) changed. Please visit the Ocean Tracking Network data portal for more details  (https://members.oceantrack.org/project?ccode=SABMPA).

Cite this data as: Pettitt-Wade, H., Jeffery, N.W., Stanley, R.E. Data of: 
Bottom temperature data from St. Anns Bank MPA acoustic telemetry receivers deployed 2015 to 2022
Published: January 2024. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S.
https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/910b8e22-2fd1-4ba1-8db6-d16763c7a625

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Past and Future Sea Surface Temperature Changes in the Oceans Surrounding Canada

Wang, Z., Greenan, B.J.W., Hannah, C.G., and Layton, C. 2025. Past and future sea surface temperature 
changes in the oceans surrounding Canada. Can. Tech. Rep. Hydrogr. Ocean. Sci. 404: v + 44 p

This study presents changes in the sea surface temperature (SST) in the oceans surrounding Canada using 
past observations and model projections of future scenarios. The past changes are derived using an SST 
product, HadISST, in which a recent period (2012-2022) was referenced to a 26-year climatology (1955-
1980). The future changes in SST are estimated using a 22-member ensemble of CMIP6 models. The SST 
changes for overlapping periods from the CMIP6 ensemble and the HadISST in the 10 regions of the Canadian
shelf waters are in general agreement, although the CMIP6 results tend to overestimate the observed 
changes by about 0.1 oC. One exception to this is the Scotian Shelf where the CMIP6 models underestimate 
the observed SST change. The Gulf of Maine, Scotian Shelf, Gulf of St. Lawrence and southern Newfoundland 
shelf are the regions with the largest observed SST increases around Canada. The Gulf of St. Lawrence has 
the highest correlation (r=0.65) with the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO) among the subregions in 
the North Atlantic Ocean, and the British Columbia Shelf is correlated with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation 
(r=0.58). Under the four climate scenarios (SSP1-2.6 to SSP5-8.5), among the mid-century (2040-2059) 
annual mean SST changes (reference period of 1990-2014) in the 10 regions, the Gulf of St. Lawrence is 
projected to have the largest increases in temperature (1.8 – 2.5oC), and Baffin Bay has the smallest increases 
(0.5 – 0.9oC), However, for the summer means, the southern Beaufort Sea has the largest SST increase (2.4 -
3.1oC) with Baffin Bay having the smallest changes (1.3-2.1oC).

Cite this data as: Wang, Z., Greenan, B.J.W., Hannah, C.G., and Layton, C. (2025) Data of:
Past and Future Sea Surface Temperature Changes in the Oceans Surrounding Canada.
Published: October 2025. Ocean Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S.
https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/3c336e55-4266-406a-922d-bbf8e717558c

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Results of DFO benthic audits of British Columbia marine finfish aquaculture sites

Fisheries and Oceans Canada requires operators of active marine finfish aquaculture sites in British Columbia to monitor for benthic (seabed) impacts. The benthic monitoring program is designed to limit the location, area, and intensity of impact created by fish farms to the seabed and to support sustainable aquaculture by maintaining healthy ecosystems.  

In addition to the monitoring and reporting required of licence holders, DFO staff biologists conduct field audits to collect and assess sediment samples and take video of the seafloor. This information is used to determine compliance and learn more about benthic impacts during different times of the production cycle. Further review and action may be required for sites with poor environmental performance or issues with non-compliance.

For the results of benthic monitoring activities conducted by the industry, see  [Results of industry benthic monitoring of BC marine finfish aquaculture sites](http://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/7e76fdc8-c36a-491a-9afb-4f9280c929e8 "Results of industry benthic monitoring of BC marine finfish aquaculture sites").

Related links:
 
+ Infographic: [Monitoring benthic impacts at BC aquaculture sites](https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/about-notre-sujet/publications/infographics-infographies/benthic-benthique-eng.html)
+ Graph: [Benthic performance at marine finfish aquaculture sites in BC](http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/reporting-rapports/benth/index-eng.html)

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada