Data were collected during aerial surveys carried out at low tides in June and August 1994-1997, 2000 and 2001. June and August are respectively pupping and moulting seasons, when the haulout sites are intensively used by seals. Features in this layer show the Grey seal distribution and mean abundance for all aerial surveys (tables 4 and 6, figures 4 and 6 from Robillard et al. 2005). In the estuary, areas of high abundance have more than 25 individuals, areas of medium abundance have between 5 and 25 individuals and areas of low abundance have fewer than 5 individuals. In the Gulf, areas of high abundance have more than 70 individuals and areas of medium to low abundance have fewer than 70 individuals. Data are valid only during summer because Grey seals in the Estuary and northern Gulf migrate to the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence in the fall. These seals will spend the winter on Sable Island, on the ice shelf in the Northumberland Strait or on neighboring islands. During the summer, in the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, its distribution is not uniform between the different concentration areas identified, but it is similar between June and August. However, there are some areas where Grey seals are more abundant in August than in June. Abundance classes are arbitrary but fit with the published results of haul-out sites utilization from Robillard et al. (2005). Data shown are a picture of the situation in 2005 because it is the most recent mapping available for this species. Data sources and references: Lavigueur, L., Hammill, M.O., and Asselin, S. 1993. Distribution et biologie des phoques et autres mammifères marins dans la région du parc marin du Saguenay. Rapp. manus. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 2220: vi + 40. Lesage, V., and Hammill, M.O. 2001. The status of the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus, in the Northwest Atlantic. Can. Field-Nat. 115(4): 653-662. Robillard, A., V. Lesage, and M.O. Hammill. 2005. Distribution and abundance of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina concolor) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, 1994–2001. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2613: 152 pp.

This layer represents the Harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) distribution. During the summer, the Harp seal is in Arctic and it migrates south of its distribution range during the fall. It migrates back to the Arctic after the moulting period which occurs in April and May. Reference: DFO. 2020. 2019 Status of Northwest Atlantic Harp Seals, Pagophilus groenlandicus. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2020/020.

Layer that includes the known information on harbor seal breeding and feeding areas in the Saguenay Fjord, the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence according to a literature review of documents produced between 1968 and 2001. Additional Information Harbor seal breeding and feeding areas were produced according to a literature review of the following documents: Andersen, A. et M. Gagnon. 1980. Les ressources halieutiques de l'estuaire du Saint-Laurent. Rapp. can. ind. sci. halieut. aquat., 119: iv + 56 p. Communications personnelles par Fournier, C. 1999. Communications personnelles par Gosselin, J-F-. 1996. Communications personnelles par Gosselin. J.-F. 2001. Communications personnelles par Lavigueur, L. 1996. Dignard, N., R. Lalumière, A. Reed et M. Julien. 1991. Les habitats côtiers du nord-est de la Baie James. Publication hors-série no. 70. Environnement Canada, Service canadien de la faune. 30 p. + carte. Enquête auprès des pêcheurs et agents du MEF et du MPO. 1995. Mansfield, A. W. 1968. Seals and walruses. In: Beals, C.S., ed. Science, History and Hudson Bay. Vol. 1. Ottawa: Queen’s Printer. 501 p.

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 2021 This 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

This layer represents important areas for the Harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus). It includes the three main pupping areas for this species and migratory pathways used by Harp seals to migrate between its summering (Baffin Bay) and wintering (Gulf of St. Lawrence and Newfoundland and Labrador coasts) areas. Note that this dataset do not represent the Harp seal distribution. Reference: DFO. 2020. 2019 Status of Northwest Atlantic Harp Seals, Pagophilus groenlandicus. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2020/020.

Database of seal counts from aerial photography. Counts by image, site, species, and date are stored in the database along with information on entanglements and other human interactions.

Vector datasets of CWHR range maps are one component of California Wildlife Habitat Relationships (CWHR), a comprehensive information system and predictive model for Californias wildlife. The CWHR System was developed to support habitat conservation and management, land use planning, impact assessment, education, and research involving terrestrial vertebrates in California. CWHR contains information on life history, management status, geographic distribution, and habitat relationships for wildlife species known to occur regularly in California. Range maps represent the maximum, current geographic extent of each species within California. They were originally delineated at a scale of 1:5,000,000 by species-level experts and have gradually been revised at a scale of 1:1,000,000. For more information about CWHR, visit the CWHR webpage (https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/CWHR). The webpage provides links to download CWHR data and user documents such as a look up table of available range maps including species code, species name, and range map revision history; a full set of CWHR GIS data; .pdf files of each range map or species life history accounts; and a User Guide.

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.

Sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) and Iceland scallop (Chlamys islandica) concentration areas of this layer are described as being known and commercially exploited historically and/or currently. The mapping of these areas is based on several sources of information: research surveys (since 1977, annually but alternating sectors since 2009), exploratory fisheries (2000, 2001, 2003) and commercial fisheries (annually). These concentration areas are considered among the most abundant beds and are used for commercial fishing. This layer does not represent the general distribution of the species nor the extent to which fishing is allowed and does not take into account the large unexploited beds. The extent of shellfish beds can change over time in response to, among others, harvesting and recruitment rates. The polygons might underestimate the concentration areas because fishing and scientific surveys occurred where the target resource was known to be more abundant. However, the precision is good enough for resource protection and management needs in case of an environmental incident. This information is valid until data from a more recent research survey is published. Data sources and references: Bourdages, H. et Goudreau, P. 2010. Évaluation des stocks de pétoncles des eaux côtières du Québec en 2009 : données de la pêche commerciale. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2010/068. viii + 69 p. Giguère, M., Brulotte, S. et Goudreau, P. 2000. État des stocks de pétoncles des eaux côtières du Québec. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2000/086. xi + 46 p. Trottier, S., Bourdages, H., Goudreau, P et Brulotte, S. 2017. Évaluation des stocks de pétoncle des eaux côtières du Québec en 2015: données de la pêche commerciale, des relevés de recherche et des pêches exploratoires. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2017/037: xvi + 176 p.

The dataset represents known concentration areas of harvested or unharvested Atlantic surfclam (Spisula solidissima) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, around the Magdalen Islands. The dataset was created for the National environmental emergencies center (NEEC) for preparation and response in case of an oil spill. Concentration areas were delineated using Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) inventories conducted between 2000 and 2020, commercial fisheries data (logbooks and purchase receipts from 2002 to 2020 and observations at sea from 2005 to 2017), data from exploratory fisheries as well as interviews. This layer is dependent on the inventories carried out and thus only represents the known areas of the Atlantic surfclam. 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 this layer. In addition, the extent of shellfish beds can change over time in response to, among others, harvesting and recruitment rates. Some concentration areas were delimited based on interviews with people who locally know the resource but their delimitation remains approximate. The polygons delimited based on sampling data are more precise but might underestimate the concentration areas because sampling was made where the target resource was known to be more abundant without necessarily sampling the entire bed. Nonetheless, the precision is sufficient for resource protection and management needs in case of an environmental incident. Data sources and references: Bio-Conseil. 1986. Pêche exploratoire à la palourde (Spisula solidissima) aux Îles-de-la-Madeleine, automne 1985. Rapport final, Bio-Conseil, Pêches et Océans Canada. 24 p. Bernier, L. and L. Poirier. 1979. Evaluation sommaire du stock de mactres de l'Atlantique, Spisula solidissima Dillwyn, des Îles-de-la-Madeleine (golfe du St-Laurent). Cahier d'information, ministère de l'Industrie et du Commerce. 42 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. 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. DFO. 2016. Stock Assessment of Atlantic Surfclam of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine in 2015. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2016/022. DFO. 2019. Assessment of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine Atlantic Surfclam stock in 2018. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2019/031. Fréchette, M. and M. Giguère. 1984. Rapport sur une pêche exploratoire à la palourde aux Îles-de-la-Madeleine en 1984. Pêches et Océans Canada. 17 p. Hurlbut, T and D. Clay. 1990. Protocols for research vessel cruises within the Gulf region (demersal fish) (1970-1987). Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2082:143p. Hurtubise, S. (Fisheries Data [ZIFF] and At-Sea Observers Manager). Unpublished data. Fisheries and Oceans Canada.