The Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) ecosystem surveys consist of research vessel survey data collected to monitor the distribution and abundance of fish and invertebrates throughout the Scotian Shelf, Bay of Fundy and Georges Bank. The surveys follow a stratified random sampling design, and include sampling of fish and invertebrates using a bottom otter trawl. These survey data are the primary data source for monitoring trends in species distribution, abundance, and biological condition within the region, and also provide data to the Atlantic Zonal Monitoring Program (AZMP) for monitoring hydrographic variability. “Summer” cruises focus on the Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy (i.e. 4VWX), while “Spring” cruises focus on Georges Bank (i.e. 5Z)

Collected data includes total catch in numbers and weights by species. Length frequency data is available for most species, as are the age, sex, weight and maturity information for a subset of the individual animals. Other data such as ageing material, genetic material, and stomach contents are often also collected, but are stored elsewhere.

This specific record contains a version of the ecosystem survey data which has been modified from its original format to facilitate ingestion by the Ocean ADAPT web tool (https://oceanadapt.rutgers.edu). Specifically, the ADAPT service has been limited to those species that have been reliably identified and recorded throughout the data series (n=63), and the provided numbers and weights have been standardized to account for tow distances varying from a standard tow of 1.75NM. No data from individual animals is included in this record (e.g. length, weight, age. maturity, sex, etc).

Monitoring Program Element:Lower Trophic Levels - Benthic Invertebrates, shrimp and squid Higher Trophic Levels - Fish Physical/Chemical Environment - Hydrographic data (depth, temperature, salinity) AZMP sampling conducted since 1999

Database components: Detailed sampling data from the Research Vessel Ecosystem surveys

Publications:

Chadwick, E. M. P., W. Brodie, E. Colbourne, D. Clark, D. Gascon, and T. Hurlbut. 2007. History of annual multi-species trawl surveys on the Atlantic Coast of Canada. AZMP Bulletin 6: 25-42.

Clark, D. S. and J. Emberley. 2008. Summer Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy Ecosystem update for 2008. CSAS Res Doc 2009/017

Clark, D. S. and P. Perley. 2006. Summer Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy Ecosystem update 2006. CSAS Res Doc 2006/20; 53 p.

Tremblay, M.J.; Black, G.A.P.; Branton, R.M., 2007. The distribution of common decapod crustaceans and other invertebrates recorded in annual ecosystem surveys of the Scotian Shelf 1999-2006. Canadian technical report of fisheries and aquatic sciences; 2762; 74 p.

Learn more or download this dataset from the Government of Canada's Open data portal.

The Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) ecosystem surveys consist of research vessel survey data collected to monitor the distribution and abundance of fish and invertebrates throughout the Scotian Shelf, Bay of Fundy and Georges Bank. The surveys follow a stratified random sampling design, and include sampling of fish and invertebrates using a bottom otter trawl. These survey data are the primary data source for monitoring trends in species distribution, abundance, and biological condition within the region, and also provide data to the Atlantic Zonal Monitoring Program (AZMP) for monitoring hydrographic variability. “Summer” cruises focus on the Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy (i.e. 4VWX), while “Spring” cruises focus on Georges Bank (i.e. 5Z)

Collected data includes total catch in numbers and weights by species. Length frequency data is available for most species, as are the age, sex, weight and maturity information for a subset of the individual animals. Other data such as ageing material, genetic material, and stomach contents are often also collected, but are stored elsewhere.

This specific record contains a version of the ecosystem survey data which has been modified from its original format to facilitate ingestion by the Ocean ADAPT web tool (https://oceanadapt.rutgers.edu). Specifically, the ADAPT service has been limited to those species that have been reliably identified and recorded throughout the data series (n=63), and the provided numbers and weights have been standardized to account for tow distances varying from a standard tow of 1.75NM. No data from individual animals is included in this record (e.g. length, weight, age. maturity, sex, etc).

Monitoring Program Element:Lower Trophic Levels - Benthic Invertebrates, shrimp and squid Higher Trophic Levels - Fish Physical/Chemical Environment - Hydrographic data (depth, temperature, salinity) AZMP sampling conducted since 1999

Database components: Detailed sampling data from the Research Vessel Ecosystem surveys

Publications:

Chadwick, E. M. P., W. Brodie, E. Colbourne, D. Clark, D. Gascon, and T. Hurlbut. 2007. History of annual multi-species trawl surveys on the Atlantic Coast of Canada. AZMP Bulletin 6: 25-42.

Clark, D. S. and J. Emberley. 2008. Summer Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy Ecosystem update for 2008. CSAS Res Doc 2009/017

Clark, D. S. and P. Perley. 2006. Summer Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy Ecosystem update 2006. CSAS Res Doc 2006/20; 53 p.

Tremblay, M.J.; Black, G.A.P.; Branton, R.M., 2007. The distribution of common decapod crustaceans and other invertebrates recorded in annual ecosystem surveys of the Scotian Shelf 1999-2006. Canadian technical report of fisheries and aquatic sciences; 2762; 74 p.

Learn more or download this dataset from the Government of Canada's Open data portal.