This point location dataset of fish observations is a regularly updated compilation of BC fish distribution information taken from a combination of all the official provincial databases including the BC Fisheries Information Summary System (FISS). Fish occurrences in this dataset represent the most current and comprehensive information source on fish presence for the province.

Known fish distribution for the Okanagan Shuswap TSA

This dataset contains point distribution occurrences for fish species found in marine waters of Arctic Canada. It was used to create the distribution maps in the book Marine Fishes of Arctic Canada, edited by B.W. Coad and J.D. Reist (2018) and the DFO Data Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Distributional Records for Marine Fishes of Arctic Canada (Alfonso et al. 2018). The database includes literature (Coad and Reist 2016) and museum records, anecdotal reports, personal communications and data from fisheries surveys and exploratory cruises. Development of the database began in 1998 and data entry ceased in 2016, although the database will be updated periodically. Consult the book (Coad and Reist 2018) and the Data Report (Alfonso et al. 2018) for further details in regards to the specific sources for each data point by species especially those from sources other than published literature.

This layer represents the seasonal distribution of the St. Lawrence Estuary beluga whale population (Delphinapterus leucas). Three groups are represented: females with calf, adult males and mixed sectors. Herd distribution was defined using Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) published data about beluga whales (see references).Herd distribution areas are only valid during the summer, and the uses of these areas by the herds are unknown.Data source :Michaud, R. 1993. Distribution estivale du béluga du St-Laurent; synthèse 1986-1992. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1906: vi + 28 p.

Spatial distribution of the Thorny Skate presence expressed by catch weight based on the annual Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) groundfish research surveys realised between 2004 and 2010.Catch data (kg/nautical mile) were aggregated by 100 km² cells. They are derived from processed data used for the production of: Chouinard, P-M., J-D. Dutil, S. Proulx, D. Borcard and J. Crocker. 2014. A spatial approach to matching marine fish diversity and abundance with habitat features. Hydrobiologia. Volume 734, Issue 1: 39-55.Associated publication: 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 pages.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).

The contaminants in fish database is a compilation of contaminant data analysed from fish tissue at the Fresh Water Institute from 1970 to 2005. Data include lab number, region, analysis, organs, species, lake, form (whole fish, headon dressed, headless dressed), weight, and length and contaminant concentrations. Total mercury was the predominant contaminant measured. Results were expressed as ppm or ppb based on the parameter analyzed. Concentrations are expressed based on wet weight.

Fisheries Information Summary System (FISS) layer of Historic (pre 2001) Fish Distribution Points of BC Streams. Points represent site locations where a fish species is rearing, spawning or observed or where a point is located at the mouth of a stream it indicates the presence of a fish species somewhere in the stream as a whole. Georeferenced to the stream centreline network layer of the 1:50,000 scale BC Watershed Atlas.

Fish stocking data for recreational fishing purposes. Contains: * stocking data for the past 10 years for species where the purpose of the stocking event was to promote recreational fishing. This is a subset of data from the fish stocking information system. This data can also be obtained through the [Fish ON-Line application](http://www.ontario.ca/fishonline). For information on where stocking occurs for research or rehabilitation purposes, contact a local Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry district office. Related datasets: * [Ontario waterbody location identifer](https://data.ontario.ca/dataset/ontario-waterbody-location-identifier)

Spatial distribution of lumpfish catch rates (number per tow) during the August DFO research survey conducted annually since 1990, to assess the state of groundfish and shrimp stocks in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence.The area sampled by a tow is the product of the distance trawled (fishing time multiplied by vessel speed) and the wing spread (13.41 m for the Alfred Needler and 16.94 m for the Teleost). Given that this area may vary among tows, the sampling unit is standardized and defined as being a station sampled by a tow over a distance of 0.75 nautical miles (1,389 m) with a horizontal wing spread of 16.94 m. Catch variables were calculated based on the standard area, 0.02353 km².After each tow, the catch was sorted by taxa, and the number of individuals and total biomass of these taxa were noted. For taxa identified to the species level, individual biometric parameters (e.g., length, weight) and biological parameters (e.g., sex, maturity of gonads) were recorded based on a subsample. Full methods are described in Bourdages et al. (2010).Note that the increase in catch rate for the 2005-2009 period coincides with a change in gear for this survey.Bourdages, H., and Ouellet, J.-F. 2011. Geographic distribution and abundance indices of marine fish in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (1990–2009). Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2963: vi + 171 p.Source:Gauthier, J., Grégoire, F., and Nozères, C. 2017. Assessment of Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (3Pn, 4RS) in 2015. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2017/051. v + 47 p.PurposeThe multidisciplinary survey of groundfish and shrimp in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence has been conducted every August by Fisheries and Oceans Canada for more than two decades. Initially, its objective was to determine the abundance and geographic distribution of commercially important taxa. However, for couple of years, the objective was expanded to include all taxa caught with the shift toward the ecosystem approach.

A goal of the Government of Canada’s Coastal Environmental Baseline Program (CEBP) is to amalgamate historic environmental data from high vessel traffic areas. An extensive DFO biological sampling program was conducted from 1980 to 1981 on Sturgeon and Roberts banks located on the outer Fraser River estuary, BC, Canada. This report collates and simplifies three data sets: water quality and nearshore fish catch previously published as DFO Data Report 340 (Conlin et al.1982), and un- published weight-length (W-L) data for two locations on Sturgeon Bank (Iona and Steveston) and near Westshore Terminals (Coal Port) on Roberts Bank. W-L data were reconstructed from archived computer printouts using Optical Character Recognition methods. Analyses of water quality data indicate that the two banks provided different fish habitats with Sturgeon Bank having a greater freshwater influence. Although Iona area water quality was exposed to sewage outfall from a nearby sewage treatment plant, it appears that fish communities were not different from the other Sturgeon Bank area (Steveston). The fish communities were found to be different between the two banks with Roberts Bank having greater overall abundance and diversity. Interestingly, of the seven fish species used for condition factor analyses, five were found to have lower Relative Condition Factors in the Roberts Bank sampling area.