The fish activity area data represents the consolidation of two fish data classes collected by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The data estimates locations used by fish for activities such as spawning and nursing young. Locations are represented as polygons. They may be related to a specific species or described more generally. There are additional sensitive features related to provincially tracked species and species at risk that are not available as part of the open data package. Sensitive features are subject to licensing and approvals and may be requested by contacting geospatial@ontario.ca.

The wildlife values area and site datasets represent the consolidation of 13 wildlife data classes collected by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The data estimates locations used by wildlife for various reasons, including: * breeding * calving and fawning * denning * feeding * staging * nesting * wintering * general habitat areas * nurseries * travel corridors Locations are represented as points (site) or polygons (area) and may be related to a specific species or described more generally. Wildlife values data is most often used to support policy and legislation associated with the Crown Forest Sustainability Act. The data may also be used to inform a wide range of resource management activities and decisions. There are additional sensitive features related to provincially tracked species and species at risk that are not available as part of the open data package. Sensitive features are subject to licensing and approvals and may be requested by contacting [geospatial@ontario.ca](geospatial@ontario.ca).

An Element Occurrence (EO) is an area of land and/or water in which a species or ecological community is, or was, present. An Element is either a species (or subspecies taxa) or an ecological community, the Occurrence is the documented location. The EO concept is part of NatureServe methodology. This methodology is used throughout the NatureServe network. EOs are created based on the Element Occurrence Data Standard and are a derived product developed from submitted observations. An EO should have practical conservation value for the Element as evidenced by potential continued (or historical) presence and/or regular recurrence at a given location. For Species Elements, the EO often corresponds with the local population, but when appropriate may be a portion of a population (e.g., for long distance dispersers) or may be a group of nearby populations (e.g., metapopulation). For Ecological Community Elements, the EO may represent a stand or patch of a natural community, or a cluster of stands or patches of a natural community. This dataset contains Sensitive EOs. Sensitive EOs are occurrences of species that are rare (or of conservation concern) and in these cases the precise location details cannot be distributed without due cause. In most cases these locations are not freely available because the species are legally listed (for example, under Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act) or are of particular concern to the Alberta government, thus Sensitive EO data in this layer is hazed (generalized) to the Alberta Township System Township (ATS) polygons (v4.1). This data updates on a daily basis.

This spatial dataset represents the locations of aquatic resource area (ARA) polygon segments derived from corresponding polygon features in the Ontario Hydro Network. ARA polygon segments may represent a portion of a water body or an entire water body (such as a lake, river or stream). Attributes for each location may include: * physical characteristics such as water temperature and depth * fish species observed The ARA data classes are the authoritative source for generic spatial data related to fish species in Ontario. The data may be used for: * forest and fisheries management planning * municipal planning * natural heritage and other land use planning * issuing work permits under the [Public Lands Act](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90p43), 1990 * issuing licenses under the [Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/97f41), 1997 * fulfilling public information requests There are additional sensitive data related to provincially tracked species and species at risk that are not available as part of this open data package. Distribution of sensitive species data is approved on a need-to-know basis. Requests should be sent to [geospatial@ontario.ca](mailto:geospatial@ontario.ca).

An Element Occurrence (EO) is an area of land and/or water in which a species or ecological community is, or was, present. An Element is either a species (or subspecies taxa) or an ecological community, the Occurrence is the documented location. The EO concept is part of NatureServe methodology. This methodology is used throughout the NatureServe network. EOs are created based on the Element Occurrence Data Standard and are a derived product developed from submitted observations. An EO should have practical conservation value for the Element as evidenced by potential continued (or historical) presence and/or regular recurrence at a given location. For Species Elements, the EO often corresponds with the local population, but when appropriate may be a portion of a population (e.g., for long distance dispersers) or may be a group of nearby populations (e.g., metapopulation). For Ecological Community Elements, the EO may represent a stand or patch of a natural community, or a cluster of stands or patches of a natural community. This dataset contains Non-sensitive EOs. Non-Sensitive EOs are locations (i.e. occurrences) of species or communities that are rare (or of conservation concern for some other reason) and for which there are no restrictions regarding public access to location data (beyond agreeing to the Terms and Conditions detailed below). This data updates on a daily basis.

This spatial dataset represents the locations of aquatic resource area (ARA) survey points. ARA survey points may represent a portion of a water body or an entire water body (such as a lake, river or stream). Attributes for each location may include: * physical characteristics such as water temperature and depth * fish species The ARA data classes are the authoritative source for generic spatial data related to fish species in Ontario. The data can be used for: * forest and fisheries management planning * municipal planning * natural heritage and land use planning * issuing work permits under the [Public Lands Act](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90p43), 1990 * issuing licences under the [Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/97f41), 1997 * fulfilling public information requests There are additional sensitive data related to provincially tracked species and species at risk that are not available as part of this open data package. Distribution of sensitive species data is approved on a need-to-know basis. Requests should be sent to [geospatial@ontario.ca](mailto:geospatial@ontario.ca).

The wildlife values area and site datasets represent the consolidation of 13 wildlife data classes collected by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The data estimates locations used by wildlife for various reasons, including: * breeding * calving and fawning * denning * feeding * staging * nesting * wintering * general habitat areas * nurseries * travel corridors Locations are represented as points (site) or polygons (area) and may be related to a specific species or described more generally. Wildlife values data is most often used to support policy and legislation associated with the Crown Forest Sustainability Act. The data may also be used to inform a wide range of resource management activities and decisions. There are additional sensitive features related to provincially tracked species and species at risk that are not available as part of the open data package. Sensitive features are subject to licensing and approvals and may be requested by contacting [geospatial@ontario.ca](geospatial@ontario.ca).

This spatial dataset represents the locations of aquatic resource area (ARA) line segments derived from corresponding line features in the Ontario Hydro Network. ARA line segments may represent a portion of a water body or an entire water body (such as a lake, river or stream). Attributes for each location may include: * physical characteristics such as water temperature and depth * fish species The ARA data classes are the authoritative source for generic spatial data related to fish species in Ontario. The data can be used for: * forest and fisheries management planning * municipal planning * natural heritage and land use planning * issuing work permits under the [Public Lands Act](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90p43), 1990 * issuing licenses under the [Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/97f41), 1997 * fulfilling public information requests There are additional sensitive data related to provincially tracked species and species at risk that are not available as part of this open data package. Distribution of sensitive species data is approved on a need-to-know basis. Requests should be sent to [geospatial@ontario.ca](mailto:geospatial@ontario.ca).

This dataset displays the Canadian geographic ranges of the priority species identified under the Pan-Canadian Approach for Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in Canada (“Pan-Canadian Approach”). These species include Barren-ground Caribou (including the Dolphin and Union population); Greater Sage-Grouse; Peary Caribou; Wood Bison; Caribou, Boreal population (“Boreal Caribou”); and Woodland Caribou, Southern Mountain population (“Southern Mountain Caribou”). The priority species were chosen following a number of criteria and considerations in collaboration with federal, provincial, and territorial partners. These include, but were not limited to, the species' ecological role on a regional or national scale, their conservation status and achievability of conservation outcomes, their social and cultural value (particularly to Indigenous peoples), and the leadership/partnership opportunities that they present. Delivering conservation outcomes for targeted priority species can have significant co-benefits for other species at risk, and wildlife in general. For more information on the Pan-Canadian Approach and the priority species, see https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/wildlife-plants-species/species-risk/pan-canadian-approach.html.This dataset includes: 1) the range for the Boreal Caribou (see https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/consultations/2253); 2) the local populations for the Southern Mountain Caribou (see https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/consultations/1309); 3) the range for the Greater Sage-Grouse (see https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/consultations/1458); 4) local populations for the Peary Caribou (see https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/consultations/3657); 5) range for the Barren-ground Caribou (see https://www.maps.geomatics.gov.nt.ca/Html5Viewer/index.html?viewer=NWT_SHV English only); 6) range for the Barren-ground Caribou, Dolphin and Union population (https://www.maps.geomatics.gov.nt.ca/Html5Viewer/index.html?viewer=NWT_SHV English only); 7) range for the Wood Bison (see https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/consultations/2914).

The Species at Risk (SAR) Program is responsible for carrying out DFO’s mandate under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) to protect, recover and conserve all listed aquatic SAR in Canada. Critical habitat is identified for species listed as Endangered or Threatened under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).This mapping tool is for general guidance only. “Mapped” representations of waterbodies and watercourses are based on authoritative provincial geospatial products, guidance and standards. Due to the nature of dynamic systems and the resolution/accuracy of these data sets, areas within which critical habitat is found as displayed on the mapping tool may not align exactly with natural watercourses. If discrepancies occur, refer to the relevant species recovery strategy and/or action plan for additional information on critical habitat. If additional guidance is required, please contact the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pnw-ppe/contact-eng.htmlCritical habitat is defined under section 2 of SARA as: "the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of a listed wildlife species and that is identified as the species' critical habitat in the recovery strategy or in an action plan for the species". Section 49(1)(a) of SARA requires that a species' Recovery Strategy/Action Plan include an identification of the species' critical habitat to the extent possible, based on the best available information, including information provided by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). SARA makes it illegal to destroy any part of the critical habitat of SAR and may impose restrictions on development and construction. Critical habitats were assembled by SARA regional biologists and recovery teams. They are designed to support the protection and recovery of species listed as Endangered or Threatened under the Species at Risk Act. They are also described and displayed in species' Recovery Documents and Action Plans.