Three marine spatial planning areas are delineated in Eastern Canada to define the spatial extents of marine spatial plans being led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (EGSL), the Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Shelves, and the Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy. The EGSL planning area includes the St. Lawrence River estuary from northeast of Île d’Orléans, Quebec, the Saguenay River estuary, and the entire Gulf of St. Lawrence as far north as the Strait of Belle Isle (NAFO Divisions 4RST). The NL Shelves planning area includes areas off southern, eastern and northern Newfoundland, part of the Churchill River and Lake Melville, as well as off the Labrador coast to the extent of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) (NAFO Divisions 2GHJ and 3KLNOP). The Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy planning area includes DFO Maritimes’ administrative region off the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia to the extent of the EEZ, the Bay of Fundy and the Canadian portion of the Gulf of Maine (NAFO Divisions 4VWX, 5Ze, and the Canadian portion of 5Y). The French EEZ for St. Pierre et Miquelon is excluded from the three planning areas. These planning areas are derived from Federal Marine Bioregions (https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/23eb8b56-dac8-4efc-be7c-b8fa11ba62e9) that were developed by a Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat process using ecosystem-based management principles to define 13 ecological bioregions that have informed but not directed DFO implementation of marine spatial planning.

The Marine Geoscience for Marine Spatial Planning (MGMSP) program, implemented byNatural Resources Canada (NRCan), is an initiative with the goal of offering innovativeregional geoscience products to support the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) intheir Marine Spatial Planning endeavors. To develop spatial management plans for variousexpansive bioregions across Canada, the DFO has undertaken the task of creatingcomprehensive ocean management strategies. Presently, the MGMSP program isconcentrating its efforts on two significant bioregions, namely the Scotian Shelf andNewfoundland and Labrador Shelves bioregions.In pursuit of this objective, the work presented in this report has focused on theassimilation and gridding of numerous disparate bathymetry datasets sourced fromauthoritative and reliable channels. The purpose of this comprehensive data gatheringapproach is to establish a unified bathymetric grid, with a consistent spatial resolution,which can be utilized in both oceanographic modeling and geological interpretation. Bycollating information from a diverse range of sources, we aim to create a comprehensiveand reliable foundation that will enable accurate and informed decision-making in the fieldof marine spatial planning, as well as enhance the accuracy and reliability of subsequentanalyses and simulations.

This report describes an analysis of Maritimes Region inshore lobster logbook data reported at a grid level, including Bay of Fundy Disputed Zone data reported at the coordinate level. Annual and composite (2015–2019) grid maps were produced for landings, number of trap hauls, and the same series standardized by grid area, as well as maps of catch weight per number of trap hauls as an index of catch per unit effort (CPUE). Spatial differences in fishing pressure, landings, and CPUE are indicated, and potential mapping applications are outlined. Mapping the distribution and intensity of inshore lobster fishing activity has management applications for spatial planning and related decision support. The lack of region-wide latitude and longitude coordinates for inshore lobster effort and landings limits the utility of commercial logbook data for marine spatial planning purposes.

The joint Natural Resources Canada/Department of Fisheries and Oceans Marine Spatial Planning Program requires the highest resolution marine based bathymetric elevation data and adjacent land based topographic elevation data that are available. This digital elevation model of Canada's west coast compiles the best data available from multiple government agencies to create a regional model gridded at 10 meter spacing. The transitions between the marine and terrestrial areas are seamless creating a continuous surface of elevations for scientific research and mapping.

Marine classification schemes based on abiotic surrogates often inform regional marine conservation planning in lieu of detailed biological data. However, theses chemes may poorly represent ecologically relevant biological patterns required for effective design and management strategies. We used a community-level modeling approach to characterize and delineate representative mesoscale (tens to thousands of kilometers) assemblages of demersal fish and benthic invertebrates in the North-west Atlantic. Hierarchical clustering of species occurrence data from four regional annual multispecies trawl surveys revealed three to six groupings (predominant assemblage types) in each survey region, broadly associated with geomorphic and oceanographic features. Indicator analyses identified 3–34 emblematic taxa of each assemblage type. Random forest classifications accurately predicted assemblage dis-tributions from environmental covariates (AUC > 0.95) and identified thermal limits (annual minimum and maximum bottom temperatures) as important pre-dictors of distribution in each region. Using forecasted oceanographic conditions for the year 2075 and a regional classification model, we projected assemblage dis-tributions in the southernmost bioregion (Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy) under ahigh emissions climate scenario (RCP 8.5). Range expansions to the north eastare projected for assemblages associated with warmer and shallower waters of the Western Scotian Shelf over the 21st century as thermal habitat on the rela-tively cooler Eastern Scotian Shelf becomes more favorable. Community-level modeling provides a biotic-informed approach for identifying broadscale ecolog-ical structure required for the design and management of ecologically coherent, representative, well-connected networks of Marine Protected Areas. When com-bined with oceanographic forecasts, this modeling approach provides a spatial tool for assessing sensitivity and resilience to climate change, which can improve conservation planning, monitoring, and adaptive management.Cite this data as: O'Brien, J.M., Stanley, R.R.E., Jeffery, N.W., Heaslip, S.W., DiBacco, C., and Wang, Z. Demersal fish and benthic invertebrate assemblages in the Northwest Atlantic.Published: December 2024. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Maritimes region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth NS.https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/14d55ea5-b17d-478c-b9ee-6a7c04439d2b

Pelagic Marine Ecounits are intended to describe the sea surface and water column. Two variables were selected to derive pelagic ecounits:1. Salinity and 2. Stratification. The British Columbia Marine Ecological Classification (BCMEC) is a hierarchical classification that delineates Provincial marine areas into Ecozones, Ecoprovinces, Ecoregions and Ecosections. The classification was developed from previous Federal and Provincial marine ecological classifications which were based on 1:2,000,000 scale information. The BCMEC has been developed for marine and coastal planning, resource management and a Provincial marine protected areas strategy. A new, smaller level of classification termed ecounits developed using 1:250,000 scale depth, current, exposure, subsurface relief and substrate was created to verify the larger ecosections, and to delineate their boundaries. CRIMS is a legacy dataset of BC coastal resource data that was acquired in a systematic and synoptic manner from 1979 and was intermittently updated throughout the years. Resource information was collected in nine study areas using a peer-reviewed provincial Resource Information Standards Committee consisting of DFO Fishery Officers, First Nations, and other subject matter experts. There are currently no plans to update this legacy data.

The layer presents the information on the distribution of eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds in James Bay, Chaleur Bay, Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence according to a literature review of documents produced between 1987 and 2009. Additional InformationEelgrass's inventory was produced according to a literature review of the following documents:Calderón, I. 1996. Caractérisation de la végétation et de la faune ichtyenne de la baie de Sept-Îles. Document réalisé par la Corporation de protection de l'environnement de Sept-Îles pour Pêches et Océans Canada. 26p. + 5 annexes.Comité côtier Les Escoumins à la Rivière Betsiamites. 2004. Inventaire de localisation des bancs de zostère marine dans la zone côtière Les Escoumins à la rivière Betsiamites. 9 p.Comité ZIP Côte-Nord du Golfe. 2001. Inventaire du potentiel côtier et marin de la Basse-Côte-Nord. Version préliminaire de rapport sous forme de CD-ROM, Sept-Îles, mars 2001.Comité ZIP de la rive nord de l’estuaire. 2008. Guide d’intervention en matière de protection et de mise en valeur des habitats littoraux d’intérêt de la rive nord de l’estuaire maritime (fiches 14 à 20). 8 p. + 7 fiches + annexe.Conseil Régional de l’Environnement Gaspésie et des Îles-de-la-Madeleine (2004). Inventaire et étude des bancs de zostère marine sur le territoire couvert par les comités de gestion intégrée de la zone côtière de l’Est du Québec. CONSORTIUM GAUTHIER & GUILLEMETTE - G.R.E.B.E. 1992. Description et cartographie des habitats côtiers de la Baie de Hannah jusqu'à la rivière au Castor. Rapport présenté à Hydro-Québec, Complexe Nottaway-Broadback-Rupert (NBR), Vol. 2, Annexe cartographique.Giguère, M., C. Duluc, S. Brulotte, F. Hazel, S. Pereira et M. Gaudet. 2006. Inventaire d’une population d'huître américaine (Crassostrea virginica) dans le Bassin aux Huîtres aux Îles-de-la-Madeleine en 2005. Rapport manuscrit. vi + 21 p.Grant, C. et L. Provencher, 2007. Caractérisation de l’habitat et de la faune des herbiers de Zostera marina (L.) de la péninsule de Manicouagan (Québec). Rapp. tech. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 2772 : viii + 65 p. Groupe Environnement Littoral. 1992. Complexe NBR. La zostère marine. Rapport présenté à la vice-présidence Environnement d'Hydro-Québec. 9 p. + 2 cartes.Harvey, C. et D. Brouard. 1992. Étude exploratoire du barachois de Chandler: aspects biophysiques et contamination. Rapport présenté à Environnement Canada, Direction de la protection de l'environnement région du Québec. 39 p. et annexes.Hazel, François, 2002. Données de terrain prises par F. Hazel, Septembre 2002.Ellefsen, H.-F. 2009. Communication personnelle de Hans-Frédéric Ellefsen (MPO).Jacquaz et coll. 1990. Étude biophysique de l'habitat du poisson de quatre barachois de la baie des Chaleurs.Kedney, G. et P. Kaltenback. 1996. Acquisition de connaissances et mise en valeur des habitats du banc de Portneuf. Document réalisé par la firme Pro Faune pour le Comité touristique de Rivière-Portneuf. 50 pages et 5 annexes.Lalumière, R. 1987. Répartition de la zostère marine (Zostera marina) sur la côte est de la baie James; été 1987. Rapport produit par Gilles Shooner et Associés inc. pour la Société d’énergie de la Baie James. 30 p. et annexes.Lalumière, R., L. Belzile et C. Lemieux. 1992. Étude de la zostère marine le long de la côte nord-est de la baie James (été 1991). Rapport présenté au Service écologie de la SEBJ. 31 p. + carte.Leblanc, J. 2002. Communication personnelle de Judith Leblanc (MPO).Lemieux, C. 1995. Acquisition de connaissances des habitats côtiers dans la région de Rimouski (1995). Rapport du Groupe-Conseil GENIVAR présenté au Ministère des Pêches et des Océans du Canada, Division de la Gestion de l’Habitat du Poisson, 52 pages + 2 annexes.Lemieux, C. et R. Lalumière. 1995. Acquisition de connaissances des habitats côtiers du barachois de Saint-Omer. Rap. du Groupe conseil Genivar inc. pour la DGHP, MPO, 44 pages + 3 ann.Martel, Marie-Claude, Lizon Provencher, Cindy Grant, Hans-Frédéric Ellefsen et Selma Pereira, 2009. Distribution and description of eelgrassbeds in Québec. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, Research Document 2009/050. 45p. Morin, D. 2009. Communication personnelle de Danièle Morin (MRNF).Naturam Environnement. 1999. Caractérisation biophysique, socio-économique et détermination des enjeux dans un secteur potentiel pour l’identification d’une zone de protection marine pilote: portion ouest de la MRC Manicouagan. Baie-Comeau. 311 p. Pelletier, Claudel. 2003. Communication personnelle de Claudel Pelletier, FAPAQ, lettre en date du 24 février 2003.Pereira, S. 2009. Communication personnelle de Selma Pereira (MPO).Vaillancourt, M.-A. et C. Lafontaine. 1999. Caractérisation de la Baie Mitis. Jardins de Métis et Pêches et Océans Canada. Grand-Métis. 185 p.

Bay and Channel (fresh and marine) features and associated names

Fisheries landings and effort mapping of the inshore lobster fishery on the DFO Maritimes Region statistical grid (2012-2014). This report describes an analysis of Maritimes Region inshore lobster logbook data reported at a grid level, including Bay of Fundy Grey Zone data reported at the coordinate level. Annual and composite (2012–2014) grid maps were produced for landings, number of license-days fished, number of trap hauls, and the same series standardized by grid area, as well as maps of catch weight per number of trap hauls as an index of catch per unit effort (CPUE). Spatial differences in fishing pressure, landings, and CPUE are indicated, and potential mapping applications are outlined. Mapping the distribution and intensity of inshore lobster fishing activity has management applications for spatial planning and related decision support. The lack of region-wide latitude and longitude coordinates for lobster effort and landings limits the utility of commercial logbook data for marine spatial planning purposes.

Linear coastlines of BC, including mainland and marine islands. Lines are directionalized and connected. Attributes include a hierarchical key and route identifier