The rationale for developing this product was the recognized need for a standard and adaptable marine grid that could be used for planning or analysis purposes across projects. This nested grid has five spatial resolutions: 8km, 4km, 2km, 1km, and 500m. It covers the extent of the EEZ on the Canadian Pacific coast, and further east in order to encompass the Fraser River Delta and Puget Sound to account for ecological importance.

Harbour seals reside throughout the year around Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). The first systematic survey for harbour seals occurred along the NL Shelf during July and August 2021 to obtain counts of hauled out individuals and assess distribution. Grey seals are seasonal residents in NL, mainly present in the summer and autumn months. Grey seals were also recorded during the survey as these two species can share haul-out locations. Surveys were flown along the coastline with a Bell 429 helicopter with photographs taken of hauled out seals. This data includes the counts of hauled out harbour, grey and unknown seals seen during the survey. Adjusted counts are also provided, which assign the unknown seals to species based on the number of positively identified harbour and grey seals from each survey day. The realized survey coverage (survey tracks) is also included. Cite this data as: Hamilton, C.D., Goulet, P.J., Stenson, G.B., and Lang, S.L.C. 2024. Data of: Counts of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from an aerial survey of the coast of the Newfoundland Shelf and Sandwich Bay, Labrador during the summer of 2021 This data can be found in: Hamilton, C.D., Goulet, P.J., Stenson, G. B., and Lang, S.L.C. 2023. Counts and spatial distribution of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from an aerial survey of the coast of the Newfoundland Shelf and Sandwich Bay, Labrador during the summer of 2021. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3566: v + 39 p. https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.927831/publication.html DFO. 20XX. Stock assessment of Atlantic harbour seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) in Canada for 2019-2021. DFO Can. Sci. Advis Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2023/XXX. Lang, S.L.C., St-Pierre, A.P., Hamilton, C.D., Mosnier, A., Lidgard, D.C., Goulet, P., den Heyer, C.E., Bordeleau, X., Irani, A.I., and Hammill, M.O. 20XX. Population status assessment and Potential Biological Removal (PBR) for the Atlantic harbour seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina) in Canadian waters. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2024

AIS NL Biofouling Species Fisheries and Oceans Canada's (DFO) National Marine Biofouling Monitoring Program conducts annual field surveys to monitor the introduction, establishment, spread, species richness, and relative abundance of native and some non-native species in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Region since 2006. Standardized monitoring protocols employed by DFO's NL, Maritimes, Gulf, and Quebec regions include biofouling collector plates deployed from May to October at georeferenced intertidal and shallow subtidal sites, including public docks, and public and private marinas and nautical clubs. Initially, (2006-2017), the collectors consisted of three 10 cm by 10 cm PVC plates deployed in a vertical array and spaced approximately 40 cm apart, with the shallowest plate suspended at least 1 m below the surface to sample subtidal and shallow intertidal species (McKenzie et al 2016a). Three replicate arrays were deployed at least 5 m apart per site. Since 2018, collector networks have been modified to improve statistical replication, including up to 10 individual collectors deployed per site at 1 m depth and at least 5 m apart (as above) from May to October. Since 2006, seven invasive biofouling organisms have been detected in Newfoundland and Labrador harbours, marinas and coastal areas. Should be cited as follows: DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region Aquatic Invasive Species Marine Biofouling Monitoring Program. Published March 2024. Coastal and Freshwater Ecology, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Reference: Tunicates Violet tunicate (Botrylloides violaceus) 2007 The violet tunicate was first detected in NL waters in 2007 in Belleoram, Fortune Bay on wharf structures and vessels (McKenzie et al. 2016b). This colonial tunicate forms irregular shaped colonies usually of a solid color (orange, purple, yellow or cream). It is currently found in relatively small colonies in four harbours in NL; Placentia Bay (1), Fortune Bay (1), Conception Bay (1) and the west coast of NL (2). The data provided here indicates the detections of this AIS in coastal NL. From 2018-2022, the Coastal Environmental Baseline Program provided additional support to enhance sampling efforts in Placentia Bay.

This project was completed by the Salmonids Section in the Newfoundland and Labrador Science Branch of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). The Coastal Environmental Baseline Program has supported efforts in 2018 and 2019 of tagged Atlantic salmon smolts leaving the Bay de L’eau River and Rushoon River region of Placentia Bay. This was part of a larger four year tracking study in this region (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022) trying to improve DFO’s understanding of the residency, survival, and migration routes of Atlantic salmon smolts during the first months at sea within northwest Placentia Bay. As of spring 2023, four years of detection data were being processed with the goal of presenting this work at the next Atlantic salmon CSAS meeting and developing a primary publication. This record contains the locations there smolt were tagged in Placentia Bay, NL.

The Urban Atlas provides pan-European comparable land use and land cover data for Functional Urban Areas (FUA). The Urban Atlas Change layers have become available from 2012 and only for all FUAs that have been covered in both 2006 and 2012 reference years. Urban Atlas is a joint initiative of the European Commission Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy and the Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry in the frame of the EU Copernicus programme, with the support of the European Space Agency and the European Environment Agency.

The map displays bedrock formations at or near the surface of the land, on the sea floor above the continental crust that forms the Canadian landmass, and oceanic crust surrounding the landmass. The bedrock units are grouped and coloured according to geological age and composition. The colours of offshore units and oceanic crust are paler and more generalized than those on land, although the constituent units offshore are still easily discernible from their dashed boundaries. This colour design, coupled with the use of a white buffer zone at the coast allows the coastline of Canada to be readily distinguished and still show the grand geological architecture of the Canadian landmass. The map also shows major faults that have disrupted the Earth's crust, onshore and offshore, and a variety of special geological features such as kimberlite pipes, which locally contain diamonds, impact structures suspected to have been caused by meteorites, and extinct and active spreading centres in the surrounding oceans.

Línurnar sýna friðunarsvæði, þar sem eldi laxfiska (fam. salmonidae) í sjókvíum er óheimilt skv. auglýsingu nr. 460/2004.

Water temperature and water level are significant environmental factors affecting ecology of anadromous fish. Large-scale freshwater monitoring networks remain sparse, yet environmental protocols rely heavily on water temperature and water levels to assist decision making on river closures. Our river monitoring project in Newfoundland and Labrador provides river water temperature and river water level for salmon rivers across the province. 72 temperature loggers are deployed across 24 river systems in Newfoundland and Labrador. Temperature loggers are deployed in approximately 30 cm of water and remain in river year-round. Loggers consist of Onset level loggers, tidbit loggers, and pendants or Innovasea minilogs. Some loggers are deployed in duplicate at locations to provide data redundancy in event of equipment loss or failure. Equipment is monitored throughout the season to ensure proper placement in water columns, with downloads taking place during monitoring trips.

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are non-native species that pose ecological and/or economic threats to Canada's coastal waters and resources. In response, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) established a program to detect and track the spread of aquatic invasive species in Canadian waters (2006). In the Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Region, these species include biofouling organisms (tunicates, bryozoans, crustaceans, seaweeds), European Green Crab, and recently, several freshwater species (data not available at this time). DFO NL Science monitors for AIS in partnership with other DFO branches, the provincial government, Memorial University, including the Marine Institute, industry, first nations, and NGOs. Methods for detecting AIS used by DFO and their partners, include settlement plates, trapping, seining, eDNA (water samples), qPCR (species confirmation), SCUBA surveys along wharves, floating docks and vessel hulls, and video surveys at high-risk harbours. The data collected from DFO's monitoring program and their partners provides an overview of the distribution of AIS in the NL Region. This information can be used by the general public, scientists, and DFO managers. AIS NL Biofouling Species Fisheries and Oceans Canada's (DFO) National Marine Biofouling Monitoring Program conducts annual field surveys to monitor the introduction, establishment, spread, species richness, and relative abundance of native and some non-native species in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Region since 2006. Standardized monitoring protocols employed by DFO's NL, Maritimes, Gulf, and Quebec regions include biofouling collector plates deployed from May to October at georeferenced intertidal and shallow subtidal sites, including public docks, and public and private marinas and nautical clubs. Initially, (2006-2017), the collectors consisted of three 10 cm by 10 cm PVC plates deployed in a vertical array and spaced approximately 40 cm apart, with the shallowest plate suspended at least 1 m below the surface to sample subtidal and shallow intertidal species (McKenzie et al 2016a). Three replicate arrays were deployed at least 5 m apart per site. Since 2018, collector networks have been modified to improve statistical replication, including up to 10 individual collectors deployed per site at 1 m depth and at least 5 m apart (as above) from May to October. Since 2006, seven invasive biofouling organisms have been detected in Newfoundland and Labrador harbours, marinas and coastal areas. Should be cited as follows: DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region Aquatic Invasive Species Marine Biofouling Monitoring Program. Published March 2024. Coastal and Freshwater Ecology, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Reference: Tunicates Golden star tunicate (Botryllus schlosseri) 2006 The Golden star tunicate was the first invasive tunicate detected in NL waters. It was reported in Argentia by the US Navy around 1945. It was found in 2006 on wharf structures in Argentia, Placentia Bay during the first AIS survey (Callahan et al 2010). This colonial tunicate is recognized by it star shaped grouping of individuals within the colony. It is currently found in Placentia Bay, Fortune Bay, St. Mary’s Bay, Conception Bay and the west coast of NL. The data provided here indicates the detections of this AIS in coastal NL. Violet tunicate (Botrylloides violaceus) 2007 The violet tunicate was first detected in NL waters in 2007 in Belleoram, Fortune Bay on wharf structures and vessels (McKenzie et al. 2016b). This colonial tunicate forms irregular shaped colonies usually of a solid color (orange, purple, yellow or cream). It is currently found in relatively small colonies in four harbours in NL; Placentia Bay (1), Fortune Bay (1), Conception Bay (1) and the west coast of NL (2). The data provided here indicates the detections of this AIS in coastal NL. Vase tunicate (Ciona intestinalis) 2012 The Vase tunicate, is a high impact solitary invader and was first detected by DFO in 2012 on the Burin Peninsula at Ship Cove and Little Bay, Placentia Bay. Various mitigation measures (McKenzie et al. 2016b) contained this invasive tunicate to a small area for six years within Placentia Bay. First detected in Fortune Bay as an established population in 2019, increasing reports of the Vase tunicate have been made along the south coast of Newfoundland. The data provided here indicates the detections of this AIS in coastal NL. Bryozoans Coffin box bryozoan (Membranipora membranacea) 2002 The Coffin box is a bryozoan (filter feeding animal) that forms white colored encrusting colonies, particularly on seaweed, but also on vessels and other surfaces. The cells are rectangular or “coffin box” shaped. It was first detected on the west coast of NL in 2002 and has since spread throughout the island, including southern Labrador. The data provided here indicates the detections of this AIS in coastal NL. Orange ripple bryozoan (Schizoporella japonica Ortmann) 2022 The Orange ripple bryozoan is an orange heavily calcified encrusting species found mainly on man made structures, rocks, shellfish, and vessels. It was first identified in NL in 2022 in Arnold’s Cove, Placentia Bay, but has likely been in NL for at least two years and is now suspected in several locations in Placentia Bay and Fortune Bay. A 2023 survey of the south coast of NL found several harbours invaded by this species. The data provided here indicates the detections of this AIS in coastal NL. Crustaceans (Biofouling) Japanese skeleton shrimp (Caprella mutica) 2006 The Japanese skeleton shrimp is tiny (1.5 -3.5 cm) and was first found on settlement plates in Placentia Bay during the first AIS biofouling survey in 2006. This species is currently found in many places in Placentia Bay, Conception Bay, Trinity Bay, and on the south coast of NL. This species inhabits, sometimes in large numbers (100,000s) ropes, moorings, and docks. The data provided here indicates the detections of this AIS in coastal NL. Seaweed Oyster thief (Codium fragile) 2012 Oyster thief is a green seaweed with thick spongy Y-shaped branches that resemble fingers (another common name is dead man’s fingers). This invasive species was first found in Placentia Bay in 2012. It is now found in several locations in Placentia Bay and Fortune Bay. It has also been found in one location in Notre Dame Bay. The data provided here indicates the detections of this AIS in coastal NL. AIS NL European green crab Fisheries and Oceans Canada's (DFO) AIS Science Program conducts annual field surveys to monitor the introduction, establishment, spread, and relative abundance of the European green crab in the NL region since 2006. Standardized monitoring and trapping protocols (McKenzie et al. 2022) are used by DFO's NL, Maritimes, Gulf, Quebec, and Pacific regions. The Fukui trap is the most commonly used trap but other methods are also used including shoreline collection, seining, and SCUBA dive surveys. Fukui traps have been deployed annually at both new and long-term monitoring locations throughout coastal Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly within Placentia Bay where they were first detected in North Harbour in 2007 (Blakeslee et al. 2010). It should be noted that there are two different populations of European Green Crab, a hybridized population in Placentia, St. Mary’s, and Fortune Bays and a cold tolerant population on the west and southwestern coast of NL (Lehnert et al. 2018). After initial detection in 2007, a separate invasion occurred in 2009 on the west coast of NL, and this cold-tolerant population is spreading eastward along the south coast toward areas inhabited by the original hybrid strain. The data provided here indicates the detections of this AIS in coastal NL. Should be cited as follows: DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region Aquatic Invasive Species Green Crab Monitoring Program. Published March 2024. Coastal and Freshwater Ecology, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. From 2018-2022, the Coastal Environmental Baseline Program provided additional support to enhance sampling efforts in Placentia Bay.