PURPOSE: To provide access to detailed stomach content data and associated metadata from Atlantic Bluefin Tuna sampled in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence from 2018 to 2023. These data support fisheries science by contributing to analyses of predator–prey dynamics, diet composition, and ecosystem understanding, as well as informing stock assessment and fisheries management activities within Fisheries and Oceans Canada. DESCRIPTION: This dataset contains metadata and stomach content information collected from Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (ABFT) caught from mid-August to late September in the commercial fishery in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence between 2018 and 2023. Stomach samples were primarily obtained from fish harvested near the eastern end of Prince Edward Island, with additional samples collected from the Miscou/Baie‑des‑Chaleurs area in 2018 and 2019. SAMPLING METHODS: Fish were measured to the nearest curved fork length (cm) and weighed to the nearest round weight (kg). Stomachs were obtained directly from harvesters or through a fish buyer and were stored at −20 ◦C before being processed in the laboratory. Stomachs identification numbers were cross-referenced with ABFT tag numbers recorded by fish provider in order to obtain logbook and port data (catch location, time, weight length, sex, gear, etc.) for each sample. Stomachs were thawed in the laboratory and the content was sorted and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. For each stomach, prey were weighed collectively as a taxonomic group and individually to the nearest 0.1 g. Dead bait used to capture ABFT, identified by cut marks, were recorded and weighed but excluded from the analysis. Live bait items cannot be identified from stomach content analyses. Only a few otoliths were found in 2018 and their degraded quality precluded performing ageing or species identification. Rare and small prey items such as algae and rocks were classified in the category “other”. Fish remains that could not be identified were classified in the category “Unidentified teleostei remains”. For 2019 to 2023, when stomach content items could not be visually identified and when tissue was available, tissue samples were collected and stored at −20 °C for DNA barcoding analysis. DNA extraction, mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 amplification, Sanger sequencing and species assignation were performed at the Plateforme d’Analyses Génomiques and Plateforme Bio-informatique of the Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (PAG-IBIS, Université Laval, Quebec city, QC, Canada, http://www.ibis.ulaval.ca/en/services-2/genomic-analysis-platform/). DNA was extracted from 20 mg of muscle tissue using the Omega Bio-tek E-Z-96 Tissue DNA Kit (Omega Bio-tek, Norcross GA, USA) following manufacturer instructions. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 region was amplified and sequenced as described in Hashemzadeh Segherloo et al., 2021). Sanger forward and reverse reads were analyzed independently using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool against non-redundant sequences to identify the top hit for each sequence. When samples could not be identified by a top hit sequence they were classified as “unidentifiable fish”. Prey items that were successfully identified using DNA barcoding were incorporated into the stomach content analysis database and used in all subsequent diet analyses (abundance, occurrence and weight). The weight of the items used in the database was the weight of the remains as they were, and not reconstructed weights calculated for a live animal of the species identified by the barcoding. USE LIMITATION: To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.

This table contains quality-controlled weather station data from various sources across Canada since 2006.

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 Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) includes the metadata, sample weight, fish length, the sex and the number of specimens measured. This dataset covers the period of 1983 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.

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 giant scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) includes the metadata, shell height and the number of shells (empty or full) for all the specimens measured. This dataset covers the period of 1985 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.

A research survey on American lobster (Homarus americanus) and rock crab (Cancer irroratus) has been carried out annually on the Magdalen Islands since 1995 to assess the abundance and structure of populations in this area. The survey is carried out during the first two weeks of September and covers the southern part of the Magdalen Islands, from "Baie de Plaisance" to "Grande-Entrée", extending slightly eastwards between "Havre-aux-Maisons" and "Grande-Entrée". The survey lasts 8 to 15 days, depending of the weather conditions, and covers a maximum of 48 stations. Approximately half of the stations are surveyed in duplicate (two tows per station). The tows always cover 500 meters, with a slightly variable trawl opening (as explained above), averaging around 10 meters. The gear used is a Nephrops trawl, a benthic trawl originally developed for langoustine fishing in Brittany, but slightly modified to target lobster. The trawl is deployed from the CCGS Leim and the harvested organisms are hauled aboard and sorted. Cephalothorax length, sex and shell stage are recorded for all lobsters. This is supplemented by information on reproductive conditions for certain size classes, and dissections of 25 males and 25 females per mission. Rock crabs are also included in the survey and are counted with additional measurements of shell width, sex and shell condition that are recorded on predetermined stations. For other stations individuals data are collected depending on the time available between trawl hauls. The publication contains 4 files; the "Information_stations" file which contains the data of the stations, the "Data_homard_lobster_survey" file which contains the measurements of each lobster, the "Nombre_crabe_crab_number" file which contains the count of rock crabs, the "Mesure_crabe_crab_measurement" file contains the characteristics measured for each crab. Each of the files can be linked by the "date", "st", "tr" columns. The “bat” column notes the boat code, because the gear is not deployed in the same way on each boat. *This record consist of raw data and quality has not been verified Associated species are identified and semi-quantitatively counted directly on the sorting table, and the results are presented in the following publication: https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/99cb7034-f3d5-4da4-a5bc-e81315cfb8eb

A goal of the Government of Canada’s Coastal Environmental Baseline Program (CEBP) is to amalgamate historic environmental data from high vessel traffic areas. An extensive DFO biological sampling program was conducted from 1980 to 1981 on Sturgeon and Roberts banks located on the outer Fraser River estuary, BC, Canada. This report collates and simplifies three data sets: water quality and nearshore fish catch previously published as DFO Data Report 340 (Conlin et al.1982), and un- published weight-length (W-L) data for two locations on Sturgeon Bank (Iona and Steveston) and near Westshore Terminals (Coal Port) on Roberts Bank. W-L data were reconstructed from archived computer printouts using Optical Character Recognition methods. Analyses of water quality data indicate that the two banks provided different fish habitats with Sturgeon Bank having a greater freshwater influence. Although Iona area water quality was exposed to sewage outfall from a nearby sewage treatment plant, it appears that fish communities were not different from the other Sturgeon Bank area (Steveston). The fish communities were found to be different between the two banks with Roberts Bank having greater overall abundance and diversity. Interestingly, of the seven fish species used for condition factor analyses, five were found to have lower Relative Condition Factors in the Roberts Bank sampling area.

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 Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) includes the metadata, sample weight, fish length, the sex and the number of specimens measured. This dataset covers the period of 1987 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.

PURPOSE: The objective of the sea scallop survey is to obtain fishery independent data on the abundance, size distribution and location of scallops in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence and to provide science advice on stock status to fishery managers, decision makers and industry stakeholders. DESCRIPTION: The sea scallop research survey is conducted on CCGS MPerley (or chartered vessels) and has stratified random sampling. For each tow (or sample), data is recorded on tow, all specimens caught, geolocation, shell height frequency and biological samples. This monitoring program is currently on-hold. It will resume if a survey is deemed necessary to provide a new or updated science advice in the future. Stock status is currently (2024) in the critical zone. Rebuilding plan to follow. PARAMETERS COLLECTED: Catch number (biological), catch weight (biological), individual lengths (biological), age (biological), meat weight (biological). PHYSICAL SAMPLE DETAILS: A sub-sample of scallop shells is retained and analysed for age determination in the lab. SAMPLING METHODS: From 2012 to 2016, an annual, rotational, multispecies research survey program for scallop in the sGSL was conducted to obtain fishery independent indices of abundance, biomass estimates, and biological characteristics information (shell height, meat weight, sex, clappers). One section of a SFA or the SFA in its entirety was surveyed per year, with the exception of SFA 23 which was excluded because of the low scallop fishing effort reported from this area in recent years. From 2019 to 2023, annual surveys were conducted on the three major beds in the Northumberland Strait (West Point and Cape Tormentine in SFA 22, Pictou in SFA 24), using a similar methodology as the previous surveys. Methodology can be found in the Science Advisory Report and the Research Document listed in the citations list. USE LIMITATION: To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.

This resource documents a dataset of epifauna occurrences collected in 2021 during The Knowledge and Ecosystem-Based Approach in Baffin Bay (KEBABB) program developed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in collaboration with university partners. The overall objective of KEBABB is to characterize the variability and trends in physical, chemical, and biological oceanographic conditions and food webs supporting fisheries in the connected ecosystems of western Baffin Bay and Lancaster Sound. In 2021, DFO expanded the KEBABB program to Barrow Strait (KEBABS-Knowledge and Ecosystem-Based Approach in Barrow Strait), a key productive area of the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area. The study took place in the Eastern Canadian Arctic (mainly in Baffin Bay, Davis Strait and Barrow Strait). Sampling is done along transects at fixed stations in the study area. Catches are collected with a 1.5 m Agassiz trawl (5 mm mesh net) for 3 minutes bottom-contact time at a target speed of 1.5 knots and with a 3 m benthic beam trawl (6.4 mm mesh net) for 15 minutes bottom-contact time at a target speed of 3 knots. A total of 16 stations were sampled for epifauna in 2021 between 85-850 m depth. Epibenthic invertebrates are identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level and photographed. All unknown specimens are frozen. In the lab, the identifications are validated or refined with the photos and the frozen specimens. The data are presented in Darwin Core and are separated in two files: The “Activité_épifaune_KEBABB_epifauna_event_en” file which contains information about missions, stations and deployments, which are presented under a hierarchical activity structure. The “Occurrence_épifaune_KEBABB_epifauna_en” file that contains the taxonomic occurrences. Further details on sampling can be found in the following report: Pućko, M., Charette, J., Tremblay P., Brulotte S., St-Denis B., Ciastek S., Hedges, K., Kuzyk, Z., Roy V., and Michel, C. 2022. An ecosystem-based approach in the eastern Arctic: KEBABB/S (Knowledge and Ecosystem-Based Approach in Baffin Bay/Barrow Strait) 2021 expedition report. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3250: viii + 58 p. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2022/mpo-dfo/Fs97-4-3250-eng.pdf USE LIMITATION: To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.

The purpose of the survey is to document and record habitat types and associated algae and marine invertebrate species in a variety of habitat types. Transect locations are randomly selected throughout the study area, which rotates between the north and south coasts of British Columbia on a biannual basis. Transects are laid perpendicular to the shoreline. A team of two divers swim the transect with data sheets to collect habitat, algae and marine invertebrate data as detailed below in the methods section. Data is keypunched in an MS Access database that can be queried for species observations and environmental information. This dataset includes three tables pulled from the original database containing observations by species, observations by quadrat, and additional header information for each observation. All three tables can be linked by the field HKey. Three lookup tables are included as well, one for algae, one for invertebrates, and one for substrates.