Catch, effort, location (latitude and longitude), and associated biological data from groundfish multi-species longline surveys on the southern British Columbia coast, excluding the inlets and protected waters east of Vancouver Island.Introduction The Outside South Hard Bottom Longline (HBLL) survey is one of a set of long-term and coordinated surveys that together cover most of the nearshore, hard-bottom habitat of coastal British Columbia. The other surveys are the Outside North HBLL survey, Inside South HBLL survey, and Inside North HBLL surveyThe Outside South HBLL survey was first conducted in 2007 and has been repeated every second year in alternate years to the Outside North HBLL survey, with the exception that no surveys were conducted in 2013. The survey was not impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of these surveys is to provide fishery-independent abundance indices and associated biological data for the assessment of nearshore rockfishes and other groundfish species that live on untrawlable, hard bottom habitats. The surveys follow a random depth-stratified design and the sampling units are 2 km by 2 km blocks. The Outside HBLL surveys use size 14/0 circle hooks, baited with frozen squid.The Outside South HBLL Survey is conducted by DFO in collaboration with the Pacific Halibut Management Association (PHMA) and takes place on several chartered commercial fishing vessels each year. This survey covers the southern portion of the British Columbia coastline, including the mainland coast south of Milbanke Sound, Queen Charlotte Sound, and the north and west coasts of Vancouver Island. The PHMA provides the chartered commercial fishing vessels and field technicians, while DFO provides support for running the surveys, including survey design and equipment. Effort This table contains information about the survey trips and fishing events (sets) that are part of this survey series. Trip-level information includes the year the survey took place, a unique trip identifier, the vessel that conducted the survey and the trip start and end dates (the dates the vessel was away from the dock conducting the survey). Set-level information includes the date, time, location and depth that fishing took place, soak time, hook spacing, and numbers of hooks counted. All successful fishing events are included, regardless of what was caught.CatchThis table contains the catch information from successful fishing events. Catches are identified to species or to the lowest taxonomic level possible. Catches are recorded as counts only. The unique trip identifier and set number are included so that catches can be related to the fishing event information (including capture location).BiologyThis table contains the available biological data for catches which were sampled. Data may include any or all of length, sex, weight, age. Different length types are measured depending on the species. Age structures are collected when possible for species where validated aging methods exist and are archived until required for an assessment; therefore, all existing structures have not been aged at this time. Tissue samples (usually a fin clip) may be collected for genetic (DNA) analysis for some individuals of particular species. Genetic samples may be archived until required for analysis; for more information please see the data contacts. The unique trip identifier and set number are included so that samples can be related to the fishing event and catch information.

Catch, effort, location (latitude and longitude), and associated biological data from groundfish multi-species longline surveys in the northern portion of the inlets and protected waters east of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.Introduction The Inside North Hard Bottom Longline (HBLL) survey is one of a set of long-term and coordinated surveys that together cover most of the nearshore, hard-bottom habitat of coastal British Columbia. The other surveys are the Inside South HBLL survey, Outside North HBLL survey, and Outside South HBLL survey. The Inside North HBLL survey was first conducted in 2003, and repeated in 2004 and 2007. Starting in 2008, this survey has been repeated every second year, in alternate years to the Inside South HBLL survey, with the exception that no surveys were conducted in 2017. The survey was not impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of these surveys is to provide fishery-independent abundance indices and associated biological data for the assessment of nearshore rockfishes and other groundfish species that live on untrawlable, hard bottom habitats. The surveys follow a random depth-stratified design and the sampling units are 2 km by 2 km blocks. The surveys use size 13/0 circle hooks, baited with frozen squid.The Inside North HBLL Survey is conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and takes place on the Canadian Coast Guard Research Vessel Neocaligus. This survey covers the northern portion of the inlets and protected waters east of Vancouver Island, including Johnstone Strait and Broughton Archipelago in Pacific Fishery Management areas (PFMAs) 12 and 13.Effort This table contains information about the survey trips and fishing events (sets) that are part of this survey series. Trip-level information includes the year the survey took place, a unique trip identifier, the vessel that conducted the survey and the trip start and end dates (the dates the vessel was away from the dock conducting the survey). Set-level information includes the date, time, location and depth that fishing took place, soak time, hook spacing, and numbers of hooks counted. All successful fishing events are included, regardless of what was caught.CatchThis table contains the catch information from successful fishing events. Catches are identified to species or to the lowest taxonomic level possible. From 2003 to 2016, all catches are counted, and most catches are weighed; some catches are too small (“trace” amounts) or too large (e.g. very large Big Skate) to weigh. From 2019 onwards, catches are recorded as counts only. The unique trip identifier and set number are included so that catches can be related to the fishing event information (including capture location).BiologyThis table contains the available biological data for catches which were sampled. Data may include any or all of length, sex, weight, age. Different length types are measured depending on the species. Age structures are collected when possible for species where validated aging methods exist and are archived until required for an assessment; therefore, all existing structures have not been aged at this time. Tissue samples (usually a fin clip) may be collected for genetic (DNA) analysis for some individuals of particular species. Genetic samples may be archived until required for analysis; for more information please see the data contacts. The unique trip identifier and set number are included so that samples can be related to the fishing event and catch information.

Catch, effort, location (latitude and longitude), and associated biological data from groundfish multi-species longline surveys on the northern British Columbia coast, excluding the inlets and protected waters east of Vancouver Island.Introduction The Outside North Hard Bottom Longline (HBLL) survey is one of a set of long-term and coordinated surveys that together cover most of the nearshore, hard-bottom habitat of coastal British Columbia. The other surveys are the Outside South HBLL survey, Inside North HBLL survey, and Inside South HBLL survey. The Outside North HBLL survey was first conducted in 2006 and has been repeated every second year in alternate years to the Outside South HBLL survey, with the exception that no surveys were conducted in 2013. The survey was not impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of these surveys is to provide fishery-independent abundance indices and associated biological data for the assessment of nearshore rockfishes and other groundfish species that live on untrawlable, hard bottom habitats. The surveys follow a random depth-stratified design and the sampling units are 2 km by 2 km blocks. The Outside HBLL surveys use size 14/0 circle hooks, baited with frozen squid.The Outside North HBLL Survey is conducted by DFO in collaboration with the Pacific Halibut Management Association (PHMA) and takes place on several chartered commercial fishing vessels each year. This survey covers the northern portion of the British Columbia coastline, including the mainland coast north of Milbanke Sound, Dixon Entrance, and the east and west coasts of Haida Gwaii. The PHMA provides the chartered commercial fishing vessels and field technicians, while DFO provides support for running the surveys, including survey design and equipment. EffortThis table contains information about the survey trips and fishing events (sets) that are part of this survey series. Trip-level information includes the year the survey took place, a unique trip identifier, the vessel that conducted the survey and the trip start and end dates (the dates the vessel was away from the dock conducting the survey). Set-level information includes the date, time, location and depth that fishing took place, soak time, hook spacing, and numbers of hooks counted. All successful fishing events are included, regardless of what was caught.CatchThis table contains the catch information from successful fishing events. Catches are identified to species or to the lowest taxonomic level possible. Catches are recorded as counts only. The unique trip identifier and set number are included so that catches can be related to the fishing event information (including capture location).BiologyThis table contains the available biological data for catches which were sampled. Data may include any or all of length, sex, weight, age. Different length types are measured depending on the species. Age structures are collected when possible for species where validated aging methods exist and are archived until required for an assessment; therefore, all existing structures have not been aged at this time. Tissue samples (usually a fin clip) may be collected for genetic (DNA) analysis for some individuals of particular species. Genetic samples may be archived until required for analysis; for more information please see the data contacts. The unique trip identifier and set number are included so that samples can be related to the fishing event and catch information.

Catch, effort, location (latitude and longitude), and associated biological data from groundfish multi-species longline surveys in the southern portion of the inlets and protected waters east of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.Introduction The Inside South Hard Bottom Longline (HBLL) survey is one of a set of long-term and coordinated surveys that together cover most of the nearshore, hard-bottom habitat of coastal British Columbia. The other surveys are the Inside North HBLL survey, Outside South HBLL survey, and Outside North HBLL survey.The Inside South HBLL survey was first conducted in 2005. Starting in 2009, this survey has been repeated every second year, with the exception that no surveys were conducted in 2017, and the 2020 survey was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of these surveys is to provide fishery-independent abundance indices and associated biological data for the assessment of nearshore rockfishes and other groundfish species that live on untrawlable, hard bottom habitats. The surveys follow a random depth-stratified design and the sampling units are 2 km by 2 km blocks. The surveys use size 13/0 circle hooks, baited with frozen squid. The Inside South HBLL Survey is conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and takes place on the Canadian Coast Guard Research Vessel Neocaligus. This survey covers the southern portion of the inlets and protected waters east of Vancouver Island, including Desolation Sound, the Strait of Georgia and southern Gulf Islands in Pacific Fishery Management areas (PFMAs) 14 – 20, 28, and 29.EffortThis table contains information about the survey trips and fishing events (sets) that are part of this survey series. Trip-level information includes the year the survey took place, a unique trip identifier, the vessel that conducted the survey and the trip start and end dates (the dates the vessel was away from the dock conducting the survey). Set-level information includes the date, time, location and depth that fishing took place, soak time, hook spacing, and numbers of hooks counted. All successful fishing events are included, regardless of what was caught.CatchThis table contains the catch information from successful fishing events. Catches are identified to species or to the lowest taxonomic level possible. From 2005 to 2018, all catches are counted, and most catches are weighed; some catches are too small (“trace” amounts) or too large (e.g. very large Big Skate) to weigh. From 2020 onwards, catches are recorded as counts only. The unique trip identifier and set number are included so that catches can be related to the fishing event information (including capture location).BiologyThis table contains the available biological data for catches which were sampled. Data may include any or all of length, sex, weight, age. Different length types are measured depending on the species. Age structures are collected when possible for species where validated aging methods exist and are archived until required for an assessment; therefore, all existing structures have not been aged at this time. Tissue samples (usually a fin clip) may be collected for genetic (DNA) analysis for some individuals of particular species. Genetic samples may be archived until required for analysis; for more information please see the data contacts. The unique trip identifier and set number are included so that samples can be related to the fishing event and catch information.

Catch, effort, location (latitude, longitude), and associated biological data from groundfish multi-species longline surveys in British Columbia.Introduction This is a set of long-term and coordinated surveys that together cover most of the nearshore, hard-bottom habitat of coastal British Columbia. The objective of these surveys is to provide fishery-independent abundance indices and associated biological data for the assessment of nearshore rockfishes and other groundfish species that live on untrawlable, hard bottom habitats. The surveys use standardized “snap and swivel” longline hook gear set on the ocean floor. The surveys follow a random depth-stratified design and the sampling units are 2 km by 2 km blocks. The Inside Hard Bottom Longline (HBLL) Surveys are conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and take place on the Canadian Coast Guard Research Vessel Neocaligus. The Inside surveys cover the inlets and protected waters east of Vancouver Island (Pacific Fishery Management areas 12 – 20 and 27- 29). The survey area is divided into a northern and southern region, which are surveyed in alternating years. The Inside North region includes Johnstone Strait and Broughton Archipelago. The Inside South region includes Desolation Sound, the Strait of Georgia and southern Gulf Islands. The Inside HBLL surveys use size 13/0 circle hooks, baited with frozen squid.The Outside HBLL Surveys are conducted by DFO in collaboration with the Pacific Halibut Management Association (PHMA) and take place on several chartered commercial fishing vessels each year. The Outside surveys cover most of the British Columbia coastline, excluding the inlets and protected waters east of Vancouver Island (i.e. excluding Pacific Fishery Management areas 12 – 20 and 27- 29). The survey area is divided into a northern and southern region, which are surveyed in alternating years. The Outside North region includes the mainland coast north of Milbanke Sound, Dixon Entrance, and the east and west coasts of Haida Gwaii. The Outside South region includes the mainland coast south of Milbanke Sound, Queen Charlotte Sound, and the north and west coasts of Vancouver Island. The PHMA provides the chartered commercial fishing vessels and field technicians, while DFO provides support for running the surveys, including survey design and equipment. The Outside HBLL surveys use size 14/0 circle hooks, baited with frozen squid.

Layer that includes the known information on the american shad breeding areas in the St. Lawrence River and Estuary according to a literature review of documents produced between 1976 and 1997.Additional InformationAmerican shad's breeding areas were produced according to a literature review of the following documents:Blais, J.-P. et V. Legendre. 1976. La ouananiche, Salmo salar, du lac Tremblant, Québec. Québec, Ministère du Loisir, de la Chasse et de la Pêche, Direction régionale de Montréal, Rapp. tech. 06-11, 116 p.Boulet, M., J. Leclerc et P. Dumont. 1995. Programme triennal d'étude sur le suceur cuivré. Québec, Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Faune, Service de l'aménagement et de l'exploitation de la faune, Montréal, Rapp. d'étape, 61 p.Boulet, M., Y. Chagnon et J. Leclerc. 1996. Recherche et caractérisation des aires de fraye des suceurs cuivré et ballot au bief d'aval du barrage de Saint-Ours (rivière Richelieu) en 1992. Québec, Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Faune, Service de l'aménagement et de l'exploitation de la faune, Longueuil, Rapp. trav. 06-38, xi + 37 p.Dumont, P. et R. Fortin. 1977. Relations entre les niveaux d'eau printaniers et la reproduction du Grand Brochet du Haut-Richelieu et de la baie Missisquoi. Université du Québec à Montréal, Département des sciences biologiques, pour le Bureau international Champlain Richelieu, Comité d'impact sur l'environnement, x + 108 p.Dumont, P. et S. Desjardins. 1989. Lettre adressée à M. André Poulin du Département de géographie, Université de Sherbrooke, au sujet de la faune et les habitats de la portion aval de la rivière aux Brochets. Québec, Ministère du Loisir, de la Chasse et de la Pêche, Direction régionale de Montréal. Dumont, P., J. Leclerc et L. Bouthillier. 1989a. Données d'inventaire, baie Brazeau, rivière des Outaouais, été 1989. Québec, Ministère du Loisir, de la Chasse et de la Pêche, Service de l'aménagement et de l'exploitation de la faune, Montréal. [Données non publiées].Environnement Illimité inc. 1994. Centrale Les Cèdres - Nouvel aménagement. Avant-projet phase 2, études environnementales. Description du milieu biologique. Volumes 1 et 2. Rapport préparé pour la Vice-Présidence Environnement Hydro-Québec, Service production, réfection et localisation, 241 p. + annexes.Fournier, P. et L.-M. Soyez. 1988. Étude de l'utilisation faunique printanière du marais de Rosemère. Québec, Ministre du Loisir, de la Chasse et de la Pêche, Service de l'aménagement et de l'exploitation de la faune, Montréal, 13 p.Gagnon, M., Y. Ménard et J.-F. La Rue. 1993. Caractérisation et évaluation des habitats du poisson dans la zone de transition saline du Saint-Laurent. Rapp. tech. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 1920: viii + 104 p.Gendron, M. 1986. Rivière-des-Prairies. Aménagement d'un haut-fond, printemps 1986. Groupe de recherche SEEEQ ltée pour la Direction Environnement d'Hydro-Québec, 103 p.Gendron, M. 1987. Rivière-des-Prairies. Suivi de l'aménagement d'un haut-fond, printemps 1987. Le Groupe de recherche SEEEQ ltée pour la Direction Environnement d'Hydro-Québec, 60 p.Gendron, M. 1988. Rivière-des-Prairies. Suivi de l'aménagement du haut-fond, synthèse 1982-1988. Le Groupe de recherche SEEEQ ltée pour le Service de recherche en environnement et santé publique, Vice-Présidence Environnement, Hydro-Québec, 95 p.Guay, G. et M. Couillard. 1985. Étude de l'utilisation printannière et autonmale des rapides de Lachine par les poissons. Environnement Illimité inc. pour le Secrétariat Archipel, 167 pages + annexes.Laramée, P. 1983. La vie printanière dans les rapides de Lachine : Reproduction des poissons. Éco-Recherches inc. pour Vice-Présidence Environnement Hydro-Québec et le Secrétariat Archipel, 30 p. + 7 annexes. Leclerc, J. 1983. La montaison de l'Alose savoureuse dans la rivière des Mille Iles en 1983. Rapport réalisé par Bio-Conseil inc. pour le compte du Service des études hydrauliques et écologiques, Ministère de l'Environnement du Québec, 45 p.Letendre, M., B. Dumas et M. Beaudoin. 1990. Inventaire de la rivière des Prairies, au niveau de l'île de Pierre. Québec, Ministère du Loisir de la Chasse et de la Pêche, Service de l'aménagement et de l'exploitation de la faune, Montréal. [Travaux en cours].Provost, J., L. Verret et P. Dumont. 1984. L'Alose savoureuse au Québec : synthèse des connaissances biologiques et perspectives d'aménagement d'habitats. Canada, Ministère des Pêches et Océans, Direction de la recherche sur les pêches, Laboratoire de Québec, Rapport manuscrit canadien des sciences halieutiques et aquatiques no 1793, xi + 114 p.Thérrien, J., H. Marquis, G Shooner et P. Bérubé.1991. Caractérisation des habitats recherchés pour la fraie des principales espèces de poisson du fleuve Saint-Laurent (Cornwall à Montmagny). Étude réalisée pas le Groupe Environnement Shooner inc. Pour le compte du Ministère des Pêches et des Océans du Canada. 16 p.

Description:This dataset contains layers of predicted occurrence for 65 groundfish species as well as overall species richness (i.e., the total number of species present) in Canadian Pacific waters, and the median standard error per grid cell across all species. They cover all seafloor habitat depths between 10 and 1400 m that have a mean summer salinity above 28 PSU. Two layers are provided for each species: 1) predicted species occurrence (prob_occur) and 2) the probability that a grid cell is an occurrence hotspot for that species (hotspot_prob; defined as being in the lower of: 1) 0.8, or 2) the 80th percentile of the predicted probability of occurrence values across all grid cells that had a probability of occurrence greater than 0.05.). The first measure provides an overall prediction of the distribution of the species while the second metric identifies areas where that species is most likely to be found, accounting for uncertainty within our model. All layers are provided at a 1 km resolution.Methods:These layers were developed using a species distribution model described in Thompson et al. 2023. This model integrates data from three fisheries-independent surveys: the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Groundfish Synoptic Bottom Trawl Surveys (Sinclair et al. 2003; Anderson et al. 2019), the DFO Groundfish Hard Bottom Longline Surveys (Lochead and Yamanaka 2006, 2007; Doherty et al. 2019), and the International Pacific Halibut Commission Fisheries Independent Setline Survey (IPHC 2021). Further details on the methods are found in the metadata PDF available with the dataset.Abstract from Thompson et al. 2023:Predictions of the distribution of groundfish species are needed to support ongoing marine spatial planning initiatives in Canadian Pacific waters. Data to inform species distribution models are available from several fisheries-independent surveys. However, no single survey covers the entire region and different gear types are required to survey the range of habitats that are occupied by groundfish. Bottom trawl gear is used to sample soft bottom habitat, predominantly on the continental shelf and slope, whereas longline gear often focuses on nearshore and hardbottom habitats where trawling is not possible. Because data from these two gear types are not directly comparable, previous species distribution models in this region have been limited to using data from one survey at a time, restricting their spatial extent and usefulness at a regional scale. Here we demonstrate a method for integrating presence-absence data across surveys and gear types that allows us to predict the coastwide distributions of 66 groundfish species in British Columbia. Our model leverages the use of available data from multiple surveys to estimate how species respond to environmental gradients while accounting for differences in catchability by the different surveys. Overall, we find that this integrated method has two main benefits: 1) it increases the accuracy of predictions in data-limited surveys and regions while having negligible impacts on the accuracy when data are already sufficient to make predictions, 2) it reduces uncertainty, resulting in tighter confidence intervals on predicted species occurrences. These benefits are particularly relevant in areas of our coast where our understanding of habitat suitability is limited due to a lack of spatially comprehensive long-term groundfish research surveys.Data Sources:Research data was provided by Pacific Science’s Groundfish Data Unit for research surveys from the GFBio database between 2003 and 2020 for all species which had at least 150 observations, across all gear type and survey datasets available.Uncertainties:These are modeled results based on species observations at sea and their related environmental covariate predictions that may not always accurately reflect real-world groundfish distributions though methods that integrate different data types/sources have been demonstrated to improve model inference by increasing the accuracy of the predictions and reducing uncertainty.

The shallow substrate bottom type model was created to support near shore habitat modelling. Data sources include both available observations of bottom type and environmental predictor layers including oceanographic layers, fetch, and bathymetry and its derivatives. Using weighted random forest classification from the ranger R package, the relationship between observed bottom type and predictor layers can be determined, allowing bottom type to be classified across the study areas. The predicted raster files are classified as follows: 1) Rock, 2) Mixed, 3) Sand, 4) MudThe categorical substrate model domains are restricted to the extent of the input bathymetry layers (see data sources) which is 5 km from the 50 m depth contour.

Funded through DFO's Strategic Program for Ecosystem-based Research and Advice (SPERA), this benthic survey covers several seabed areas adjacent to Deer Island and Campobello Island, the Wolves Islands, and Grand Manan (NB) over a two-year study period (2016-2017). One hundred and fifty drift camera transects were completed within the ~91 sq-km study region collecting continuous high-definition video with periodic 4K resolution video (provided by a downward facing Blackmagic Production Camera 4K equipped with video lights). A Nikon D800 36.1 megapixel digital still imagery camera (equipped with a studio strobe light) captured seafloor images at ~30s intervals over a maximum 25-minute drift survey period. The camera was triggered by lowering the camera frame within 1 m of the seabed, releasing tension on a trigger weight suspended below the frame. Camera location was tracked using an ultra-short baseline acoustic positioning system (Tracklink 1500HA transceiver with 1505B transponder on the camera frame). Species presence/absence, abundance, and bottom type was recorded manually using PhotoQuad v1.4 software. An average field of view of 0.7 x 0.5 m was determined from a subset of digital still images within which the 10 cm diameter trigger weight was fully in view. Thirty-eight key and common species were described using explicit taxonomic identifiers, while other species were recorded within broader general categories (e.g. unidentified Cnidaria). Identification was made to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Primary bottom-type was defined as the grain size with the most percent coverage for each image/video interval. Grain size limits were determined using the Wentworth scale.Cite this data as: Lawton P. Benthic Species Presence/Absence in the Lower Bay of Fundy Derived From High Resolution Video and Still Imagery. Published May 2022. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S.

Wildlife Habitats (HAFA) contains data for the 11 legal wildlife habitats located on land under the domain of the State and is protected under the Wildlife Habitat Regulations (RHF). There are also HAFAs located on mixed and private lands for information purposes. Since they are essential environments for wildlife, the eleven habitats benefit from legal protection in Quebec.__The conservation of wildlife species and their habitats is beneficial for biodiversity. Each of these species plays an important role in our ecosystems. __### #Mise on guard: The digital version of geo-descriptive data describing wildlife habitats is produced from a legal perspective of location, protection and management of habitats. In fact, only the digital version that has been published in the Official Gazette of Quebec is recognized as legal.Last publication of wildlife habitats: November 17, 2022.**This third party metadata element was translated using an automated translation tool (Amazon Translate).**