A coastal surficial substrate layer for the coastal Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy. To create the layer, previous geological characterizations from NRCan were translated into consistent substrate and habitat characterizations; including surficial grain size and primary habitat type. In areas where no geological description was available, data including digital elevation models and substrate samples from NRCan, CHS and DFO Science were interpreted to produce a regional scale substrate and habitat characterization. Each characterization in the layer was given a ranking of confidence and original data resolution to ensure that decision makers are informed of the quality and scale of data that went into each interpretation. Cite this data as: Greenlaw, M., Harvey, C. Data of: A substrate classification for the Inshore Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy, Maritimes Region. Published: March 2022. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews, N.B. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/f2c493e4-ceaa-11eb-be59-1860247f53e3

Marsh inventory in the Chaleur Bay, the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence according to a literature review of documents produced between 1985 and 2002. Additional Information The marsh inventory was produced according to a literature review of the following documents: Bolduc, F. et P. Kaltenback. 1995. Caractérisation de l'habitat du poisson du banc de Portneuf et avenues de mise en valeur. Rapport présenté par Pro Faune à la Corporation de développement touristique de Rivière-Portneuf. 13 pages et annexes. Comité ZIP Baie des Chaleurs, 2002. Données numériques acquises suite à la cartographie de milieux humides Baie des Chaleurs pour le comité ZIP (printemps 2002). Comité ZIP Côte-Nord du Golfe. 2001. Inventaire du potentiel côtier et marin de la Basse-Côte-Nord. Version préliminaire de rapport sous forme de CD-ROM, Sept-Îles, mars 2001. Kedney, G. et P. Kaltenback. 1996. Acquisition de connaissances et mise en valeur des habitats du banc de Portneuf. Document réalisé par la firme Pro Faune pour le Comité touristique de Rivière-Portneuf. 50 pages et 5 annexes. Labrecque, J., G. Lavoie et F. Boudreau. 1995. Les plantes susceptibles d'être désignées menacées ou vulnérables du barachois de la rivière Malbaie, Barachois-Ouest, Gaspésie. Gouvernement du Québec, ministère de l'Environnement et de la Faune, Direction de la conservation et du patrimoine écologique, Québec. 20 p. Lemieux, C. 1995. Acquisition de connaissances des habitats côtiers dans la région de Rimouski (1995). Rapport du Groupe-Conseil GENIVAR présenté au Ministère des Pêches et des Océans du Canada, Division de la Gestion de l’Habitat du Poisson, 52 pages + 2 annexes. Lemieux, C. 2001. Projet de projection et de mise en valeur de la baie au Chêne et d'habitats côtiers de la région de Pointe-à-la-Croix (Gaspésie). Rapport du Groupe conseil Génivar inc. Présenté au Comité ZIP Baie des Chaleurs et au ministère de l'Environnement du Québec, direction du patrimoine écologique et du développement durable. 76 p. + 8 annexes. Lemieux, C. et R. Lalumière. 1995. Acquisition de connaissances des habitats côtiers du barachois de Saint-Omer. Rap. du Groupe conseil Genivar inc. pour la DGHP, MPO, 44 pages + 3 ann. Les consultants en environnement Argus inc. 1995a. Caractérisation physico-chimique et biologique de l'habitat du poisson du barachois de Malbaie: automne 1994. Rapport présenté au Club des ornithologues de la Gaspésie dans le cadre du programme Saint-Laurent Vision 2000. 62 p. + ann. Les consultants en environnement Argus inc. 1995b. Barachois de Malbaie: étude d'avant-projet de conservation et de mise en valeur. Rapport présenté au Club des ornithologues de la Gaspésie dans le cadre du programme Saint-Laurent Vision 2000. 71 p. + ann. Les consultants en environnement Argus inc. 1995c. Étude biophysique complémentaire de conservation et mise en valeur de la baie des Capucins. Rapport présenté à la corporation de développement de Les Capucins. 48 p. + ann. Les consultants en environnement Argus inc. 1998. Perspectives d'aménagement et de restauration des marais à spartine du Québec. Rapport final. En collaboration avec le Service canadien de la Faune (Environnement Canada), Pêches et Océans Canada, le Ministère des Transports du Québec et Canards Illimités inc. 123 pages + annexes et index cartographique. Létourneau, G. et M. Jean. 1996. Cartographie des marais, marécages et herbiers aquatiques le long du Saint-Laurent par télédétection aéroportée. Environnement Canada – Région du Québec, Conservation de l’environnement, Centre Saint-Laurent, Montréal. 101 pages Létourneau, Guy. 1991. Milieux humides, Base de données Létourneau 1991 (de Cornwall à Trois-Pistoles et les Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Logimer. 1985. Développement d'un programme de conservation et de reconstitution des habitats lagunaires gaspésiens. Rapport présenté à Pêches et Océans Canada, section Habitat du poisson. 306 p. et annexes. Procéan inc. 1996. Caractérisation du milieu physique et inventaire biologique du barachois de New Richmond : rapport final. Présenté à la Division de la gestion de l'habitat du poisson, Pêches et Océans Canada par Procéan inc. Vaillancourt, M.-A. et C. Lafontaine. 1999. Caractérisation de la Baie Mitis. Jardins de Métis et Pêches et Océans Canada. Grand-Métis. 185 p.

Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is important to waterfowl such as Atlantic Brant (Branta bernicla hrota), Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), American Black Duck (Anas rubripes), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) and Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica). In New Brunswick eelgrass can be found along the Gulf of St. Lawrence, in protected harbours. Within this dataset are the results eelgrass land-cover classifications using either satellite or aerial photography for eight harbours: Bouctouche (46 30’N, 64 39’W); Cocagne (46.37 N, -64.60 W); Miscou (47.90 N, -64.55 W); Neguac (47.25 N, -65.03 W); Richibucto (46.70 N, -64.80 W); Saint-Simon (47.77 N, -64.76 W); Tabusintac (47.33 N, -64.93 W); and Tracadie (47.55 N, -64.88 W). Information on each dataset is provided: Visible orthorectified aerial photography was used to classify polygons containing eelgrass in Cocagne Harbour. Field data for image training and validation were collected along transects in summer 2008 using a dGPS positioned towfish holding sidescan sonar and a video camera that was later transcribed as XY geographic points to describe eelgrass presence and a qualitative description of density. The area was flown for photography on September 24, 2008. eCognition Developer 8 software was used to segment the imagery, essentially polygons. Polygons were then classified manually for the presence of eelgrass. Using field data revealed eelgrass presence to be mapped correctly 87.2% of the time.

Production of a layer that includes the known information on seaweed medium to high density areas in the Chaleur Bay, the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence according to a literature review of documents produced between 1995 and 1999. Additional Information Seaweed density areas were produced according to a literature review of the following documents: Mariculture de Percé inc. 1995. Essai d'augmentation de la biomasse du homard "Récifs artificiels", Rapport no 95, Programme d'essai et d'expérimentation halieutiques et aquicoles. Lemieux, C. 1995. Acquisition de connaissances des habitats côtiers dans la région de Rimouski (1995). Rapport du Groupe-Conseil GENIVAR présenté au Ministère des Pêches et des Océans du Canada, Division de la Gestion de l’Habitat du Poisson, 52 pages + 2 annexes. Belzile, L., Lalumière, R., Cloutier, O. et J.F. Martel. 1997. Inventaire des laminaires dans la Baie des Chaleurs entre Miguasha et Bonaventure. Rapport conjoint Groupe-conseil Génivar inc. et Regroupement des pêcheurs professionnels du sud de la Gaspésie pour le compte de Pêches et Océans Canada, Québec. 13 pages Vaillancourt, M.-A. et C. Lafontaine. 1999. Caractérisation de la Baie Mitis. Jardins de Métis et Pêches et Océans Canada. Grand-Métis. 185 p. Calderón, I. 1996. Caractérisation de la végétation et de la faune ichtyenne de la baie de Sept-Îles. Document réalisé par la Corporation de protection de l'environnement de Sept-Îles pour Pêches et Océans Canada. 26p. + 5 annexes. Calderón, I. 1996. Caractérisation des habitats du poisson de la baie de Sept-Îles - Phase II. Corporation de protection de l'environnement de Sept-Îles. 37 pages.

A geospatial database involving 130 descriptors was created describing the pelagic and benthic habitats of the 0–30 m surface layer in the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. A grid made of 6.25 km² cells (2.5 x 2.5 km) was used to aggregate the data. Each of the 39,337 cells overlapping the marine environment was characterized using landscape, hydrographic, and oceanographic parameters determined from observations (including satellite imagery), a 3D circulation model, and published and unpublished material available at local and regional scales. Purpose The dataset provides useful information on the spatial extent of major coastal epipelagic habitats in the study area and can be used for mapping purposes and for analyses of species-habitat relationships. Additional Information The low tide limit was taken as the upper (0 m) boundary, but neighbouring landscape features, such as the proximity to freshwater inflows, surface area of the tidal zone, and characteristics of the shoreline, were also taken into consideration. Also, each cell was classified as being marine, intertidal, or terrestrial using the high and low tide marks. Those marks were determined using NRCan CANVEC topographic map products (1:50,000). The high tide mark was determined as the limit between the land and water layers. The low tide mark (0 m depth) was determined as the lower limit of the tidal zone in areas with a tidal zone, and as the limit between the land and water layers elsewhere. See the report mentioned below for a more detailed description of the treatments for each variable: Dutil, J.-D., S. Proulx, P. Galbraith, J. Chassé and N. Lambert 2012. Coastal and epipelagic habitats of the St. Lawrence estuary and Gulf. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3009 : ix +87 pp.

Available information for the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence on salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, depth, slope, and variability in landscape and sediments, were aggregated using a grid made up of 100 km2 cells as a basis for mapping and describing marine habitats for conservation and integrated management purposes. For example, 26 variables were selected to describe depth, slope, salinity and temperature. Based on that information, cluster analyses were conducted grouping cells into 13 different megahabitats. Four megahabitats described the deep waters, and areas outside channels formed 9 megahabitats: four in the southern Gulf and five in the northern Gulf. Purpose The tool proposes a novel way of making validated and integrated data available to end users. Potential applications include the screening of areas considered for inclusion in a network of protected areas and a quantitative assessment of surface areas for each class of habitat. The method can also be applied to describe the habitats of species at risk. Additional Information See the report mentioned below for a more detailed description of the treatments for each variable: 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 p.

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.

From August 6th to September 9th, 2014, 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 56 stations along thirteen transects, with an additional three stations not located on 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. Presented here is the information on the sampling locations, and the sampling gear deployed at each station.