Biological samples of Geoduck Clams have been collected during surveys in British Columbia as part of the broader survey objectives of determining Geoduck density, distribution and population structure. Samples of Geoducks were collected from 41 locations throughout British Columbia between 1993 and 2002. Clams were measured for total weight, shell length, shell weight and were aged. Biological parameters are presented here for individual clams sampled. See Bureau D., W. Hajas, N.W. Surry, C.M. Hand, G. Dovey and A. Campbell. 2002. Age, size structure and growth parameters of Geoducks (Panopea abrupta, Conrad 1849) from 34 locations in British Columbia sampled between 1993 and 2000. Can Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2413: 84 p. and Bureau D., W. Hajas, C.M. Hand and G. Dovey. 2003. Age, size structure and growth parameters of Geoducks (Panopea abrupta, Conrad 1849) from seven locations in British Columbia sampled in 2001 and 2002. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2494: 29 p.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) conducts an annual multidisciplinary scientific survey with a bottom trawl in the Estuary and the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence since 1978. Over the years this survey has been conducted on four vessels: the MV Gadus Atlantica (1978-1994), the MV Lady Hammond (1984-1990), the CCGS Alfred Needler (1990-2005) and the CCGS Teleost (2004-2018). The specificities of the missions onboard the MV Lady Hammond are described below. Objectives: 1. Assess groundfish populations abundance and condition 2. Assess environmental conditions 3. Inventory species biodiversity 4. Monitor the pelagic ecosystem 5. Collect samples for various research projects Survey description This winter survey covers the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, that is the divisions 4R, 4S and 3Pn of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). A stratified random sampling strategy is used for this survey and the fishing gear used on the MV Gadus Atlantica is an Engel 145 Otter trawl. Standard trawling tows last 30 minutes, starting from the time the trawl touches the sea floor. Towing speed is 3.5 knots. Data For each fishing tow, the catch is sorted and weighed by taxa; biological data are then collected on a subsample. For fish, crab and squid, size and weight are gathered by individual and, for some species, sex, gonad maturity, and the weight of certain organs (stomach, liver, gonads) are also evaluated. The soft rays of the anal fin are counted for redfish and otoliths are collected for Greenland halibut and Atlantic cod. Invertebrates are counted (no individual measurements) and photographed. The catches per tow for fish taxa (presence or absence, count by species and catch weight (kg)) are available below.

In place since 1994 in eastern Canada, the sentinel fisheries program is the result of a collaboration between Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and commercial fishermen. Under this program, contracts are awarded by tender to fishermen to carry out fishing activities according to scientific protocols developed by DFO. Description of mobile surveys The mobile gear sentinel fisheries of the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence are conducted in the divisions 4R, 4S, 3Pn and the northern part of the division 4T of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). This program follows a stratified random survey plan according to depth strata. A standard tow is 30 minutes long and made at a speed of 2.5 knots. The fishing gear is a 300 Star Balloon trawl mounted on a Rock Hopper footgear. The trawl mesh size is 145 mm with a liner of 40 mm in the codend. Data are collected by at-sea fisheries observers from Biorex (Quebec) or Seawatch (Newfoundland). Data For each trait, the total catch is sorted and weighed by species. Biological data such as length, weight (sampled, per individual, gonad, liver and stomach), sex and maturity are then collected on a subsample of many species such as Atlantic halibut, Greenland halibut, lumpfish, Atlantic cod, herring and capelin. Otoliths are only sampled on Atlantic cod. The catches per tow (presence or absence, count by species and catch weight (kg)) for the Atlantic halibut, Greenland halibut, Atlantic cod and redfish are available below. This data is also available via the 'Biodiversity' application on the St. Lawrence Global Observatory (SLGO) website.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) conducts an annual multidisciplinary scientific survey with a bottom trawl in the Estuary and the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence since 1978. Over the years this survey has been conducted on four vessels: the MV Gadus Atlantica (1978-1994), the MV Lady Hammond (1984-1990), the CCGS Alfred Needler (1990-2005) and the CCGS Teleost (2004-2018). The specificities of the missions onboard the MV Lady Hammond are described below. Objectives: 1. Assess groundfish populations abundance and condition 2. Assess environmental conditions 3. Inventory species biodiversity 4. Monitor the pelagic ecosystem 5. Collect samples for various research projects Survey description The survey covers the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, that is the divisions 4R, 4S and the northern part of division 4T of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). A stratified random sampling strategy is used for this survey and the fishing gear used on the MV Lady Hammond is a bottom trawl Western IIA. Standard trawling tows last 30 minutes, starting from the time the trawl touches the sea floor. Towing speed is 3.5 knots. Data For each fishing tow, the catch is sorted and weighed by taxa; biological data are then collected. For fish, crab and squid, size and weight are gathered by individual and, for some species, sex, gonad maturity, and the weight of certain organs (stomach, liver, gonads) are also evaluated. The soft rays of the anal fin are counted for redfish and otoliths are collected for redfish and Atlantic cod. Invertebrates are counted (no individual measurements) and photographed. The catches per tow for fish taxa (presence or absence, count by species and catch weight (kg)) are available below.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) conducts an annual multidisciplinary scientific survey with a bottom trawl in the Estuary and the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence since 1978. Over the years this survey has been conducted on four vessels: the MV Gadus Atlantica (1978-1994), the MV Lady Hammond (1984-1990), the CCGS Alfred Needler (1990-2005) and the CCGS Teleost (2004-2018). The specificities of the missions onboard the CCGS Alfred Needler are described below. Objectives: 1. Assess groundfish and northern shrimp population abundance and condition 2. Assess environmental conditions 3. Inventory species biodiversity 4. Monitor the pelagic ecosystem 5. Inventory marine mammals populations 6. Inventory seabirds populations 7. Collect samples for various research projects Survey description The survey covers the divisions 4R, 4S, 3Pn and the northern part of division 4T of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). This survey follows a stratified random sampling design and the fishing gear used on the CCGS Alfred Needler is a URI shrimp trawl (81'/114'). Standard trawling tows last 25 minutes, starting from the time the trawl touched the sea floor. Towing speed is 3 knots. Data For each fishing tow, the catch is sorted and weighed by taxa; biological data are then collected on a subsample. For fish, crab and squid, size and weight are gathered by individual and, for some species, sex, gonad maturity, and the weight of certain organs (stomach, liver, gonads) are also evaluated. The soft rays of the anal fin are counted for redfish, and the otoliths are collected for several species such as witch flounder, Atlantic cod, Greenland halibut and Atlantic halibut. A roughly 2-kg shrimp sample is sorted and weighed by species (and by stage of maturity for northern shrimp). The shrimps are measured individually. The other invertebrates are counted (no individual measurements) and photographed. The catches per tow for fish taxa (presence or absence, count by species and catch weight (kg)) are available below. This data is also available via the 'Biodiversity' application on the St. Lawrence Global Observatory (SLGO). The data concerning benthic invertebrates is presently excluded but are available on request.

This dataset contains area-based management measures that constitute 'other effective area-based conservation measures' ('other measures') according to DFO's Operational Guidance for Identifying ‘Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures’ in Canada’s Marine Environment. It also contains basic information about these ‘other measures’, specifically their names, size, objectives, associated prohibitions, and DFO region. The identification of existing, and establishment of new, 'other measures' is an important element of Canada’s strategy to meet its marine conservation targets to protect 5 percent of Canada’s marine and coastal areas by 2017 and 10 percent by 2020. 'Other measures' will be evaluated regularly, taking the most recent available information into account. In addition new 'other measures' will be identified or established over time. Therefore, this data set may change over time, and is considered current as of its publication date stamp. The boundaries and attributes in this dataset are intended to provide a visual representation of the area and are for information purposes only, and should not be considered legally authoritative. Please contact your local fishery officer for official coordinates and information about these closures.

In place since 1994 in eastern Canada, the sentinel fisheries program is the result of a collaboration between Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and commercial fishermen. Under this program, contracts are awarded by tender to fishermen to carry out fishing activities according to scientific protocols developed by DFO. Description of fixed surveys The fixed gear sentinel fisheries of the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence are conducted in the divisions 4R, 4S and 3Pn of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). The gear used is fixed gillnets or longlines. Fishing activities with nets must have a mesh size of 5 ½ inches (140mm) and are limited to a maximum of 12 to 20 nets depending on the region. Longline fishing activities, for its part, must be carried out with traditional J #16 or C #12 hooks and are limited to a maximum of 1000 hooks. Data For every fishing activity, the total catch is sorted and weighed by species. Biological data such as length, weight (sampled, per individual, gonad, liver and stomach), sex and maturity are then collected on a sub-sample of cod and Atlantic halibut. Otoliths are only sampled on Atlantic cod. The catches per tow (presence or absence, count by species and catch weight (kg)) are available below.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) conducts an annual multidisciplinary scientific survey with a bottom trawl in the Estuary and the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence since 1978. Over the years this survey has been conducted on four vessels: the MV Gadus Atlantica (1978-1994), the MV Lady Hammond (1984-1990), the CCGS Alfred Needler (1990-2005) and the CCGS Teleost (2004-2019). The specificities of the missions onboard the CCGS Teleost are described below. Objectives: 1. Assess groundfish and northern shrimp population abundance and condition 2. Assess environmental conditions 3. Inventory species biodiversity 4. Assess phytoplankton and mesozooplankton abundance 5. Monitor the pelagic ecosystem 6. Inventory marine mammals populations 7. Inventory seabirds populations 8. Collect samples for various research projects Survey description The survey covers the Estuary and the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, that is the divisions 4R, 4S and the northern part of division 4T of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). Since 2008, coverage of division 4T has been increased in the upstream part of the Lower Estuary in order to sample the depths between 37 and 183 m. A stratified random sampling strategy is used for this survey and the area of the study area is 118,587 km². The fishing gear used on the CCGS Teleost is a four-sided Campelen 1800 shrimp trawl equipped with a Rockhopper footgear (“bicycle”). The trawl lengthening and codend are equipped with a 12.7-mm knotless nylon lining. Standard trawling tows last 15 minutes, starting from the time the trawl touches the sea floor. Towing speed is 3 knots. Data For each fishing tow, the catch is sorted and weighed by taxa; biological data are then collected on a subsample. For fish, crab and squid, size and weight are gathered by individual and, for some species, sex, gonad maturity, and the weight of certain organs (stomach, liver, gonads) are also evaluated. The soft rays of the anal fin are counted for redfish, and the otoliths are sampled for several species such as Atlantic cod, Atlantic halibut, and witch flounder. A roughly 2-kg shrimp sample is sorted and weighed by species (and by stage of maturity for northern shrimp). The shrimps are measured individually. The other invertebrates are counted (no individual measurements) and photographed. The catches per tow for fish taxa (presence or absence, count by species and catch weight (kg)) are available below. This data is also available via the 'Biodiversity' application on the St. Lawrence Global Observatory (SLGO). The data concerning benthic invertebrates is presently excluded but are available on request.