AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Ecological Classification of the Coastal Territory of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in Quebec

In 2009, DFO defined 12 marine bioregions across the three oceans bordering Canada to support its marine planning efforts, such as the establishment of networks of marine protected areas. However, these bioregions cover vast areas and exhibit significant ecological heterogeneity, especially along the coasts. Yet, this heterogeneity in coastal ecosystems often needs to be considered at the local scale, particularly for management and conservation purposes.

The objective of this exercise is to subdivide the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (EGSL) bioregion for the province of Quebec into coastal sub-bioregions to better reflect local and regional coastal characteristics. The coastal classification presented in this report is based on the integration of four existing classification systems for the EGSL, which were not specifically designed for classifying coastal ecosystems. Integrating these classification systems into a single approach allowed us to define 13 coastal sub-bioregions for the EGSL. Data presented here are the limit of the 13 ecoregions made from this work. 

A technical report is available for more details. See supporting documents:Gendreau, Y., Narancic, B. et Bourassa, M-N. 2025. Classification écologique du territoire côtier de l’estuaire et du golfe du Saint-Laurent au Québec. Rapp. tech. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 0000 :v + 22p.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Regions

In 2021, the Canada Coast Guard (CCG) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) updated its administrative boundaries following the creation a new Arctic region.There are now 7 administrative regions in DFO (Pacific, Arctic, Ontario and Prairie, Quebec, Gulf, Maritimes, Newfoundland and Labrador). DFO and Coast Guard Arctic Regions developed these regions in partnership with the people they serve; this important decision will lead to stronger programs and services to better meet the unique needs of our Arctic communities.DFO and CCG operations and research cover Canada's land and waters to the international boundaries (EEZ) and are in no way limited to the boundaries drawn in the map.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Relative occurrence of the Winter Skate in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

Spatial distribution of the Winter Skate relative occurrence based on the annual Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) groundfish research surveys realised between 2004 and 2010.

The probability of catching a Winter Skate in a set and within a cell (relative occurrence) was calculated as the ratio of the number of sets in which a species was recorded and the total number of sets made. Catch and set data were aggregated using a grid made up of 100 km² cells. They are derived from processed data used for the production of: Chouinard, P-M., J-D. Dutil, S. Proulx, D. Borcard and J. Crocker. 2014. A spatial approach to matching marine fish diversity and abundance with habitat features. Hydrobiologia. Volume 734, Issue 1: 39-55.

Associated publication: Dutil, J.-D., Proulx, S., Chouinard, P.-M., and Borcard, D. 2011. A hierarchical classification of the seabed based on physiographic and oceanographic features in the St. Lawrence. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2916: vii + 72 pages.

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).

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Offshore Ecological and Human Use Information considered in Marine Protected Area Network Design in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion

In 2016-17, DFO Maritimes Region undertook a Marine Protected Area (MPA) network analysis for the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy Bioregion. The analysis considered available bioregional-scale ecological and human use data in an effort to identify a draft MPA network design that would protect biodiversity while minimizing any potential impacts on commercial fishing and other industries. The data layers used for the offshore component of the MPA network analysis are provided here. These layers are not presented in their original forms and were modified (e.g. clipped, reclassified, etc.) specifically for use in the MPA network analysis. They should not be used for any other purpose. Please see Serdynska et al. 2021 for details on how each layer was created.

Serdynska, A.R., Pardy, G.S., and King, M.C. 2021. Offshore Ecological and Human Use Information considered in Marine Protected Area Network Design in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3382: xi + 100 p. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2021/mpo-dfo/Fs97-6-3382-eng.pdf

Cite this data as: Serdynska, A.R., Pardy, G.S., and King, M.C. Data of: Offshore Ecological and Human Use Information considered in Marine Protected Area Network Design in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion. Published: January 2022. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/2d9cce9a-d634-4b49-879f-87c40c52acf2

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Important Areas for Coral and Sponge in Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area

This layer details Important Areas (IAs) relevant to coral, sponge, and reef-building species in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA). 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, 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
Important Areas for Fish in Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area

This layer details Important Areas (IAs) relevant to key fish species in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA). 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 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.

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

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

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
Likelihood of Presence of Atlantic Cod in Area Response Planning Pilot Areas

The Coastal Oceanography and Ecosystem Research section (DFO Science) reviewed the presence of Cod in the Population Ecology Division (DFO Science) Ecosystem Survey trawls to describe the likelihood of presence. The survey consists of a stratified random design using a bottom trawl. This layer was created for consideration in oil spill response planning.

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 Atlantic Cod 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/af2bf6c0-481d-4445-bbc6-7a785d2a9aa9

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Commercial catches sampling program in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence – snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio)

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 snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) includes the metadata, sample weight, specimen weight, shell width and condition, sex and the right claw height of the specimens measured. This dataset covers the periods of 1984-2003 and 2005 to present. In order to protect the confidentiality of the sources, some informations (such as those concerning the vessel) have been excluded and others (such as the date of capture) have been simplified. Entries where there was only one vessel in a fishing area for a given year were also excluded. Further information including the fishing areas coordinates can be found by clicking on the «Atlantic and Arctic commercial fisheries» and «Fishing areas» links below.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Bay Scale Assessment of Nearshore Habitat Bras d'Or Lake - Chapel Island 2008

Bay Scale Assessment of Nearshore Habitat Bras d'Or Lake - Chapel Island 2008  data is part of the publication Bay Scale Assessment of Nearshore Habitat Bras d'Or Lakes. 


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

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

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

Cite this data as: Vandermeulen H. Bay Scale Assessment of Nearshore Habitat Bras d'Or Lake - Chapel Island 2008. Published May 2022. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Fishermen and Scientist Research Society (FSRS) Lobster Recruitment Trap Project

The lobster recruitment project is run by the Fishermen and Scientist Research Society (FSRS) through DFO funding. Fishermen participating in the lobster recruitment project collect information about lobster in their fishing area by fishing 2-5 scientific project traps (SPTs) (fished in fixed locations) within the regular commercial season. The SPTs used in all fishing areas are smaller than commercial traps and designed to primarily catch juvenile lobsters below the legal-size limit.
These traps are additional to the vessel's legal number of commercial traps. The lobster recruitment project has more than 120 fishers participating from all LFAs along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia from LFA 27 in Cape Breton to LFA 35 in the Bay of Fundy (excluding LFA 28, who have not participated to-date).

The number of fishermen per LFA and number of SPTs per fisherman are decided on by the LFA Advisory Committees. This decision considers how much additional effort they were comfortable having in the LFA (i.e. number of SPTs) and from how many traps each fisher could be reasonably expected to collect data. It is also important to have fishers dispersed enough to maximize study footprint. DFO Science consults on project design. 

SAMPLING METHODS: 
The fishers record the number, sex and length of lobsters captured in each SPT, as well as presence of eggs, tags or v-notch. Bottom temperatures are monitored by placing a temperature recorder in one of their SPTs for the entire lobster season.

Cite this data as: Tibbets-Scott, S.,  Zisserson, B. Data of: Fishermen and Scientist Research Society (FSRS) Lobster Recruitment Trap Project. Published: November 2020. Population Ecology Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/a88f9b4d-b59a-44f6-ae7e-d36550266940

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Beaufort Sea Marine Fishes Project (BSMFP) 2013 - Sampling Stations

From August 2nd to September 9th, 2013, Fisheries and Oceans Canada conducted a baseline survey of marine fishes and their habitats on the Canadian Beaufort Shelf and slope. Sampling was conducted from the F/V Frosti at 64 stations along ten transects. Standardized sampling was conducted on the transects at pre-determined depth stations (20-40, 75, 200, 350, 500, 750, and 1000 m) using a variety of sampling equipment including benthic fishing trawls, plankton nets, sediment cores, and CTD and water sample profiles.  A specialized CTD probe (UCTD) was deployed at an additional 72 locations while the ship was underway.Presented here is the information on the sampling locations, and the sampling gear deployed at each station.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Benthic invertebrates in seagrass and bare soft sediments in Atlantic Nova Scotia

This dataset contains the abundance (per m²) and the biomass (mg dry per m²) of macrofauna (≥ 500µm) in eelgrass and adjacent bare soft sediments, collected at sites in the Atlantic of Nova Scotia from 2009 to 2013.

Cite this data as: Wong M.C. Data of Benthic invertebrates in seagrass and bare soft sediments in Atlantic Nova Scotia Published May 2020. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/05d5f46a-7f19-11ea-8a4e-1860247f53e3

Publications: 

Wong, M. C., & Dowd, M. (2021). Functional trait complementarity and dominance both determine benthic secondary production in temperate seagrass beds. Ecosphere. 12(11), e03794. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3794

Wong, M. C. (2018). Secondary Production of Macrobenthic Communities in Seagrass (Zostera marina, Eelgrass) Beds and Bare Soft Sediments Across Differing Environmental Conditions in Atlantic Canada. Estuaries and Coasts, 41, 536–548. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0286-2

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
General distribution of humpback whales in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

General distribution of Humpback Whales in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence based on all identified whales from the entire MICS database (Mingan Island Cetacean Study).

Additional information

The MICS (Mingan Island Cetacean Study) has been collecting and compiling in a photo-identification catalogue, blue whale (and other type of whales) sightings for the western North Atlantic since 1979. 

Since 1987, the material and sampling protocol has been being relatively stable, neither random nor systematic. Field work is conducted abord inflatable boats. Because the whole Gulf ot St. Lawrence cannot be thoroughly studied, MCIS conducts surveys in known whale aggregation areas. The spatial effort is also weather dependent and is mainly constrained by wind direction and strength. Therefore, the study area is not homogeneously covered.

Each whale observation is associated with a picture that allows individual identification based on the animal's pigmentation pattern. For more details consult the mentionned report:

Gagné, J.A., Ouellet, P., Savenkoff, C., Galbraith, P.S., Bui, A.O.V. et Bourassa, M.-N. Éd. 2013. Rapport intégré de l’initiative de recherche écosystémique (IRÉ) de la région du Québec pour le projet : les espèces fourragères responsables de la présence des rorquals dans l’estuaire maritime du Saint-Laurent. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2013/086. vi + 181 p.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada
Phytoplankton pigments in the Strait of Georgia and inland waters

Phytoplankton pigments, determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) are measured seasonally along a 20-station transect in the Juan de Fuca / Strait of Georgia Basin. Sampling was initiated in 2004, discontinued in 2012 and restarted in 2015. In addition, occasional sampling is carried out at several locations and times in inland waters.

For data inquiries please contact: Angelica Pena for data from 2004 to 2015 and Nina Nemcek for data from 2015 to present.

Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada