The Department of Fisheries established a survey of demersal juvenile Atlantic cod (*Gadus morhua*) in the nearshore (<10 m deep) in 1959. This survey aimed to characterize the distribution and abundance of juvenile Atlantic cod and was based upon Norway's Flodevigen sampling program which has been conducted continuously since 1919. A 25 m seine was used to sample juvenile Atlantic cod nursery locations on the Avalon Peninsula and Northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland in September and October. The survey continued until 1964 and became known as the Fleming survey, after original initiator Alistair Fleming. The survey was reinstated by Memorial University of Newfoundland from 1992 to 1997. Multiple tows were conducted at a subset of the original 55 Fleming sites located in St. Mary's Bay, Trepassey Bay, the Southern Shore, Conception Bay, Trinity Bay, Bonavista Bay, Gander Bay, New World Island, Fortune Harbour, Badger Bay, Halls Bay and Green Bay.This data set includes several different subsets, some of which span both Fleming Survey periods (1959-1964 and 1992-1997):I. JuvCodCatch60s90s:Catches of juvenile Atlantic cod (1959-1964, 1992-1997) from the first two consecutive tows at each site. This is a summary based on JuvCodLengths90s and FlemingSurveyData60s;II. JuvCodLength90s:Lengths of all individual juvenile Atlantic cod caught for each site (1992-1997);III. SiteEnvData60s90s:Station data for Fleming data 1992-1997;IV. FlemingSurveyData60s:Fleming survey data from 1959-1964 (note there are three record types pertaining to: station data "type 1"; general species catch data including juvenile Atlantic cod grouped by age class ("1+", "Zeroes", and "Total") "type 2; and juvenile Atlantic cod (species 223) listed in length bins "type 3"; andV. FlemingBycatch60s92to96:Bycatch data from 1959-1964 & 1992-1996 from first two tows at each site. This is a summary based partly on the FlemingSurveyData60s set.

Polar cod (Boreogadus saida), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), and Greenland cod (Gadus macrocephalus) are prominent gadid species within the northwest Atlantic Ocean in terms of their ecological and socio-economic importance but it is unclear how climate-induced changes in ocean temperature may alter their distributions by the end of the century (2100). We used physiologically based species distribution models to predict how ocean warming will influence the availability of suitable habitat for early life-stages in these marine gadids. We applied CMIP5 ocean temperature projections to egg survival and juvenile growth models for Polar cod, Atlantic cod, and Greenland cod to create predicted suitability raster surfaces for these metrics across four climatology periods (1981–2005, 2026–2050, 2051–2075, 2076–2100). The analysis focused on the projected changes in temperature in ocean shelf areas where ocean depth is ≤400 m. We created an integrated habitat suitability index by combining the suitability surfaces for egg survival and growth potential to predict areas and periods where thermal conditions were suitable for both life stages. The resulting surfaces indicate that suitable thermal habitat for the juvenile life stages of all three species will shift poleward, but the magnitude of the shift and the overall area of thermally suitable habitat remaining will differ across species and life stages through time. Modelled layers are provided in NetCDF format by metric (egg survival, growth potential, habitat suitability). Data layers for Polar cod, Atlantic cod, and Greenland cod are included within each NetCDF file as variables across time. Note that in this study we refer to Gadus macrocephalus/ogac as Greenland cod since Gadus ogac is thought to be a junior synonym of Gadus macrocephalus (Carr et al., 1999). For more details on the methods and results for this analysis see Cote et al. (2021).References:Carr, S. M., Kivlichan, D. S., Pepin, P., & Crutcher, D. C. (1999). Molecular systematics of gadid fishes: implications for the biogeographic origins of Pacific species. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 77(1), 19–26. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-77-1-19Cote, D., Konecny, C. A., Seiden, J., Hauser, T., Kristiansen, T., & Laurel, B. J. (2021). Forecasted Shifts in Thermal Habitat for Cod Species in the Northwest Atlantic and Eastern Canadian Arctic. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8(November), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.764072

The Coastal Oceanography and Ecosystem Research section (DFO Science) reviewed the presence of Cod in the Population Ecology Division (DFO Science) Ecosystem Survey trawls to describe the likelihood of presence. The survey consists of a stratified random design using a bottom trawl. This layer was created for consideration in oil spill response planning.A version of this dataset was created for the National Environmental Emergency Center (NEEC) following their data model and is available for download in the Resources section.Cite this data as: Lazin, G., Hamer, A.,Corrigan, S., Bower, B., and Harvey, C. Data of: Likelihood of presence of Atlantic Cod in Area Response Planning pilot areas. Published: June 2018. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews, N.B. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/af2bf6c0-481d-4445-bbc6-7a785d2a9aa9

In place since fall 1994, the sentinel fisheries program is the result of a collaboration between Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Quebec and Newfoundland commercial fishermen's associations. Under this program, contracts are awarded by tender to fishermen’s associations to carry out fishing activities according to scientific protocols developed by DFO. The main objective of this survey is to collect data that will be used to calculate abundance indices for various fish stocks, including cod, Greenland halibut, Atlantic halibut and rockfish.Description of mobile surveyThe mobile gear sentinel fisheries of the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence are conducted in the sub-division 3Pn and the divisions 4R, 4S and the northern part of the division 4T of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). This program follows a stratified random survey plan according to depth strata, NAFO divisions and the type of substrate at the bottom. A standard tow is 30 minutes long and made at a speed of 2.5 knots. The fishing gear is a 300 Star Balloon trawl mounted on a Rock Hopper footgear. The trawl mesh size is 145 mm with a liner of 40 mm in the codend. Unless conditions at sea compromise safety during fishing activity, a retaining cable must be used to standardize the horizontal opening between vessels and the various depths fished. Data are collected by observers at sea or by technicians.The data contained in this program are divided into 4 different projects.-The summer series, carried out during the month of July-The fall series, which covers the period from 1995 to 2002-The winter series, to study the mixing between the different stocks-The CRP (Cod reproductive potential) series, which targets the reproductive potential.DataFor each trait, the total catch is sorted and weighed for each species. The number of individuals caught for each unmeasured fish species is noted. Biological data such as length, weight (sampled, per individual, gonad, liver and stomach), age, sex and maturity migth then be collected on a subsample of many species such as Atlantic halibut, Greenland halibut, lumpfish and Atlantic cod, using a variety of protocols. The biological data are divided into 4 files: a “Metadata” file containing set information, a “Catches” file containing catches per set for fish taxa, a “Carbio” file containing biological and morphometric measurements per individual, a “Freql” file containing the length frequency of fish.The data collected as part of this program is available below. It is important to note, however, that 1) only traits deemed successful have been retained; 2) historical data may contain inaccuracies; 3) the most recent survey is not available for validation purposes.

In place since fall 1994, the sentinel fisheries program is the result of a collaboration between Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Quebec and Newfoundland commercial fishermen's associations. Under this program, contracts are awarded by tender to fishermen’s associations to carry out fishing activities according to scientific protocols developed by DFO. The main objective of this survey is to collect data that will be used to calculate abundance indices for the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence Atlantic cod stock.Description of fixed gears surveyThe fixed gear sentinel fisheries of the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence are conducted in the sub-division 3Pn and the divisions 4R, 4S of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) using fixed gillnets or longlines (other fishing gears were also used at the start of the program). Fishing activities with nets must have a mesh size of 5 ½ inches (140mm) and are limited to a maximum of 6 to 20 nets depending on the region and capture and the target immersion time is between 19 to 24 hours. Longline fishing activities, for its part, must be carried out with traditional J #16 or C #12 hooks. The maximum number of hooks varies from 500 to 1000, depending on the catch, and the target immersion time is 4 to 6 hours. Data are collected by observers at sea or by technicians.DataFor each fishing activity, the total catch is sorted and weighed by species. For each species other than Atlantic cod, the number of individuals caught is noted. Atlantic cod are then measured at the fork (cm). Other biological data such as weight (total, gonad, liver and stomach), age, sex and maturity can then be collected on a subsample of cod.The biological data are divided into 4 files: a “Metadata” file containing set information, a “Catches” file containing catches per set for fish taxa, a “Carbio” file containing biological and morphometric measurements per individual, a “Freql” file containing the length frequency of fish.The data collected as part of this program is available below. It is important to note, however, that 1) only traits deemed successful have been retained; 2) historical data may contain inaccuracies; 3) the most recent survey is not available for validation purposes.

PURPOSE:These data have been updated following a Canadian Science Advice Secretariat (CSAS) Regional Science Advisory Process. Associated publications are available in the citation section below or will be posted on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.Determine the stock status of southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Atlantic Cod. DESCRIPTION:The yearly spawning stock biomass estimates of southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Atlantic Cod were obtained using a Statistical Catch-at-Age model as part of the stock assessment to year 2023.The yearly estimates presented come from Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations. The yearly median estimates are provided, along with uncertainty estimates (2.5th, 25th, 75th and 97.5th percentiles). The values are in thousands of tons of spawning stock biomass. USE LIMITATION:To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.

Since 2017, industry-supported scientific surveys targeting Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) have been conducted in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and parts of the estuary. The primary objective of the project is to gather data on the species' abundance, distribution, and biological characteristics. To achieve this, a stratified random longline survey is carried out, during which Atlantic halibut of all sizes are measured and tagged using two spaghetti tags. Beginning in 2024, tissue samples from the pelvic fin of each individual were also collected for genetic analysis.Atlantic halibut are captured using longlines equipped with 500 circle hooks. While the length of the leaders varies among vessels, the spacing between leaders ranges from 3.6 to 5.5 meters. Fork length is measured for each individual of commercial species caught - such as Atlantic halibut, cod, redfish, and Greenland halibut (turbot). Measurements are also occasionally taken for non-commercial species.This publication includes the file Donnees_Releve_Fletan_Halibut_Survey_Data, which provides information associated with each sampled station. It also contains the number of Atlantic halibut, cod, redfish and Greenland halibut (turbot) caught at each station. It is important to note that only beginning in 2019 were all commercial species systematically measured. The "NA" values in 2017–2018 do not indicate that no individuals were caught, but rather that they were not measured systematically.Note: There are missing data in various columns of the dataset - use data with caution - if you have any questions please contact the data management team gddaiss-dmsaisb@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

This project was completed by the Groundfish Section in the Newfoundland and Labrador Science Branch of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). From 2018 to 2020, 14 year-round, acoustic receivers were deployed in Placentia Bay as a part of the Coastal Environmental Baseline Program to form 4 gates: Bar Haven (2 receivers), Centre Channel (1 receiver), Eastern Channel (6 receivers), and Western Channel (5 receivers). Additionally, 162 transmitters were deployed in Atlantic cod in the 3Ps region (2019-2022). Over the deployment period these receivers recorded a total of 2 094 024 detections from 63 unique transmitters including 45 Cod tagged through the Groundfish acoustic telemetry program. Most cod detected were tagged in Placentia Bay (43 fish) and many were detected at multiple receivers or multiple years (37 fish). Passive data collection for this project may extend up to 2030. This record contains the locations of the acoustic receivers in Placentia Bay, NL.

Fecundity of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) was estimated within five spawning areas (German Bank, Scots Bay, Seal Island, Southern Shore Nova Scotia, and Eastern Shore Nova Scotia) in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) areas 4WX in 2019 and 2020. The objective of this project was to describe the fecundity-at-size (weight, length, and age) relationships among spawning grounds, compare these relationships to historical fecundity-at-size relationships, and assess the influence of changes in weight-at-age and fecundity over time to the reproductive potential of a unit of spawning stock biomass.Cite this data as: Barrett T. Data of: Fecundity of Herring in Divisions 4WX. Published: September 2021. Population Ecology Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews, N.B. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/e39b1318-c9f7-4686-b5e5-7d838c8ac99a

In 2009, Fisheries and Oceans Canada published the Policy on Managing the Impacts of Fishing on Sensitive Benthic Areas. To support the implementation of this policy, a Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) process was initiated to: assess the distribution of fishing effort in Canada’s Atlantic and Eastern Arctic waters from 2005-2014, evaluate the overlap between fishing effort and Significant Benthic Areas (SiBAs), and identify areas of potential conservation concern. Although Research Document 2018/15 (Koen-Alonso et al. 2018), detailing this work, has not been updated since publication, the methodology outlined within it is still used to generate updated fishing effort layers as new data becomes available. This record illustrates cumulative fishing effort in Canada’s Atlantic and Eastern Arctic waters from 2005-2023, and is based on commercial logbook and vessel monitoring system (VMS) data. Fishing effort has been standardized into percentiles, whereby the top 20th percentile of intensity (cell values ≥20) represent cells containing the most intense fishing activities.