Sponge reefs are constructed by hexactinellid (glass) sponges of the Order Hexactinosida. The sponges trap fine sediments, and over centuries of sponge growth and sediment trapping, form large bioherms or reef mounds. Glass sponge reefs are unique habitats found along the Pacific coast of Canada and the United States and they have significant historic, ecological, and economic value. They link benthic and pelagic environments by playing important roles in filtration and carbon and nitrogen processing, and acting as silica sinks. They also form habitat for diverse communities of invertebrates and fish, including those of economic importance. Thus, accurate and up-to-date information on the location and spatial extent of sponge reefs is important to the management and conservation of many of Canada’s Pacific marine species. We generated a map of known sponge reefs, derived from two source shape files: 1) Sponge_Reef_West_Coast, mapped by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), 2) Howesound_Nine_reef_polygons and 3) HoweSound_Five_reef_polygons, which were mapped by DFO and NRCan. The resultant polygon shapefile is published on the GIS hub as a file geodatabase feature class.

PURPOSE:The SCUBA survey was designed to assess the density of small lobsters (1-3 years of age) in rocky reefs, in the nearshore habitat.DESCRIPTION:Total number of transects surveyed and total number of lobsters measured for each site in each year. There are some sites that do not have any coordinates identified, therefore these have not been included in the Web Map Services (WMS). PARAMETERS COLLECTED:Size measurement (biological); species counts (ecological); substrate (geological)SAMPLING METHODS:Transects are laid out from a small vessel using buoys, anchors, and a 100 m leaded rope along the bottom, marked at 5 m intervals. A strip transect survey method is used whereas two divers sample a 1 or 2 m strip (dependent on lobster density) alongside either side of the leaded rope. All captured lobsters are measured (carapace length) and all lobsters of ≥20 mm carapace length are sexed. The complexity and suitability of the habitat is assessed in the 5 m sections (e.g. rocky reefs, sand, large boulders).USE LIMITATION:To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.

This layer details Important Areas (IAs) relevant to sponge reefs (Hexactinosida) in the Strait of Georgia (SOG) ecoregion. This data was mapped to inform the selection of marine Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSA). Experts have indicated that these areas are relevant based upon their high ranking in one or more of three criteria (Uniqueness, Aggregation, and Fitness Consequences). The distribution of IAs within ecoregions is used in the designation of EBSAs.Canada’s Oceans Act provides the legislative framework for an integrated ecosystem approach to management in Canadian oceans, particularly in areas considered ecologically or biologically significant. DFO has developed general guidance for the identification of ecologically or biologically significant areas. The criteria for defining such areas include uniqueness, aggregation, fitness consequences, resilience, and naturalness. This science advisory process identifies proposed EBSAs in Canadian Pacific marine waters, specifically in the Strait of Georgia (SOG), along the west coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI, southern shelf ecoregion), and in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA, northern shelf ecoregion).Initial assessment of IA's in PNCIMA was carried out in September 2004 to March 2005 with spatial data collection coordinated by Cathryn Clarke. Subsequent efforts in WCVI and SOG were conducted in 2009, and may have used different scientific advisors, temporal extents, data, and assessment methods. WCVI and SOG IA assessment in some cases revisits data collected for PNCIMA, but should be treated as a separate effort.Other datasets in this series detail IAs for birds, cetaceans, fish, geographic features, invertebrates, and other vertebrates.Though data collection is considered complete, the emergence of significant new data may merit revisiting of IA's on a case by case basis.

This dataset was developed to document the procedures for acquiring underwater images in the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area (MPA). Its primary objective is to provide a comprehensive inventory of metadata linked to imagery campaigns that allowed us to conduct a basic characterization of the area, and now that are used for ecological monitoring of the benthic habitats within the MPA.Metadata were collected during imagery surveys conducted since 2012, using three main methods: drop cameras on the crest, baited drop stereoscopic cameras on both the crest and plains, and towed cameras on the plains. For each operation are shared the type of gear used, sampling method, date, geographic coordinates, and acquisition depth.The released dataset contains only descriptive information related to the acquisition of images : file identifier, location, sampling methodology, depth, and technical imaging parameters. It does not include image files themselves, visual content, or the results of image analyses.A systematic quality control is applied to ensure completeness and consistency of the metadata: field format standardization, validation of GPS coordinates, verification of dates and recorded depths. Clear instructions guide the recording of metadata to guarantee their reliability for management and scientific monitoring purposes.

The RFI identifies areas of land and water encircling a recreation feature or combination of features that support, or have the potential to support, one or more recreation activities. These areas are rated for their significance or importance to recreation and for their sensitivity to alteration

This national map of flood susceptibility or flood prone areas is based on patterns of historic flood events as predicted by an ensemble machine learning model.The recommended use is national, provincial or regional scale and can be used as a guide for identifying areas for further investigation. The Flood Susceptibility Index (FSI) Dataset, while processed and available at 30m cell size, is not recommended for use at the pixel or street level, given the uncertainty in the modelling process and the variability of results as discussed in https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4931/25/1/18 .For additional details on the methods, tests, models and datasets used to generate this data layer, please see https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/starweb/geoscan/servlet.starweb?path=geoscan/fulle.web&search1=R=329493

Funded under DFO's Marine Conservation Targets Program, this two-year optical imagery benthic survey captured 41 drift-camera transects in the St. Anns Bank Marine Protected Area (MPA - 4364 km2) and 4 coastal transects west of the MPA, Atlantic Canada from August 15-23, 2023 and August 08-17, 2024. High-resolution still images (n=3605) were taken periodically throughout each transect, while continuous high-definition downward- and forward-facing video (~20 hours of each) was collected simultaneously along with over 14 hours of forward-facing Go-Pro video (only in 2024). Transect and image locations were collected using an acoustic positioning operating system (Kongsberg APOS) acquired in 2024; year-one of the survey relied on the vessel position. Distance travelled and distance between still images (m) was calculated using ArcGIS tools. Field of view (FOV) was estimated by measuring the length and width of a subset of still images from year-one of the survey (n=500) in ImageJ2, using 10-cm lasers for scale. FOV was standardized for each reported altitude. Transects ranged from 319 m to 2.8 km in length (~47 km surveyed in total), collecting imagery for 12 minutes to just over 1 hour at a time, surveying depths from 17 to 144 m below chart datum. Transect locations were selected based on unique bathymetric features and benthoscapes as well as areas previously surveyed from 2009-2015.Cite this data as: Lawton P, Teed L. Near-seafloor drift transect video imagery and high-resolution digital still images from a two-year survey in support of Marine Protected Area monitoring of St. Anns Bank, Atlantic Canada. Published January 2025. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews, N.B.

The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a global, satellite-based and terrestrial-based ship tracking system that uses shipborne equipment to remotely track vessel identification and positional information and is typically required on vessels of 300 gross tonnage or more on an international voyage, of 500 gross tonnage or more not on an international voyage, and passenger ships of all sizes. AIS tracking technologies are primarily used in support of real-time maritime domain awareness and for maritime security and safety of life at sea. This report describes a geographic information system (GIS) analysis of 2019 AIS data to produce yearly and monthly vessel density maps of all vessel classes combined and yearly density maps of each vessel class. The year 2019 was selected to portray shipping densities in a pre-COVID 19 pandemic depiction of the maritime transport sector in the Northwest Atlantic. Vessel density map applications include use in spatial analysis and decision support for marine spatial planning.

The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a global, satellite-based and terrestrial-based ship tracking system that uses shipborne equipment to remotely track vessel identification and positional information and is typically required on vessels of 300 gross tonnage or more on an international voyage, of 500 gross tonnage or more not on an international voyage, and passenger ships of all sizes. AIS tracking technologies are primarily used in support of real-time maritime domain awareness and for maritime security and safety of life at sea. This report describes a geographic information system (GIS) analysis of 2019 AIS data to produce yearly and monthly vessel density maps of all vessel classes combined and yearly density maps of each vessel class. The year 2019 was selected to portray shipping densities in a pre-COVID 19 pandemic depiction of the maritime transport sector in the Northwest Atlantic. Vessel density map applications include use in spatial analysis and decision support for marine spatial planning. In 2023 the process was applied to the years 2013 through to 2022 and were made available using the same processes that were applied to the original 2019 datasets.

The DND Military Base dataset is comprised of all the polygons that represent the Military Bases established for the Department of National Defence, Government of Canada, within the Province of Alberta. A Military Base is an area owned by the Department of National Defence, Government of Canada where various military activities occur.