Striped Bass critical habitat (St. Lawrence estuary population) defined by the analysis of available knowledge in 2011 and a scientific advice.PurposeThe status of the Striped Bass population of the St. Lawrence Estuary is in constant evolution. It went from indigenous population until the end of 1960 to designated extirpated in Canada under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2011.Still in 2011, the status of the population of the St. Lawrence Estuary was reassessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) following the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec re-introduction efforts and was designated endangered (COSEWIC 2012). Under SARA, critical habitat must be designated for all threatened, endangered or extirpated species.Additional InformationThe analysis of available knowledge on habitat quality assessment and its use by the Striped Bass was realized using two research documents: Pelletier et al. (2010) and Robitaille (2010). These documents were then reviewed during a scientific peer review meeting in April 2010. A Recovery Strategy was also established in 2011.Pelletier, A.-M., G. Verrault, G. Bourget and J. Dussureault. 2010. Utilisation de l’habitat par les différents stades de développement de la population réintroduite de bars rayés (Morone saxatilis) de l’estuaire du Saint-Laurent. Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec, Direction de l’Expertise Faune-Forêt-Territoire du Bas-Saint-Laurent. 50 p.Robitaille, J. 2010. Assessment of Habitat Quality and Habitat Use by the Extirped Striped Bass Population (Morone saxatilis) of St. Lawrence Estuary, Quebec DFO Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat. Research Document. 2010/052. 22 p.DFO. 2011. Assessment of Habitat Quality and Habitat Use by the Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) Population of the St. Lawrence Estuary, Quebec. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2010/069.DFO. 2011. Robitaille, J., M. Bérubé, A. Gosselin, M. Baril, J. Beauchamp, J. Boucher, S. Dionne, M. Legault, Y. Mailhot, B. Ouellet, P. Sirois, S. Tremblay G. Trencia, G. Verreault and D. Villeneuve. 2011. Recovery Strategy for the Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis), St. Lawrence Estuary Population, Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Ottawa : Fisheries and Oceans Canada. xi + 51 p.The available information on habitat used and frequented by the St. Lawrence Estuary striped bass population has been reviewed later than 2011 and can be consulted at:https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/db177a8c-5d7d-49eb-8290-31e6a45d786c

The Beluga whale critical habitat, which includes the Upper Estuary, the Saguenay River up to Sainte-Marguerite Bay, and the southern channel of the Lower Estuary, supports the vital functions of calving and rearing of the young.Due to the lack of information, studies are planned in the near future to increase knowledge of the species. Critical habitat actual limitations could change someday.PurposeThe beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) population in the St. Lawrence Estuary was greatly reduced by hunting, which was finally banned in the St. Lawrence in 1979. In May 2005, this beluga population was officially listed as a threatened species on SARA’s List of Wildlife Species at Risk.Additional InformationSt. Lawrence beluga critical habitat is identified using the best available information. All the available information on its prey, seasonal distribution, use and characteristics of its habitat has been reviewed by Mosnier (2010). This literature review was used to produce a science advisory report reviewed by marine mammal experts. Beluga whale critical habitat has been identified with the information and the scientific advice, using the area of occupancy approach and corresponds to the summer distribution of groups made up of adults and new-born calves and juveniles.Mosnier, A., Lesage, V., Gosselin, J.-F., Lemieux Lefebvre, S., Hammill, M. O., Doniol-Valcroze, T. 2010. Information relevant to the documentation of habitat use by St. Lawrence beluga (Delphinapterus leucas), and quantification of habitat quality. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec., Res. Doc. 2009/098. iv + 35 p.DFO. 2012. Recovery Strategy for the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) St. Lawrence Estuary population in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa. 88 pp + X pp.

This layer represents the seasonal distribution of St. Lawrence Estuary beluga whale population (Delphinapterus leucas). Summer distribution is based on many surveys conducted between the end of August and early September. Fall and winter distributions are based on aerial surveys conducted during mid-October, November and from December to March 1989-1990. Spring distribution is based on anecdotal reports and two aerial surveys conducted in late April and early June 1990.Beluga whale seasonal distribution can change according to sea ice cover, predation risk and food availability. This layer represents the general seasonal distribution and does not account for the sexual segregation among males and females in the St. Lawrence Estuary.This layer do not represent the beluga's critical habitat. See the data layer “Beluga whale critical habitat in the Saguenay River and the St. Lawrence Estuary” (https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/fdfef550-b94c-466c-9dcb-24c297c00e3e). Data source : Mosnier, A., Lesage, V., Gosselin, J.-F., Lemieux Lefebvre, S., Hammill, M. O., Doniol-Valcroze, T. 2010. Information relevant to the documentation of habitat use by St. Lawrence beluga (Delphinapterus leucas), and quantification of habitat quality. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec., Res. Doc. 2009/098. iv + 35 p.

2014 to 2023 pelagic fish abundance in the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The abundance is expressed as a number of individuals per normalized trawl set. Each species is individually represented in the northern Gulf and in the southern Gulf. Input data are from the annual August (North) and September (South) multidisciplinary surveys. The pelagic species represented are: Arctic Cod, Atlantic Argentine, Atlantic Herring, Atlantic Mackerel, Atlantic Soft Pout, Capelin, Lumpfish, Pollock, Rainbow Smelt, Sand Lances, Silver Hake, Threespine Stickleback and White Barracudina.PurposeSince 1990, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been conducting an annual multidisciplinary survey in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence using a standardized protocol. In the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, these bottom trawl surveys has been carrying out each September since 1971. These missions are an important source of information about the status of the marine ressources.The objectives of the surveys are multiple: to estimate the abundance and biomass of groundfish and invertebrates, to identify the spatial distribution and biological characteristics of these species, to monitor the biodiversity of the Estuary and Gulf and finally, to describe the environmental conditions observed in the area at the moment of the sampling.The southern Gulf surveys are realized using the following standardized protocol:Hurlbut,T. and D.Clay (eds) 1990. Protocols for Research Vessel Cruises within the Gulf Region (Demersal Fish) (1970-1987). Can. MS Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. No. 2082: 143p.The sampling protocols used for the Estuary and northern Gulf surveys are described in details in the following publications:Bourdages, H., Archambault, D., Bernier, B., Fréchet, A., Gauthier, J., Grégoire, F., Lambert, J., et Savard, L. 2010. Résultats préliminaires du relevé multidisciplinaire de poissons de fond et de crevette d’août 2009 dans le nord du golfe du Saint-Laurent. Rapp. stat. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 1226 : xii+ 72 p. Bourdages, H., Archambault, D., Morin, B., Fréchet, A., Savard, L., Grégoire, F., et Bérubé, M. 2003. Résultats préliminaires du relevé multidisciplinaire de poissons de fond et de crevette d’août 2003 dans le nord du golfe du Saint-Laurent. Secr. can. consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. rech. 2003/078. vi + 68 p.Annual reports are available at the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS), (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/index-eng.htm).Bourdages, H., Brassard, C., Desgagnés, M., Galbraith, P., Gauthier, J., Légaré, B., Nozères, C. and Parent, E. 2017. Preliminary results from the groundfish and shrimp multidisciplinary survey in August 2016 in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2017/002. v + 87 p.

Data were collected during aerial surveys carried out at low tides in June and August 1994-1997, 2000 and 2001. June and August are respectively pupping and moulting seasons, when the haulout sites are intensively used by seals. Features in this layer show the Grey seal distribution and mean abundance for all aerial surveys (tables 4 and 6, figures 4 and 6 from Robillard et al. 2005). In the estuary, areas of high abundance have more than 25 individuals, areas of medium abundance have between 5 and 25 individuals and areas of low abundance have fewer than 5 individuals. In the Gulf, areas of high abundance have more than 70 individuals and areas of medium to low abundance have fewer than 70 individuals.Data are valid only during summer because Grey seals in the Estuary and northern Gulf migrate to the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence in the fall. These seals will spend the winter on Sable Island, on the ice shelf in the Northumberland Strait or on neighboring islands. During the summer, in the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, its distribution is not uniform between the different concentration areas identified, but it is similar between June and August. However, there are some areas where Grey seals are more abundant in August than in June. Abundance classes are arbitrary but fit with the published results of haul-out sites utilization from Robillard et al. (2005). Data shown are a picture of the situation in 2005 because it is the most recent mapping available for this species.Data sources and references:Lavigueur, L., Hammill, M.O., and Asselin, S. 1993. Distribution et biologie des phoques et autres mammifères marins dans la région du parc marin du Saguenay. Rapp. manus. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 2220: vi + 40.Lesage, V., and Hammill, M.O. 2001. The status of the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus, in the Northwest Atlantic. Can. Field-Nat. 115(4): 653-662.Robillard, A., V. Lesage, and M.O. Hammill. 2005. Distribution and abundance of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina concolor) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, 1994–2001. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2613: 152 pp.

The St. Lawrence Estuary is known as a summer foraging area for several species of marine mammals, including several species of rorquals. Among these is the blue whale, which feeds almost exclusively on euphausiids. Therefore, the abundance, distribution and local density of krill should logically be a strong explanatory variable for the distribution of blue whales. However little is known about the spatial association of blue whales with the aggregation dynamics of krill in eastern Canada. Six years of acoustic surveys, conducted in August from 2009 to 2014, were undertaken to study the medium- and small-scale distribution of krill within the northwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence and estuary. The data shows a mosaic of the maximum annual density of arctic krill (T. raschii) made from these surveys.McQuinn, I.H., Gosselin, J.-F., Bourassa, M.-N., Mosnier, A., St-Pierre, J.-F., Plourde, S., Lesage, V., Raymond, A. 2016. The spatial association of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) with krill patches (Thysanoessa spp. and Meganyctiphanes norvegica) in the estuary and northwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2016/104. iv + 19 p.

2014 to 2023 demersal fish group richness in the Estuary and Gulf of St.Lawrence estimated by the number of species found in each grid cell 10 km x 10 km. Input data are from the annual August and September multidisciplinary surveys.PurposeSince 1990, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been conducting an annual multidisciplinary survey in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence using a standardized protocol. In the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, these bottom trawl surveys has been carrying out each September since 1971. These missions are an important source of information about the status of the marine ressources.The objectives of the surveys are multiple: to estimate the abundance and biomass of groundfish and invertebrates, to identify the spatial distribution and biological characteristics of these species, to monitor the biodiversity of the Estuary and Gulf and finally, to describe the environmental conditions observed in the area at the moment of the sampling.The southern Gulf surveys are realized using the following standardized protocol:Hurlbut,T. and D.Clay (eds) 1990. Protocols for Research Vessel Cruises within the Gulf Region (Demersal Fish) (1970-1987). Can. MS Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. No. 2082: 143p.The sampling protocols used for the Estuary and northern Gulf surveys are described in details in the following publications:Bourdages, H., Archambault, D., Bernier, B., Fréchet, A., Gauthier, J., Grégoire, F., Lambert, J., et Savard, L. 2010. Résultats préliminaires du relevé multidisciplinaire de poissons de fond et de crevette d’août 2009 dans le nord du golfe du Saint-Laurent. Rapp. stat. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 1226 : xii+ 72 p. Bourdages, H., Archambault, D., Morin, B., Fréchet, A., Savard, L., Grégoire, F., et Bérubé, M. 2003. Résultats préliminaires du relevé multidisciplinaire de poissons de fond et de crevette d’août 2003 dans le nord du golfe du Saint-Laurent. Secr. can. consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. rech. 2003/078. vi + 68 p.Annual reports are available at the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS), (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/index-eng.htm).Bourdages, H., Brassard, C., Desgagnés, M., Galbraith, P., Gauthier, J., Légaré, B., Nozères, C. and Parent, E. 2017. Preliminary results from the groundfish and shrimp multidisciplinary survey in August 2016 in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2017/002. v + 87 p.

Available information for the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence on salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, depth, slope, and variability in landscape and sediments, were aggregated using a grid made up of 100 km2 cells as a basis for mapping and describing marine habitats for conservation and integrated management purposes.For example, 26 variables were selected to describe depth, slope, salinity and temperature. Based on that information, cluster analyses were conducted grouping cells into 13 different megahabitats. Four megahabitats described the deep waters, and areas outside channels formed 9 megahabitats: four in the southern Gulf and five in the northern Gulf.PurposeThe tool proposes a novel way of making validated and integrated data available to end users. Potential applications include the screening of areas considered for inclusion in a network of protected areas and a quantitative assessment of surface areas for each class of habitat. The method can also be applied to describe the habitats of species at risk.Additional InformationSee the report mentioned below for a more detailed description of the treatments for each variable:Dutil, J.-D., Proulx, S., Chouinard, P.-M., and Borcard. D. 2011. A hierarchical classification of the seabed based on physiographic and oceanographic features in the St. Lawrence. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2916: vii + 72 p.

2014 to 2023 demersal fish abundance in the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The abundance is expressed as a number of individuals per normalized trawl set. Each species is individually represented in the northern Gulf and in the southern Gulf. Input data are from the annual August (North) and September (South) multidisciplinary surveys.The demersal species represented are: Alewife, Alligatorfish, American Plaice, Arctic Alligatorfish, Arctic Hookear Sculpin, Arctic Shanny, Arctic Staghorn Sculpin, Atlantic Cod, Atlantic Eelpout, Atlantic Halibut, Atlantic Hookear Sculpin, Atlantic Poacher, Atlantic Spiny Lumpsucker, Atlantic Wolffish, Black Dogfish, Blacksnout Seasnail, Brill/Windowpane, Common Grenadier, Common Wolf Eel, Cunner, Daubed Shanny, Esmark's Eelpout, Fish Doctor, Fourbeard Rockling, Fourline Snakeblenny, Greenland Cod, Greenland Halibut, Haddock, Longfin Hake, Longhorn Sculpin, Lowfin Snailfish, Monkfish, Goosefish, Moustache Sculpin, Newfoundland Eelpout, Northern Hagfish, Ocean Pout, Rockfishes, Sea Sculpin, Sea Tadpole, Shorthorn Sculpin, Smooth Skate, Snakeblenny, Spatulate Sculpin, Spiny Dogfish, Spinytail Skate, Spotted Wolffish, Stout Eelblenny, Thorny Skate, Twohorn Sculpin, Vahl's Eelpout, Variegated Snailfish, White Hake, Winter Flounder, Winter Skate, Witch Flounder, Wolf Eelpout, Wrymouth and Yellowtail Flounder.PurposeSince 1990, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been conducting an annual multidisciplinary survey in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence using a standardized protocol. In the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, these bottom trawl surveys has been carrying out each September since 1971. These missions are an important source of information about the status of the marine ressources.The objectives of the surveys are multiple: to estimate the abundance and biomass of groundfish and invertebrates, to identify the spatial distribution and biological characteristics of these species, to monitor the biodiversity of the Estuary and Gulf and finally, to describe the environmental conditions observed in the area at the moment of the sampling.The southern Gulf surveys are realized using the following standardized protocol:Hurlbut,T. and D.Clay (eds) 1990. Protocols for Research Vessel Cruises within the Gulf Region (Demersal Fish) (1970-1987). Can. MS Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. No. 2082: 143p.The sampling protocols used for the Estuary and northern Gulf surveys are described in details in the following publications:Bourdages, H., Archambault, D., Bernier, B., Fréchet, A., Gauthier, J., Grégoire, F., Lambert, J., et Savard, L. 2010. Résultats préliminaires du relevé multidisciplinaire de poissons de fond et de crevette d’août 2009 dans le nord du golfe du Saint-Laurent. Rapp. stat. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 1226 : xii+ 72 p. Bourdages, H., Archambault, D., Morin, B., Fréchet, A., Savard, L., Grégoire, F., et Bérubé, M. 2003. Résultats préliminaires du relevé multidisciplinaire de poissons de fond et de crevette d’août 2003 dans le nord du golfe du Saint-Laurent. Secr. can. consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. rech. 2003/078. vi + 68 p.Annual reports are available at the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS), (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/index-eng.htm).Bourdages, H., Brassard, C., Desgagnés, M., Galbraith, P., Gauthier, J., Légaré, B., Nozères, C. and Parent, E. 2017. Preliminary results from the groundfish and shrimp multidisciplinary survey in August 2016 in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2017/002. v + 87 p.

Deep water (> 200 m) dissolved oxygen interpolated on a grid cell of 10 km x10 km in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Input data are from the annual August multidisciplinary survey hold in 2014 to 2023.PurposeSince 1990, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been conducting an annual multidisciplinary survey in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence using a standardized protocol. These surveys are an important source of information about the status of the marine ressources. The objectives of the survey are multiple: to estimate the abundance and biomass of groundfish and invertebrates, to identify the spatial distribution and biological characteristics of these species, to monitor the biodiversity of the Estuary and the northern Gulf and finally, to describe the environmental conditions observed in August in the sampling area.Annual reports are available at the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS), (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/index-eng.htm).Bourdages, H., Brassard, C., Desgagnés, M., Galbraith, P., Gauthier, J., Légaré, B., Nozères, C. and Parent, E. 2017. Preliminary results from the groundfish and shrimp multidisciplinary survey in August 2016 in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2017/002. v + 87 p.Supplemental InformationThe bottom dissolved oxygen is determined from a CTD profile in the water column according to AZMP sampling protocol:Mitchell, M. R., Harrison, G., Pauley, K., Gagné, A., Maillet, G., and Strain, P. 2002. Atlantic Zonal Monitoring Program sampling protocol. Can. Tech. Rep. Hydrogr. Ocean Sci. 223: iv + 23 pp.