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Species Distribution Models (SDM) were used to predict and identify priority areas for enhanced monitoring of cetaceans in eastern Canadian waters off Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador. This data set represents information presented in Gomez et al. (2020) and includes sighting records and SDM outputs for ten cetacean species with sufficient records (n > 450) and sightings only for an additional six species. For more information about sighting records including which were included in each SDM, please see Gomez et al.

This dataset contains the surface temperature and salinity data of the enlarged coastal thermograph network of the St. Lawrence river, estuary and gulf system. It includes data from the Canadian Hydrographic Service water level network (SINECO), the DFO-Quebec long-termed thermograph monitoring program network and the oceanographic buoy network.Each station is linked with a .png file showing the temperature and salinity time series and with a .csv file containing the surface temperature and salinity data themselves (columns : Station,Latitude,Longitude,Date(UTC),Depth/Profondeur(m),Temperature/Température(ºC),Salinity/Salinité(psu)).Supplemental InformationA detailed description of the networks (SINECO, oceanographic buoys and the DFO-Quebec thermograph monitoring program) is available at the St. Lawrence Global Observatory (SLGO) portal :SINECO : https://ogsl.ca/en/navigation/marine-conditions-tidegauges/chs-tidegauges/summaryOceanographic buoys : https://ogsl.ca/en/navigation/marine-conditions-buoys/dfo/summaryThermographs: https://ogsl.ca/en/navigation/marine-conditions-thermographs/dfo/summaryTechnical Reports related to the Thermograph Network (the last one is also available at the same hypertext link mentionned above) :Pettigrew, B., Gilbert, D. and Desmarais R. 2016. Thermograph network in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Can.

Spatial distribution of lumpfish catch rates (number per tow) during the August DFO research survey conducted annually since 1990, to assess the state of groundfish and shrimp stocks in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence.The area sampled by a tow is the product of the distance trawled (fishing time multiplied by vessel speed) and the wing spread (13.41 m for the Alfred Needler and 16.94 m for the Teleost). Given that this area may vary among tows, the sampling unit is standardized and defined as being a station sampled by a tow over a distance of 0.75 nautical miles (1,389 m) with a horizontal wing spread of 16.94 m. Catch variables were calculated based on the standard area, 0.02353 km².After each tow, the catch was sorted by taxa, and the number of individuals and total biomass of these taxa were noted. For taxa identified to the species level, individual biometric parameters (e.g., length, weight) and biological parameters (e.g., sex, maturity of gonads) were recorded based on a subsample. Full methods are described in Bourdages et al.

1999 to 2019 surface temperature and salinity measured along the track of commercial ships, mostly between Montreal (Quebec) and St. John's (Newfoundland).Monitoring of surface water conditions in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence is carried out with different complementary methods such as thermosalinographs (TSG) installed on commercial ships. These ships are sailing all year long from Montreal to St. John’s, one round trip per week, and are sampling water near the surface (3 to 8 meters deep) to determine the temperature and salinity all along the route.PurposeThe recorded data are used as input to numerical forecasting models for sea ice conditions and as a monitoring tool for the Gulf of St. Lawrence.Annual reports are available at the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS), (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/index-eng.htm). Galbraith, P.S., Chassé, J., Caverhill, C., Nicot, P., Gilbert, D., Lefaivre, D. and Lafleur, C. 2018. Physical Oceanographic Conditions in the Gulf of St. Lawrence during 2017.

Bottom temperature time series at the 3 fixed stations and 46 stations, grouped into transects, of the Atlantic Zonal Monitoring Program (AZMP) under the Quebec region responsibility.The mean bottom temperature of the last ten years are displayed as 2 layers, one for the June survey (2010-2019), another for the autumn survey (2010-2019). A third layer shows the positions of the fixed stations of the program (Anticosti Gyre, Gaspé Current and Rimouski).Each station is linked with a .png file showing the bottom temperature time series and with a .csv file containing all the bottom temperature data acquired at those stations since the beginning of the program sampling (columns : Station,Latitude,Longitude,Date(UTC),Sounding(m),Depth/Profondeur(m),Temperature/Température(ºC)).PurposeThe Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program (AZMP) was implemented in 1998 with the aim of increasing the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) capacity to detect, track and predict changes in the state and productivity of the marine environment.The AZMP collects data from a network of stations composed of high-frequency monitoring sites and cross-shelf sections in each following DFO region: Québec, Gulf, Maritimes and Newfoundland. The sampling design provides basic information on the natural variability in physical, chemical, and biological properties of the Northwest Atlantic continental shelf. Cross-shelf sections sampling provides detailed geographic information but is limited in a seasonal coverage while critically placed high-frequency monitoring sites complement the geography-based sampling by providing more detailed information on temporal changes in ecosystem properties.In Quebec region, two surveys (46 stations grouped into transects) are conducted every year, one in June and the other in autumn in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Bottom salinity time series at the 3 fixed stations and 46 stations, grouped into transects, of the Atlantic Zonal Monitoring Program (AZMP) under the Quebec region responsibility.The mean bottom salinity of the last ten years are displayed as 2 layers, one for the June survey (2010-2019), another for the autumn survey (2010-2019). A third layer shows the positions of the fixed stations of the program (Anticosti Gyre, Gaspé Current and Rimouski).Each station is linked with a .png file showing the bottom salinity time series and with a .csv file containing all the bottom salinity data acquired at those stations since the beginning of the program sampling (columns : Station,Latitude,Longitude,Date(UTC),Sounding(m),Depth/Profondeur(m),Salinity/Salinité).PurposeThe Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program (AZMP) was implemented in 1998 with the aim of increasing the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) capacity to detect, track and predict changes in the state and productivity of the marine environment.The AZMP collects data from a network of stations composed of high-frequency monitoring sites and cross-shelf sections in each following DFO region: Québec, Gulf, Maritimes and Newfoundland. The sampling design provides basic information on the natural variability in physical, chemical, and biological properties of the Northwest Atlantic continental shelf. Cross-shelf sections sampling provides detailed geographic information but is limited in a seasonal coverage while critically placed high-frequency monitoring sites complement the geography-based sampling by providing more detailed information on temporal changes in ecosystem properties.In Quebec region, two surveys (46 stations grouped into transects) are conducted every year, one in June and the other in autumn in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence.

2009 to 2018 demersal fish group richness in the Estuary and Gulf of St.Lawrence estimated by the number of species found in each grid cell 10 km x 10 km. Input data are from the annual August and September multidisciplinary surveys.PurposeSince 1990, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been conducting an annual multidisciplinary survey in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence using a standardized protocol. In the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, these bottom trawl surveys has been carrying out each September since 1971. These missions are an important source of information about the status of the marine ressources.The objectives of the surveys are multiple: to estimate the abundance and biomass of groundfish and invertebrates, to identify the spatial distribution and biological characteristics of these species, to monitor the biodiversity of the Estuary and Gulf and finally, to describe the environmental conditions observed in the area at the moment of the sampling.The southern Gulf surveys are realized using the following standardized protocol:Hurlbut,T.

2009 to 2018 pelagic fish group richness in the Estuary and Gulf of St.Lawrence estimated by the number of species found in each grid cell 10 km x 10 km. Input data are from the annual August and September multidisciplinary surveys.PurposeSince 1990, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been conducting an annual multidisciplinary survey in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence using a standardized protocol. In the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, these bottom trawl surveys has been carrying out each September since 1971. These missions are an important source of information about the status of the marine ressources.The objectives of the surveys are multiple: to estimate the abundance and biomass of groundfish and invertebrates, to identify the spatial distribution and biological characteristics of these species, to monitor the biodiversity of the Estuary and Gulf and finally, to describe the environmental conditions observed in the area at the moment of the sampling.The southern Gulf surveys are realized using the following standardized protocol:Hurlbut,T.

Mean 2009 to 2018 demersal fish total biomass in the Estuary and Gulf of St.Lawrence obtained by summing the fish biomass (kg) for all species for a tow and then averaging tows in each grid cell 10 km x 10 km. Input data are from the annual August (north) and September (south) multidisciplinary surveys. A distinct layer by survey is presented because the total biomasses are not comparable from one survey to the other (different fishing gears for each one).PurposeSince 1990, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been conducting an annual multidisciplinary survey in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence using a standardized protocol. In the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, these bottom trawl surveys has been carrying out each September since 1971.

Gridded temperature and salinity of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence bottom waters including shallow waters. Data are a result of a 3D interpolation on a 1km x 1km x bottom depth grid. They mostly come from the 2 multidisciplinary surveys but all the available CTD data sampled in August and September were used.The dataset contains 24 layers: one layer per year per variable from 2010 to 2019, two layers of temperature and salinity climatologies and two layers of 2019 anomalies.PurposeSince 1990, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been conducting an annual multidisciplinary survey in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence using a standardized protocol. In the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, these bottom trawl surveys has been carrying out each September since 1971.