The Maritimes Region is divided into seven Clam Harvesting Areas (CHA).CLAM HARVESTING AREA 1 is described as follows:The inland and tidal waters of the counties of Colchester, Cumberland and Hants that border and flow into the Bay of Fundy.CLAM HARVESTING AREA 2 is described as follows:The inland and tidal waters of the counties of Annapolis, Digby and Kings.CLAM HARVESTING AREA 3 is described as follows:The inland and tidal waters of Yarmouth County.Time restrictions for Clam Harvesting Area 3: No person shall fish for clams from sunset each Saturday until sunrise on the following Monday (closed Sundays) in the boundaries of Clam Harvesting Area 3.CLAM HARVESTING AREA 4 is described as follows:The inland and tidal waters of the counties of Shelburne, Queens and Lunenburg and that portion of Halifax County west of Pennant Point (as defined in the Territorial Sea Geographical Coordinates Order (C.R.C., c. 1550), Schedule I, Area 4).CLAM HARVESTING AREA 5 is described as follows:The inland and tidal waters of Guysborough County and that portion of Halifax County east of Pennant Point (as defined in the Territorial Sea Geographical Coordinates Order (C.R.C., c. 1550), Schedule I, Area 4).CLAM HARVESTING AREA 6 is described as follows:The inland and tidal waters of the counties of Richmond and Cape Breton, all of Victoria County except that portion between Cape North and Inverness County and that portion of Inverness County that borders on the Bras d'Or Lakes.NEW BRUNSWICK - BAY OF FUNDY CLAM HARVESTING AREA 7 is described as follows:The inland and tidal waters of the counties of Charlotte, Saint John and Albert that flow into the Bay of Fundy.

This dataset provides refined monthly climatological projections for six key ocean variables: surface and bottom temperature, surface and bottom salinity, mixed layer depth, and bottom current speed. The projections are provided for six Maritime Marine Protected Areas: the Gully, the Laurentian Channel, St. Anns Bank, Musquash Estuary, Banc-des-Américains, and Basin Head. These projections are based on downscaled outputs from 22 CMIP6 models under four emissions scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5) for four 20-year periods spanning 2020 to 2099 (2020–2039, 2040–2059, 2060–2079, and 2080–2099).For each model and scenario, 20-year climatological means were computed for each future period. These climatologies were then aggregated to produce ensemble means and ensemble standard deviations for all variables. The released dataset includes only these ensemble summary fields and is provided as gridded data with dimensions longitude × latitude × scenario × time.Cite this data as: Wang., Z. Data of High-resolution climate projection data for Marine Protected Areas in the Maritimes. Published: May 2026. Ocean Ecosystems Science Division, Maritimes Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth NS. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/fb4b3212-bca3-4192-8401-687faccc534b

Layer that includes the known information on potential haul-out sites for the harbour seal and gray seal in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence according to a literature review of documents produced between 1978 and 2000.Additional InformationPotential haul-out sites for the harbor seal and gray seal were produced according to a literature review of the following documents:Andersen, A. et M. Gagnon. 1980. Les ressources halieutiques de l'estuaire du Saint-Laurent. Rapp. can. ind. sci. halieut. aquat., 119: iv + 56 p.Argus Groupe-Conseil inc. 1992. Synthèse et analyse des connaissances relatives aux ressources naturelles du Saguenay et de l'estuaire maritime du Saint-Laurent. Parc marin du Saguenay. Service canadien des parcs, région du Québec.Biorex. 1995. Cartographie des ressources halieutiques et de leurs habitats dans l'estuaire moyen du Saint-Laurent. Rapport au ministère des Pêches et des Océans, Région du Québec, Division de la gestion de l'habitat du poisson. 36 p. + annexes. Biorex. 1996. Base de données géoréférencées sur les ressources halieutiques et leurs habitats : estuaire maritime du Saint-Laurent et fjord du Saguenay. Rapport au ministère des Pêches et des Océans, Région du Québec, Division de la gestion de l'habitat du poisson. Volume 1 : 38 p. + annexes et Volume 2 : 34 p. + annexes.Chevrier, V. 1994. Cartographie des habitats du poisson aux Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Rapport technique no. 1. Réalisé en collaboration avec le M.P.O., Attention Frag'Îles et la M.R.C. des Îles-de-la-Madeleine. 24 p. + 1 ann. + 36 cartes.Comité de la zone d'intervention prioritaire (ZIP) de la Côte-Nord du golfe. 1999. Inventaire des habitats côtiers et marins sensibles de la Basse-Cote-Nord : Rapport final, présenté à Pêches et Océans Canada par le Comité ZIP Côte-Nord du Golfe. 126 p.Comité de protection de la santé et de l'environnement de Gaspé inc. (C.P.S.E.G.). 1996.Communication personnelle par Carol Fournier, MPO. 1999. Communications personnelles par Gosselin, J-F-. 1996. Desaulniers, J. 1989. Étude des populations de pinnipèdes de l'Archipel-de-Mingan et relation entre l'activité de chasse au phoque et la sécurité publique 1987 à 1989. Parcs Canada. Région du Québec. Service de la conservation des ressources naturelles.Enquêtes auprès des pêcheurs. 1995.Lavigne, P.-J. 1978. La chasse estivale du phoque dans le Saint-Laurent. Rapport non publié. 65 p. Pêches et Océans Canada, Région du Québec.Lesage, Véronique. 2000. Communication personnel.Lesage, V., M. O. Hammill, and K.M. Kovacs. 1995. Harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) abundance in the St. Lawrence estuary. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2307: iii + 19 p.Naturam Environnement inc. 1996. Caractérisation physique et biologique de l'habitat du poisson du secteur de Pointe-aux-Outardes. Realisé pour le compte de la Corporation du Parc régional de Pointe-aux-Outardes. 196 p.

Data layers show commercial fishery footprints for directed fisheries using bottom and pelagic longlines for groundfish and large pelagics respectively, and traps for hagfish, LFA 41 and Grey Zone lobster, snow crab, and other crab on the Scotian Shelf, the Bay of Fundy, and Georges Bank in NAFO Divisions 4VWX and Canadian portions of 5Y and 5Z. Bottom longline and trap fishery maps aggregate commercial logbook effort (bottom longline soak time and logbook entries) per 2-minute grid cell using 2002–2017 data. Pelagic longline maps aggregate speed-filtered vessel monitoring system (VMS) track lines as vessel minutes per km2 on a base-10 log scale using 2003–2018 data. The following data layers are included in the mapping service for use in marine spatial planning and ecological risk assessment: 1) multi-year and quarterly composite data layers for bottom longline and trap gear, and 2) multi-year and monthly composite data layers for pelagic longline gear. Additional details are available online: S. Butler, D. Ibarra and S. Coffen-Smout, 2019. Maritimes Region Longline and Trap Fisheries Footprint Mapping for Marine Spatial Planning and Risk Assessment. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3293: v + 30 p. http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2019/mpo-dfo/Fs97-6-3293-eng.pdf

This dataset identifies the geographic locations of marine ports, terminals, shipyards, and harbours on the west coast of British Columbia. The points were reviewed and cross referenced with government and industry data sources for geographic and attribute data accuracy.

The hydrographic 1991 to 2020 climatology for the Maritimes region Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program core transects, Cabot Strait, Louisbourg, Halifax, Browns Bank, and Northeast Channel, are calculated to support annual reporting on seasonal variability. Details on data coverage for these transects and ancillary transects occupied since the inception of the program are provided. Comparisons with the previous climatology period, years 1981 to 2010, are summarized when possible.Cite this data as: Layton, C. Data of:Maritimes Region Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program 1991 to 2020 Hydrographic Transect Climatology.Published: August 2025. Ocean Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S.https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/5f9c5d65-3ce1-4bdd-8b43-34086620d1e3

To estimate Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus) pup production, photographic aerial surveys were conducted of the major Grey Seal breeding colonies in Canadian waters. The last survey was completed in January 2021. A total of 72,209 pups were counted on digital imagery from Sable Island, the largest breeding colony. Reconnaissance flights found no new colonies along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Pup developmental stage surveys were undertaken on the ground or from helicopter at the seven largest breeding colonies to describe the birth distribution and correct the pup count for the estimate of pups born after the aerial photographic survey. The estimated number of pups born on Sable Island was 76,600 (SE = 2,900) and for Coastal Nova Scotia was 4,700 (SE = 550). For Sable Island, this is the first estimate of pup production since the 1960s that has not been a significant increase. Sable Island accounts for 77.5% of total pup production in Canada, and the change in trend in pup production on Sable Island is reflected in the trend in total pup production. Pup production in the Gulf of St. Lawrence continues to fluctuate with little evidence of trend over the past several decades, while at the more recently-established breeding colonies in southwest Nova Scotia, pup production continues to increase.In February 2026, the time series of grey seal pup production estimates for Maritimes Region was made open source. The open data was set up with no abbreviations or codes and restricted to just Maritimes Region. Notably there are counts in the dataset provided not linked to specific breeding colonies, for the miscellaneous locations the latitude and longitude are for roughly center of the colonies or region.Cite this data as: den Heyer., C. Data of Grey Seal Pup Production in Canadian Water. Published: April 2026. Ocean Ecosystems Science Division, Maritimes Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth NS. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/ea8962b2-0d75-4500-a3de-d631a1e5308f

The Coastal Environmental Baseline Program is a multi-year Fisheries and Oceans Canada initiative designed to work with Indigenous and local communities and other key parties to collect coastal environmental data at six pilot sites across Canada (Port of Vancouver, Port of Prince Rupert, Lower St. Lawrence Estuary, Port of Saint John, Placentia Bay, and Iqaluit). The goal of the Program is to gather local information in these areas in effort to build a better understanding of marine ecological conditions. The Maritimes region has developed a habitat classification program to align with the oceanographic interests and data needs of local communities and stakeholders, with the goal of sharing this information via open data. In 2020, a habitat survey in the lower Musquash Marine Protected Area (MPA) was undertaken to further develop this project, using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) equipped with high-frequency (450 kHz) side scan sonar to build a habitat map of the MPA. This dataset includes mosaicked series of sonar images (raw & position-corrected versions), covering roughly 6 km2 of marine and intertidal areas in the Musquash MPA. Doppler Velocity logs and mission-specific files for each survey are also included, along with detailed methodological documentation. These data were generated from 17 separate survey missions that were completed in August, September and October 2020.

Human activities occurring on land can impact marine coastal ecosystems. Baseline information on the locations and intensity of these activities are critical components of any impact assessment or spatial planning approach seeking to mitigate stress and protect or restore coastal ecosystems. As part of a wider project, land use maps were created for 109 coastal watersheds draining into the Scotian Shelf Bioregion – a biophysical subdivision of Canada’s marine waters in the Maritimes Region of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Information was compiled from various national and provincial publicly available spatial data sources. Each map provides basic statistics on areal values of different land cover types (such as forested areas, pervious or impervious surfaces, agricultural areas, peatlands, parks and protected areas, wetlands and freshwater bodies), human population density, building locations, and locations of major riverine pour points. This project was funded by Fisheries and Oceans Canada through a Strategic Program for Ecosystem-based Research and Advice (SPERA) grant. Source Guijarro-Sabaniel, J., Kelly, N.E. 2022. Land Use Atlas for Coastal Watersheds in the Maritimes Region. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3494: viii + 135 p. Associated publication Kelly, N.E., Guijarro-Sabaniel, J. and Zimmerman, R., 2021. Anthropogenic nitrogen loading and risk of eutrophication in the coastal zone of Atlantic Canada. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 263, p.107630. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2021.107630Cite this data as: Guijarro-Sabaniel, J. Kelly, N.E. Land use atlas for coastal watersheds in the Maritimes Region. Published May 2022. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S.

Species distribution models (SDMs) are tools that combine species observations of occurrence, abundance, or biomass with environmental variables to predict the distribution of a species in unsampled locations. To produce accurate predictions of occurrence, abundance or biomass distribution, a wide range of physical and/or biological variables is desirable. Such data is often collected over limited or irregular spatial scales, and require the application of geospatial techniques to produce continuous environmental surfaces that can be used for modelling at all spatial scales. Here we provide a review of 102 environmental data layers that were compiled for the entire spatial extent of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Maritimes Region. Variables were obtained from a broad range of physical and biological data sources and spatially interpolated using geostatistical methods. For each variable we document the underlying data distribution, provide relevant diagnostics of the interpolation models and an assessment of model performance, and present the final standard error and interpolation surfaces. These layers have been archived in a common (raster) format at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography to facilitate future use. Based on the diagnostic summaries in this report, a subset of these variables has subsequently been used in species distribution models to predict the distribution of deep-water corals, sponges, and other significant benthic taxa in the Maritimes Region.Cite this data as: Beazley, Lindsay; Guijarro, Javier, Lirette; Camille; Wang, Zeliang; Kenchington, Ellen (2020). Characteristics of Environmental Data Layers for Use in Species Distribution Modelling in the Maritimes Region. Published July 2023. Ocean Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/34a917cb-a0e3-403c-91c7-af3dc20628b1