Considered the "king" of sea lions, the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) is the biggest of all sea lions and enjoys a lifespan of up to thirty years. In Canada, the Steller can be spotted along the rocky coast of British Columbia. This hefty mammal usually travels alone or in a small group, but wisely, it joins others for protection during the mating and birthing season. Little is known about its oceanic lifestyle; however, the good news for this sea-loving mammal is that since the Steller sea lion first became protected in 1970, the size of the adult population has more than doubled. Recent trends in the abundance of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in British Columbia were assessed based on a series of thirteen province-wide aerial surveys conducted during the breeding season (27-June to 06-July) between 1971 and 2013.

PURPOSE:Understanding and predicting species range shifts is crucial for conservation amid global warming. This study analyzes life-history traits of four seal species (ringed (Pusa hispida Schreber, 1775), bearded (Erignathus barbatus Pallas, 1811), harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus Erxleben, 1777), and harbour (Phoca vitulina Linnaeus, 1758) seals) in the Canadian Arctic using data from Inuit subsistence harvests. Bearded seals are largest, followed by harp seals, harbour seals, and ringed seals. Seasonal blubber depth patterns show minimal variation in bearded seals, whereas harbour and ringed seals accumulate fat in open-water seasons and use it during ice-covered seasons. Endemic Arctic seals (ringed and bearded) exhibit greater longevity and determinate body growth, reaching maximum size by 5 years, while harbour and harp seals grow indeterminately, physically maturing around 10-15 years. Age of maturation varies, with ringed and harbour seals being more sensitive to environmental fluctuations. Most bearded seals reproduce successfully each year, while ringed seals exhibit more variability in their annual reproductive success. Analysis of isoprenoid lipids in liver tissue indicates that ringed and bearded seals rely on ice-algal production, whereas harp and harbour seals depend on open-water phytoplankton production. Bearded seals appear more specialized and potentially face less competition, while harp seals may adapt better to changing habitats. Despite expected range shifts to higher latitudes, all species exhibit tradeoffs, complicating predictions for the evolving Arctic environment. DESCRIPTION:This dataset contains the data reported in Steven H. Ferguson, Jeff W. Higdon, Brent G. Young, Stephen D. Petersen, Cody G. Carlyle, Ellen V. Lea, Caroline C. Sauvé, Doreen Kohlbach, Aaron T. Fisk, Gregory W. Thiemann, Katie R. N. Florko, Derek C. G. Muir, Charmain D. Hamilton, Magali Houde, Enooyaq Sudlovenick, and David J. Yurkowski. 2024. A comparative analysis of life-history features and adaptive strategies of Arctic and subarctic seal species - who will win the climate change challenge? Canadian Journal of Zoology 2024-0093.R1The data set includes species, location, harvest date, sex, age, standard length, girth, fat depth, teste size, parity status, pregnancy status, corpora lutea (n), corpus albicans (n), follicles (n). This dataset includes raw, unfiltered, and unprocessed historical data provided by harvesters that have not been screened for outliers. Individual users should screen the data for their specific use.Cite these data as:Steven H. Ferguson, Jeff W. Higdon, Brent G. Young, Stephen D. Petersen, Cody G. Carlyle, Ellen V. Lea, Caroline C. Sauvé, Doreen Kohlbach, Aaron T. Fisk, Gregory W. Thiemann, Katie R. N. Florko, Derek C. G. Muir, Charmain D. Hamilton, Magali Houde, Enooyaq Sudlovenick, and David J. Yurkowski. 2024. Arctic and Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/ea9ff038-8b16-11ef-8cce-55cc7f028297

PURPOSE:Ringed seals (Pusa hispida) rely on sea ice as habitat throughout their life history and inhabit a broad latitudinal range with diverse sea-ice conditions. Anthropogenic climate warming is triggering poleward species redistributions, highlighting the importance of understanding how species distributions and abundance vary along latitudinal gradients. Using ringed seals as a model species, the purpose was to estimate density via aerial surveys along a latitudinal gradient in the eastern Canadian Arctic to investigate latitudinal trends in the ringed seals response to regional variation in sea-ice conditions. DESCRIPTION:Ringed seals (Pusa hispida) rely on sea ice as habitat throughout their life history and inhabit a broad latitudinal range with diverse sea-ice conditions, making them a model species to study patterns in density along a spatial-environmental gradient. We estimated the density of ringed seals from systematic aerial surveys along a latitudinal gradient in the eastern Canadian Arctic to investigate latitudinal trends in the ringed seals response to regional variation in sea-ice conditions. Ringed seals exhibited similar densities at lower and intermediate latitudes, while higher latitudes displayed an order of magnitude lower ringed seal density. This shift is concurrent with the transition in ice conditions from predominantly first-year ice at lower latitudes to primarily multiyear ice at higher latitudes. These findings indicate that the variation in icescapes across the ringed seal’s vast range influences their density. The shift in sea-ice conditions may also have consequences for biological productivity that supports their diet. Our results highlight a likely non-uniform response of ringed seals to ongoing sea-ice recession across the Arctic.

The initial objective of this dataset was to study the seasonal movement patterns of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in the St. Lawrence Estuary and Sable Island. This study was part of a larger program that studied the foraging behavior of the species.Ten harbour seals were captured using gillnets from 1994 to 1998 at three sites in the St. Lawrence Estuary (Bic, n=1 individual; île Blanche, n=1; Métis-sur-Mer, n=5) and one site on Sable Island (n=3 individuals). The individuals were equipped with a satellite-linked time-depth recorder (Type3.10, Wildlife Computers) equipped with an Argos tag and placed on the back of the neck. For most individuals, satellite tracking began in September and continued until the following spring.The dataset consists of series of geographic locations of ten harbor seals with associated dates and times and movement speeds calculated from successive locations.The location data were only filtered based on the validity class provided by Argos. Class Z locations were excluded.

Harbour seals reside throughout the year around Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). The first systematic survey for harbour seals occurred along the NL Shelf during July and August 2021 to obtain counts of hauled out individuals and assess distribution. Grey seals are seasonal residents in NL, mainly present in the summer and autumn months. Grey seals were also recorded during the survey as these two species can share haul-out locations. Surveys were flown along the coastline with a Bell 429 helicopter with photographs taken of hauled out seals. This data includes the counts of hauled out harbour, grey and unknown seals seen during the survey. Adjusted counts are also provided, which assign the unknown seals to species based on the number of positively identified harbour and grey seals from each survey day. The realized survey coverage (survey tracks) is also included. Cite this data as: Hamilton, C.D., Goulet, P.J., Stenson, G.B., and Lang, S.L.C. 2024. Data of: Counts of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from an aerial survey of the coast of the Newfoundland Shelf and Sandwich Bay, Labrador during the summer of 2021This data can be found in: Hamilton, C.D., Goulet, P.J., Stenson, G. B., and Lang, S.L.C. 2023. Counts and spatial distribution of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from an aerial survey of the coast of the Newfoundland Shelf and Sandwich Bay, Labrador during the summer of 2021. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3566: v + 39 p. https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.927831/publication.html DFO. 20XX. Stock assessment of Atlantic harbour seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) in Canada for 2019-2021. DFO Can. Sci. Advis Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2023/XXX. Lang, S.L.C., St-Pierre, A.P., Hamilton, C.D., Mosnier, A., Lidgard, D.C., Goulet, P., den Heyer, C.E., Bordeleau, X., Irani, A.I., and Hammill, M.O. 20XX. Population status assessment and Potential Biological Removal (PBR) for the Atlantic harbour seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina) in Canadian waters. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2024

The United States population of California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) range from southeast Alaska to the Pacific coast of central Mexico. While this population does not breed in Canada, some sub-adult and adult males migrate northwards to British Columbia during the non-breeding season with an arrival in August-October and a departure in April-May. The population in coastal BC has not been fully assessed since 1985. However, opportunistic counts suggest that California Sea Lions overwintering in BC increased in abundance from approximately 1,000 animals in the mid-2000s to several thousand individuals in more recent years.The survey targeted Steller sea lions and sites were chosen based on knowledge of historically occupied rookeries and haul-out sites with nearby areas monitored for potential shifts in distribution. The presence of California Sea Lions are based on incidental observations while surveying sites for Steller sea lion counts. This dataset contains counts that have been collected from sightings of individuals in the 2016/2017 survey season.

Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) are found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. They are found in coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as those of the Baltic and North Seas. In Canada, they may be found off the coastal waters of British Columbia, Nunavut, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.Population trends and abundance of harbour seals in British Columbia are assessed based on aerial surveys conducted during 1966-2019. Based on counts conducted in Index Areas distributed throughout the province, the trend observed in the Strait of Georgia appears to be generally indicative of harbour seal populations throughout British Columbia. Total abundance of harbour seals on the B.C. coast in 2008 was estimated to be on the order of about 105,000 (95% confidence interval of 90,900 to 118,900) seals. Total abundance was re-estimated in 2022 (estimate and CI pending completion of CSAS process). Historic reconstructions indicate the population was depleted by a period of commercial harvesting during 1879-1914, and subsequently maintained below natural levels by predator control programs until the early 1960s. Already depleted, the population could not sustain a second period of intense commercial harvesting during 1962-1968 and was further depleted, but now appears to have fully recovered.

This record contains two datasets: 1. Raw unfiltered geographic coordinates and accuracy estimates of ringed seals tagged in the Western Canadian Arctic and 2. The location estimate from state-space models using a 12-hr time step. In total, 17 ringed seals were captured, measured, weighed, and tagged with satellite-linked transmitters (SDR-10, SDR-16, SPLASH) in June and July of 1999, 2000, and 2010. The tags, manufactured by Wildlife Computers Ltd. (Redmond, Washington, USA), sent data to polar orbiting satellites. Data were then retrieved via the Argos system (Harris et al., 1990). Tags collected and relayed information on movement (geographic positions) and diving data of the instrumented animals.

The dataset represents known concentration areas of harvested or unharvested Atlantic razor clam (Ensis leei) in the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec Region. It was created for the National Environmental Emergencies Centre (NEEC) for preparation and response purposes in case of an oil spill. Concentration areas were defined using data from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) inventories, various DFO research projects and commercial fisheries data. This layer is dependent on the inventories carried out and thus only represents the known areas of the Atlantic razor clam. This dataset does not represent the general distribution of the species nor the extent to which fishing is allowed. Most of the information comes from inventories that did not necessarily target this species, therefore its distribution is undoubtedly wider than what is recorded in the layer. In addition, the extent of shellfish beds can change over time in response to, among others, harvesting and recruitment rates. Some beds were mapped based on DFO research project data which were compiled in a benthic biodiversity Access database. Polygons drawn around these data are not precise and may be reviewed. However, the precision is sufficient for the resource protection and management needs in case of an environmental incident. Data sources and references:Anonym. 1991. Analyse de l'échantillonnage en mer des mactres de Stimpson. Programme d'adaptation des pêches de l'Atlantique. Pesca tec International. Pêches et Océans Canada. 134 p.Bernier, L. and L. Poirier. 1979. Évaluation sommaire du stock de mactres de l'Atlantique, Spisula solidissima Dillwyn, des Îles-de-la-Madeleine (golfe du Saint-Laurent). Cahier d'information, ministère de l'Industrie et du Commerce. 42 p.Bourdages, H., P. Goudreau, J. Lambert, L. Landry and C. Nozères. 2012. Distribution des bivalves et gastéropodes benthiques dans les zones infralittorale et circalittorale des côtes de l’estuaire et du nord du golfe du Saint-Laurent. Rapp. tech. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 3004 : iv + 103 p.Bourget, E. and D. Messier. 1983. Macrobenthic density, biomass, and fauna of intertidal and subtidal sand in a Magdalen Islands lagoon, Gulf of St. Lawrence. Can. J. Zool. 61(11):2509-2518.Brulotte, S. Unpublished data. Fisheries and Oceans Canada.Brulotte, S. 2013. Évaluation des stocks de la mactre de l’Atlantique, Spisula solidissima, des eaux côtières des Îles-de-la-Madeleine – méthodologies et résultats. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2013/082: x + 58 p.Brulotte, S. 2016. Évaluation des stocks de mactre de l’Atlantique, Spisula solidissima, des Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Québec en 2015 – méthodologie et résultats. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2016/074. x + 51 p.Brulotte, S., M. Giguère, S. Brillon and F. Bourque. 2006. Évaluation de cinq gisements de mye commune (Mya arenaria) aux Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Québec, de 2000 à 2003. Rapp. Tech. can. Sci. halieut. Aquat. 2640 : xii + 92 p.DFO. 2013. Assessment of Razor Clam stock in Québec’s Inshore Waters in 2012. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/052.Elouard, B, G. Desrosiers, J.C. Brêthes and Y. Vigneault. 1983. Étude de l'habitat du poisson autour des ilots créés par des déblais de dragage; lagune de Grande-Entrée, Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1209:viii + 69 p.Gendreau, Y. 2018. MS Access database on benthic biodiversity. Fisheries and Oceans Canada.Provencher, L. and C. Nozères. 2011. Protocole de suivi des communautés benthiques de la zone de protection marine Manicouagan. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2011/051:iv +25 p.Thompson, M., D. Drolet and J.H. Himmelman. 2005. Localization of infaunal prey by the sea star Leptasterias polaris. Mar. Biol. 146(5):887-894.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada (Northern Contaminants program) have been working with Nunavut community Hunters and Trappers Organizations and theNunavut Wildlife Management Board consistently since 1980 to collect samples from harvested ringed seals. The majority of seals were measured in the field by Inuit hunters who recorded date of kill, sex and blubber depth at sternum (0.5 cm). The data from the harvested animals are used to evaluate stressors and overall seal health, in the Canadian Arctic.