Distribution of Bald Eagle habitat in coastal British Columbia showing relative abundance (RA) and overall relative importance (RI). RI is based on project region and not on the province as a whole. CRIMS is a legacy dataset of BC coastal resource data that was acquired in a systematic and synoptic manner from 1979 and was intermittently updated throughout the years. Resource information was collected in nine study areas using a peer-reviewed provincial Resource Information Standards Committee consisting of DFO Fishery Officers, First Nations, and other subject matter experts. There are currently no plans to update this legacy data.

PURPOSE:Given the paucity of information on Arctic char along western Hudson Bay, in 2018, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) hosted an Arctic char workshop in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, bringing together local resource users, knowledge holders, and co-management groups (e.g., Hunters and Trappers Organizations, Regional Wildlife Organization) to identify and discuss community-based Arctic char research priorities across the Kivalliq region of Nunavut. Communities were especially interested in examining “what Arctic char were eating” and “why the colour of their muscle is different” along the western Hudson Bay coastline, and in the summer of 2018, a regional community-based Arctic char monitoring program was implemented across the region. DESCRIPTION:Climate-induced alterations to Arctic sea ice dynamics are influencing the availability and distribution of resources, and in turn, the nutrient and energy intake of opportunistic predators across the food web. These temporal changes in local prey communities likely influence the availability of carotenoid-rich prey types, as well as the foraging ecology of opportunistic predators that forage in the marine environment, such as anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). Despite its socioeconomic importance across its range, anadromous Arctic char foraging ecology and its influence on muscle pigmentation, particularly in relation to sea ice dynamics, remains understudied. Here, over two years (2021, 2022) with contrasting sea ice dynamics, we investigated the foraging ecology of anadromous Arctic char and its influence on their muscle pigmentation at a southern (Rankin Inlet) and northern (Naujaat) location along western Hudson Bay using a combination of stomach contents, stable isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N), highly branched isoprenoids, carotenoid spectrophotometry, and a standard muscle colour scale (DSM SalmoFan). Spatiotemporal variation in Arctic char diet occurred, where Rankin Inlet Arctic char generally consumed more fish and phytoplankton-based carbon sources, occupied a higher trophic position, and displayed a similar isotopic niche breadth compared to Arctic char in Naujaat. Invertebrates were higher in carotenoid concentration than fishes, and in association with a more invertebrate-based diet, Arctic char in Naujaat contained higher muscle carotenoid concentrations (e.g., astaxanthin) compared to Rankin Inlet Arctic char in 2021. In 2022, however, muscle carotenoid concentrations in Naujaat and Rankin Inlet Arctic char were more similar, as the diet of Arctic char in both locations was largely fish-based despite muscle colour remaining redder in Naujaat Arctic char. Overall, the observed plastic foraging ecology of Arctic char highlights this species' ability to adjust to inter-annual variability in environmental changes, which then impacts their muscle carotenoid concentration. Such inter-annual variation in Arctic char foraging ecology is anticipated to increase with unpredictable climate-driven environmental changes in the region, which could therefore negatively affect local resource users over the long term, resulting in socioeconomic impacts across the Arctic.Collection/sampling methodology:Arctic char were collected by angling and gillnetting (5.5” mesh, regularly checked) between June and August in the estuarine and marine environments near the communities of Rankin Inlet and Naujaat, Nunavut. In 2021, Naujaat Arctic char were collected by community fishers as part of a community-based sampling program. Concurrently, invertebrate prey types were opportunistically collected in the vicinity of Arctic char sampling sites using a conical zooplankton net (200-μm mesh; 10-minute tows) or obtained fresh from Arctic char stomachs. Additionally, marine fishes were opportunistically collected by angling or obtained fresh from Arctic char stomachs over both years in Rankin Inlet, while samples from the Naujaat area were collected in 2018 and 2019.The Kivalliq Wildlife Board (Rankin Inlet, NU) and Arviq Hunters and Trappers Association (Naujaat, NU) each supported this community-formulated research project and assisted with sample collections throughout the duration of the project. We would like to recognize and thank Sonny Ittinuar (Kivalliq Wildlife Board/Rankin Inlet Local Resource User), Clayton Tartak (Kivalliq Wildlife Board), Vincent L’Herault (ArctiConnexion), and Gail Davoren (University of Manitoba MSc co-supervisor) for their participation in the project. We would also like to thank Sonny Ittinuar, Poisey (Adam) Alogut, John-El, Peter, Quassa, and Goretti Tinashlu, who assisted in field work. USE LIMITATION:To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.

Herring Permanent Spawn Transects (geodatabase) - used for herring spawn survey program and spatial analysis/presentation of spawn data from Herring Stock Assessment Database (including creation of spawn polygons).

PURPOSE:The primary objective of this survey is to obtain an index of the abundance and biomass of American lobster (Homarus americanus) in the Northumberland Strait. This research survey also provides fisheries-independent information for all of the species captured by the trawl.DESCRIPTION:Catch weight, length frequencies, and biological information for crustaceans and fish caught during the annual July-August research vessel trawl survey in Northumberland Strait (NAFO Division 4T). Abundance indices and spatial distribution patterns of commercial and non-commercial crustaceans and other groundfish. PARAMETERS COLLECTED:The full catch is sorted to species, or lowest taxonomic group possible, and weighed. For lobster, carapace length, sex and carapace condition (i.e. stage of moult) are recorded. For female lobster, the presence or absence of eggs is noted and, starting in 2010, the stage of development of the eggs (i.e. new or old) when present was also recorded. Similarly, for crabs, the carapace width, sex and carapace condition (i.e. stage of moult) is recorded as is the presence or absence of eggs (for females). Fish sampling varied over the years but, starting in 2005, length has been recorded for all fish captured.For large catches, the complete catch is sorted and weighed, but sub-sampling, by species, is used for the other measurements.NOTES ON QUALITY CONTROL:Data are checked for irregularities.SAMPLING METHODS:The Northumberland Strait multi-species survey began in 2001 using a stratified random sampling plan. A random selection of sampling sites within the study area is now used. Sampling is completed annually over a 4-week period in July and August. One hundred ten (110) stations are sampled in Northumberland Strait in water depths greater than 4 m at the lowest normal tide. The survey has employed a 286 Rockhopper trawl for all years from 2001 to 2018, except in 2010 and 2011, when a Nephrops trawl was used. In 2019, a new trawl (called the Northumberland trawl) was used in addition to the Rockhopper trawl. The Northumberland trawl is similar to the 286 Rockhopper trawl, but with a smaller footgear and smaller mesh sizes. At each station, the trawl is towed for a set period of time (recently 15 minutes with the rockhopper trawl and 10 minutes with the Northumberland trawl).USE LIMITATION:To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.

Distribution of diving duck species habitat in coastal British Columbia showing relative abundance (RA) by season and overall relative importance (RI). RI is based on project region and not on the province as a whole. CRIMS is a legacy dataset of BC coastal resource data that was acquired in a systematic and synoptic manner from 1979 and was intermittently updated throughout the years. Resource information was collected in nine study areas using a peer-reviewed provincial Resource Information Standards Committee consisting of DFO Fishery Officers, First Nations, and other subject matter experts. There are currently no plans to update this legacy data.

Fish Habitat Assessment Output: 5 of 16High Water Level (75.4m ASL) - Juvenile/Adult Habitat - High Vegetation Association Species (All Thermal Guilds)Habitat suitability was assessed for the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern, at a 3 m grid resolution, using the Habitat Ecosystem Assessment Tool (HEAT), temperature algorithms, vegetation models, and water level input. Habitat classifications were based on three variables: depth (elevation), vegetation, and substrate; and modified by temperature suitabilities. The final suitability maps were based on documented habitat and temperature associations for the fish in the area. Different life stages (spawning requirements, nursery habitat, adult habitat) were modeled for the years of 1972-2011. Suitability values were scaled from 0 (not suitable) to 1 (highly suitable) and converted to suitability classes of very low, low, medium, and high. The final maps for each guild – life stage combination are maximum suitability values from the 39-year period modelled.

This data is from the Newfoundland and Labrador Region Multispecies Trawl survey, specific to Snow Crab from 2018-25, with only successful tows included in the database. Details of annual survey coverage and an overview of the survey program can be found in Rideout et al. (2025) and references therein. This trawl survey follows a depth-stratified random design, designated by type = 1 (Survey). From 2021-23, a comparative fishing program (i.e., direct side-by-side paired comparison between old and new vessels) was undertaken to determine differences in catchability due to vessel changes and associated modifications to the trawl gear with the retirement of the CCGS Alfred Needler and CCGS Teleost (called ‘old vessels’) and the introduction of the CCGS Capt. Jacques Cartier and CCGS John Cabot (called ‘new vessels’). During this period other set types are in the dataset (6 and 7) from paired tows and all station allocation may not have been stratified random. The DFO NL Region comparative fishing success varied by year, NAFO division, and vessel combinations and resulted in conversion factors to adjust the catches of Snow Crab in the old vessels time series into the same units as the new vessels. Methodologies and conversion factors are described in Wheeland et al. (2024), Trueman et al. (2025), Trueman et al. (2026), and Pantin et al. (in prep). Conversion factors have been applied to the numbers of Snow Crab caught, where conversion factors exist, and are in the converted_number column. An NA in the converted_number column indicates that conversion factors do not exist for this vessel/area combination and therefore direct comparisons cannot be made between old vessels and new vessels. Weights are those recorded at sea and do not have conversion factors applied. Analyses by the DFO NL Snow Crab group apply a length-weight relationship to the converted numbers to determine converted weights, which is not in this dataset. All reasonable attempts are made to standardize fishing time during trawl surveys, however there is always some variation in the actual time on bottom. The species weights and numbers in this dataset are not standardized for tow distance/duration. Spatial coverage of this survey has varied over time, therefore, not all divisions, or depths within divisions, are sampled every year or season. Biological measurements are described in Pantin et al. (2025). Tows that caught zero Snow Crab are denoted in the dataset by a ‘number’ of 0.References:McCallum, B. R., and S. J. Walsh. 1996. Groundfish survey trawls used at the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, 1971-present. NAFO Sci. Coun. Studies, 29: 93-104.Pantin, J., D. Mullowney, K. Baker, K. Lefort, W. Coffey, F. Cyr, H. Munro, and Koen-Alonso, M. 2025. An Assessment of Newfoundland and Labrador Snow Crab (Chionoecetes opilio) in 2023. DFO. Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2025/080. iv + 152 p.Pantin, J., Charmley, K., Mullowney, D., Baker, K., Lefort, K., Coyne, J., Munro, H., and Koen-Alonso, M. In prep. An Assessment of Newfoundland and Labrador Snow Crab (Chionoecetes opilio) in 2024. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. year/nnn.Rideout, R.M., Wheeland, L., Perreault, A., Regular, P., Skanes, K., Simms, L., and Makrides, J. 2025. Canadian (Newfoundland and Labrador Region) Multi-Species Research vessel Bottom Trawl Survey Report for Surveys Conducted in 2024. NAFO SCR Doc. 25/028: 1-68.Trueman, S., Wheeland, L., Benoît, H., Munro, H., Nguyen, T., Novaczek, E., Skanes, K., and Yin, Y. 2025. Results of Comparative Fishing Between the CCGS Teleost and CCGS Alfred Needler with the CCGS John Cabot and CCGS Capt. Jacques Cartier in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region in 2021 and 2022. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2025/021. v + 237 p. Trueman, S., Wheeland, L., Pantin, J., Baker, K., and Mullowney, D. 2026. On the relative catchability of Snow Crab in the Newfoundland and Labrador Multispecies trawl surveys. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2026/008. iv + 41 p. Wheeland, L., Skanes, K. and Trueman, S. 2024. Summary of Comparative Fishing Data Collected in Newfoundland & Labrador from 2021-2022. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3579: iv + 132 p.

An annual trawl survey is conducted in Southwestern Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy to assess the lobster stocks in the area. The survey is conducted with the Northeast Fisheries Science Center Ecosystem Survey Trawl (NEST), a small mesh trawl with a cod end liner, which ensures the capture of various sizes of lobster. The dimensions and location of the trawl are monitored and recorded throughout the tow using an electronic trawl mensuration system. In addition, water temperature and depth are also monitored. The target tow length is 1 kilometer which is tracked using an Olex marine charting system. Vessel crew, DFO science staff and a contracted at sea observer work together to perform required tasks and collect all relevant data. Catch from each tow is separated by species, weighed and counted. Length frequency data is collected on select groundfish and crab species and detailed morphometric data is collected on each lobster.PARAMETERS COLLECTED:Set information and profile - includes set date, time depth and locationCatch summary - weight and number caught of each speciesLength Freqeuncies - completed for up to 100 fish for selected speciesLobster Morphological Data - detailed data collected on each lobsterBottom TemperatureTrawl MetricsNOTES ON QUALITY CONTROL:Data is visually verified and double keypunched. On loading to Oracle, data is run through rigorous automated checks to verify data accuracy and integrity.SAMPLING METHODS:The target tow length is 1 kilometer which is tracked using an Olex marine charting system. Vessel crew, DFO science staff and a contracted at sea observer work together to perform required tasks and collect all relevant data. Catch from each tow is separated by species, weighed and counted. Length frequency data is collected on select groundfish and crab species, detailed morphometric data is collected on each lobster. Bottom temperature and trawl metrics are collected for each tow.CITATION LIST:Denton, Cheryl M.. 2020. Maritimes Region Inshore Lobster Trawl Survey Technical Description. Canadian technical reports of fisheries and aquatic sciences (DFO) 3376.

Fish Habitat Assessment Output: 14 of 16Average Water Level (75.0m ASL) - Juvenile/Adult Habitat - Low Vegetation Association Species (Warmwater Guild)Habitat suitability was assessed for the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern, at a 3 m grid resolution, using the Habitat Ecosystem Assessment Tool (HEAT), temperature algorithms, vegetation models, and water level input. Habitat classifications were based on three variables: depth (elevation), vegetation, and substrate; and modified by temperature suitabilities. The final suitability maps were based on documented habitat and temperature associations for the fish in the area. Different life stages (spawning requirements, nursery habitat, adult habitat) were modeled for the years of 1972-2011. Suitability values were scaled from 0 (not suitable) to 1 (highly suitable) and converted to suitability classes of very low, low, medium, and high. The final maps for each guild – life stage combination are maximum suitability values from the 39-year period modelled.

Fish Habitat Assessment Output: 8 of 16High Water Level (75.4m ASL) - Juvenile/Adult Habitat - Low Vegetation Association Species (Coldwater) Habitat suitability was assessed for the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern, at a 3 m grid resolution, using the Habitat Ecosystem Assessment Tool (HEAT), temperature algorithms, vegetation models, and water level input. Habitat classifications were based on three variables: depth (elevation), vegetation, and substrate; and modified by temperature suitabilities. The final suitability maps were based on documented habitat and temperature associations for the fish in the area. Different life stages (spawning requirements, nursery habitat, adult habitat) were modeled for the years of 1972-2011. Suitability values were scaled from 0 (not suitable) to 1 (highly suitable) and converted to suitability classes of very low, low, medium, and high. The final maps for each guild – life stage combination are maximum suitability values from the 39-year period modelled.