Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) and Quagga Mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) have a long history of invasion in European and North American freshwater ecosystems, with significant ecological and economic impacts. An ecological risk assessment for these two invasive species for freshwater ecosystems in Canada was completed in April 2022 with the aim to provide science-based guidance to inform management decisions and actions. These include early detection, response planning, and/or regulatory and policy measures aimed at mitigating the potential spread and risk posed by Zebra and Quagga Mussels to Canadian freshwater ecosystems (DFO 2023). The Potential for Introduction (propagule pressure and connectivity), the Potential for Establishment (habitat suitability, including a Calcium-based and Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt)-based model), the Potential for Invasion, and the Ecological Impacts were used to derive Ecological Risk for Zebra and Quagga Mussels in Canada. This assessment did not evaluate the risk to individual waterbodies but rather was conducted at a 9,260 m x 9,260 m grid cell resolution. These high resolution maps are provided here. Maps of Ecological Risk at the sub-drainage level are also provided. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is not responsible for any omissions or errors that may be contained in this dataset and shall not be liable for any losses, financial or otherwise, due to the use of these data. Please credit Wilcox et al. 2024 as the source of the data in any maps, reports, or articles that are printed or published on paper or the Internet.

Bicycle path routes.attribute:Name - Name of the bike pathTypeLane - Type of bike path**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**

This is a collection of eelgrass (Zostera marina) presence and absence records collected between 2009-2025 in coastal waters in Nova Scotia, Canada. The data collection has been collated by the Coastal Benthic Ecology Lab (CBEL) at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) under the supervision of Dr. Melisa Wong. Records include those from various research groups at DFO, Nova Scotia provincial departments, academia, and non-profit organizations.Data were collected using various methods including field measurements of eelgrass presence or absence via boat, snorkel and drop camera video transects, surface observations, and various sample collections (including plants, core, sediment, trawl, pop net, seine, etc.). Please see specific record references for associated metadata and detailed descriptions of the methods for eelgrass occurrence data collection. Where available, water depth (m) and substrate type (rock, soft, or mixed) are provided. The substrate type (hard substrate, mixed, mud, rocky, sand, or various combinations) used for the species distribution model published by O’Brien et al. 2022 is also provided where available.The data owner, data source (i.e., reference(s)), and use of the data in the species distribution model of O’Brien et al. 2022 are provided. All records from sources external to DFO are included under data sharing agreements or permission from the data owner.Cite this data as: Wong, M.C., Fraser, M., Thomson, J. A., O’Brien, J. Data of eelgrass (Zostera marina) occurrences in Nova Scotia. Published: April 2026. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Maritimes Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth NS.

Since 1985, research surveys targeting scallops—primarily the sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) and, to a lesser extent, the Icelandic scallop (Chlamys islandica)—have been conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) at one- or two-year intervals around the Magdalen Islands (fishing area 20A). The main objective of this survey is to assess the status of sea scallop stocks. The study area is situated south of the Magdalen Islands, where scallop beds are typically sampled at depths ranging from approximately 25 to 35 m. Sampling stations are randomly selected from a predetermined fixed grid, with sampling conducted along transects at these randomly assigned locations within the study area. Each station is sampled using a lined Digby scallop dredge (20 mm mesh size), towed for roughly 500 m across the seabed.This publication includes three files: the file biometriePetoncle_20, which contains detailed biometric data (species, size, weights and sex) from 1998 to 2024; the file taillePetoncle_20, which provides the size of the individuals sampled from 2009 to 2024; and the file traitPetoncle_20 which contains the abundances and densities per tow from 2009 to 2024. Data on abundances and densities per tow from 1998-2008 is available upon request.This dataset is updated every one to two years as data becomes available. A cleaning of aberrant data has been carried out. However, there is missing data in various columns of the dataset – use the data with caution. If you have any questions please contact DFO.DataManagementSAISB-GestionDonneesDAISS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or the author. For certain time periods, associated species are identified and semi-quantitatively counted directly on the sorting table, and the results are presented in the following publications: - https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/6529a4b0-f863-4568-ac71-1fa26cf68679- https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/71732ad5-5c70-4dbf-916d-a94e1380c53b 

Spiny dogfish (Squlaus acanthias), is a species found in Atlantic Canadian waters which is encountered mostly in commercial fisheries. Pop-up Satellite Archival Tags (PSAT) from Wildlife Computers were applied to spiny dogfish from 2008 to 2009 to collect data on depth (pressure), temperature and ambient light level (for position estimation). Deployments were conducted in Canada on commercial fishing vessels from August to October. Wildlife Computers PSAT Mk10 (N=6) were used and 3 of 6 tags reported. One tag was found washed up on shore and was returned. The spiny dogfish tagged ranged in size from 80 cm to 96 cm Fork Length (curved); all 6 were female. Time at liberty ranged from 75 – 234 days and the 43 tags that reported remained on the sharks for the programmed duration. Raw data transmitted from the PSAT’s after release was processed through Wildlife Computers software (GPE3) to get summary files, assuming a maximum swimming speed of 2m/s, NOAA OI SST V2 High Resolution data set for SST reference and ETOPO1-Bedrock dataset for bathymetry reference. The maximum likelihood position estimates are available in .csv and .kmz format and depth and temperature profiles are also in .csv format. Other tag outputs as well as metadata from the deployments can be obtained upon request from: warren.joyce@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or heather.bowlby@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

The Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) is the largest of all sea lions and enjoys a lifespan of up to thirty years. In Canada, the Steller can be spotted along the rocky coast of British Columbia. These highly mobile marine mammals typically travel alone or in small groups, but they congregate in large numbers at traditional rookeries and haul-outs during the mating and pupping season. The population was severely depleted in Canada but following its protection in 1970, the size of the adult population has more than doubled.The survey targeted Steller sea lions and sites were chosen based on knowledge of historically occupied rookeries and haul-out sites with nearby areas monitored for potential shifts in distribution. This dataset contains counts that have been collected from sightings of individuals in the 2016/2017 survey season.

Considered the "king" of sea lions, the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) is the biggest of all sea lions and enjoys a lifespan of up to thirty years. In Canada, the Steller can be spotted along the rocky coast of British Columbia. This hefty mammal usually travels alone or in a small group, but wisely, it joins others for protection during the mating and birthing season. Little is known about its oceanic lifestyle; however, the good news for this sea-loving mammal is that since the Steller sea lion first became protected in 1970, the size of the adult population has more than doubled. Recent trends in the abundance of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in British Columbia were assessed based on a series of thirteen province-wide aerial surveys conducted during the breeding season (27-June to 06-July) between 1971 and 2013.

The greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), is a species found in Atlantic Canadian waters which is occasionally encountered in commercial fisheries. Pop-up Satellite Archival Tags (PSAT) from Wildlife Computers were applied to greenland sharks from 2006 to 2009 to collect data on depth (pressure), temperature and ambient light level (for position estimation). Deployments were conducted in Canada on commercial vessels throughout the year and in Cumberland Sound (Pangirtung) on a scientific expedition in April 2008. A variety of tag models were deployed: PAT 4 (n=1) and Mk10 (N=15) and 14 of 16 tags reported. Greenland sharks tagged ranged in size from 250 cm to 549 cm Total Length (curved); 3 were female, 9 were male, and 4 were of unknown sex. Time at liberty ranged from 48 – 350 days and 9 tags remained on the sharks for the programmed duration. Raw data transmitted from the PSAT’s after release was processed through Wildlife Computers software (GPE3) to get summary files, assuming a maximum swimming speed of 2m/s, NOAA OI SST V2 High Resolution data set for SST reference and ETOPO1-Bedrock dataset for bathymetry reference. The maximum likelihood position estimates are available in .csv and .kmz format and depth and temperature profiles are also in .csv format. Other tag outputs as well as metadata from the deployments can be obtained upon request from: warren.joyce@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or heather.bowlby@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Speckled Dace (Rhinichthys osculus) are listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) as endangered. These fresh water fish, of the family Cyprinidae, are found in Canada only in the Kettle Valley of British Columbia. Proposed critical habitat was based on minimum viable population analysis and assumed densities of fish. From October 19th to the 22nd of 2015, night time pole seining surveys were conducted to enumerate Speckled Dace in proposed critical habitat on the West Kettle River; one of three rivers containing Speckled Dace. The estimated population abundance of Speckled Dace within the survey area was 8,978 (6,143-11,814), however only 1,014 of these are estimated to be adults.

The Brier Island/Digby Neck area has been identified as an Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA) by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and is one of four marine areas within the Bay of Fundy recognised by Parks Canada as of national significance for marine conservation planning. The area is representative of important outer Bay of Fundy features with significant marine mammal, bird, and benthic diversity including potentially important aggregations of sensitive benthic species such as horse mussel and sponge. Much of the information used for this recognition is now over 40 years old and should be re-validated using standardised georeferenced survey methods. As a first phase, a diver-based survey of the sublittoral habitats and associated species was conducted in August and September of 2017 for the Brier Island area. This report summarises the major sublittoral habitat types, species assemblages, and oceanographic conditions observed at 20 locations including Northwest and Southwest Ledges, Gull Rock, Peter’s Island, and Grand Passage. A total of 962 records were made of 178 taxa, consisting of 43 algae and 135 animals. Comparison with historical records largely confirmed the continued presence of unique habitats and species assemblages for which this area was initially recognised as an EBSA. Differences in species richness observed for cryptic and less known taxonomic groups such as sponges and bryozoans were attributable to changes in survey methods and knowledge. Based on these findings, additional surveys of inshore and offshore Brier Island using more quantitative methods developed for other Bay of Fundy EBSAs would further support regional MPA network planning and provide relative scales of species diversity and habitat coverage for this area.