Bathymetric compilation for Scotian Shelf and Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves bioregions, offshore Atlantic Canada

The Marine Geoscience for Marine Spatial Planning (MGMSP) program, implemented by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), is an initiative with the goal of offering innovative regional geoscience products to support the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in their Marine Spatial Planning endeavors. To develop spatial management plans for various expansive bioregions across Canada, the DFO has undertaken the task of creating comprehensive ocean management strategies. Presently, the MGMSP program is concentrating its efforts on two significant bioregions, namely the Scotian Shelf and Newfoundland and Labrador Shelves bioregions. In pursuit of this objective, the work presented in this report has focused on the assimilation and gridding of numerous disparate bathymetry datasets sourced from authoritative and reliable channels. The purpose of this comprehensive data gathering approach is to establish a unified bathymetric grid, with a consistent spatial resolution, which can be utilized in both oceanographic modeling and geological interpretation. By collating information from a diverse range of sources, we aim to create a comprehensive and reliable foundation that will enable accurate and informed decision-making in the field of marine spatial planning, as well as enhance the accuracy and reliability of subsequent analyses and simulations.