Stimpson's surfclam or Arctic surfclam (Mactromeris polynyma) concentration areas in 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: exploratory fisheries, scientific surveys and fishermen's logbooks. Commercial fishery data come from three distinct sources of information: the purchase receipt, the fishermen's logbook and commercial sampling by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). All data comes from the research document published in 2015. These concentration areas are considered among the most abundant and are used for commercial fishing (note: high densities are not found strictly in these beds). This dataset does not represent the general distribution of the species nor the extent to which fishing is allowed. 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 sampling occur where the target resource is 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 most recent research survey is published. Data sources and references : DFO. 2007. Évaluation des stocks de quahog nordique (Arctica islandica) du banc de l'île de Sable et de la baie St. Mary's, et du stock de mactre de Stimpson (Mactromeris polynyma) du Banquereau. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Avis sci. 2007/034 (Révisé). Lambert J. et P. Goudreau. 1997. Biologie et exploitation de la mactre de Stimpson (Mactromeris polynyma) sur les côtes du Québec. Sec. can. éval. stock du MPO. Doc. rech. 1997/101. 44 p. Landry, T.E., E. Wade, E. et M. Giguère. 1992. Évaluation des gisements de mactre de Stimpson, Mactromeris polynyma, dans le golfe du Saint-Laurent: résultats préliminaires. MPO, CSCPCA Doc. rech. 1992/086. 29 p. Trottier, S. et P. Goudreau. 2015. Évaluation des stocks de mactre de Stimpson (Mactromeris polynyma) des eaux côtières du Québec en 2014. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2016/063. Ix + 72 p.

The dataset represents known concentration areas of harvested or unharvested Atlantic razor clam (Ensis leei) in the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec Region. It was created for the National Environmental Emergencies Centre (NEEC) for preparation and response purposes in case of an oil spill. Concentration areas were defined using data from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) inventories, various DFO research projects and commercial fisheries data. This layer is dependent on the inventories carried out and thus only represents the known areas of the Atlantic razor clam. 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 the layer. In addition, the extent of shellfish beds can change over time in response to, among others, harvesting and recruitment rates. Some beds were mapped based on DFO research project data which were compiled in a benthic biodiversity Access database. Polygons drawn around these data are not precise and may be reviewed. However, the precision is sufficient for the resource protection and management needs in case of an environmental incident. Data sources and references: Anonym. 1991. Analyse de l'échantillonnage en mer des mactres de Stimpson. Programme d'adaptation des pêches de l'Atlantique. Pesca tec International. Pêches et Océans Canada. 134 p. Bernier, L. and L. Poirier. 1979. Évaluation sommaire du stock de mactres de l'Atlantique, Spisula solidissima Dillwyn, des Îles-de-la-Madeleine (golfe du Saint-Laurent). Cahier d'information, ministère de l'Industrie et du Commerce. 42 p. Bourdages, H., P. Goudreau, J. Lambert, L. Landry and C. Nozères. 2012. Distribution des bivalves et gastéropodes benthiques dans les zones infralittorale et circalittorale des côtes de l’estuaire et du nord du golfe du Saint-Laurent. Rapp. tech. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 3004 : iv + 103 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. Unpublished data. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 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. Brulotte, S., M. Giguère, S. Brillon and F. Bourque. 2006. Évaluation de cinq gisements de mye commune (Mya arenaria) aux Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Québec, de 2000 à 2003. Rapp. Tech. can. Sci. halieut. Aquat. 2640 : xii + 92 p. DFO. 2013. Assessment of Razor Clam stock in Québec’s Inshore Waters in 2012. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/052. Elouard, B, G. Desrosiers, J.C. Brêthes and Y. Vigneault. 1983. Étude de l'habitat du poisson autour des ilots créés par des déblais de dragage; lagune de Grande-Entrée, Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1209:viii + 69 p. Gendreau, Y. 2018. MS Access database on benthic biodiversity. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Provencher, L. and C. Nozères. 2011. Protocole de suivi des communautés benthiques de la zone de protection marine Manicouagan. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2011/051:iv +25 p. Thompson, M., D. Drolet and J.H. Himmelman. 2005. Localization of infaunal prey by the sea star Leptasterias polaris. Mar. Biol. 146(5):887-894.

The dataset represents known concentration areas of harvested or unharvested Softshell clam (Mya arenaria) in the intertidal zone of the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec region. The dataset was created for the National environmental emergencies centre (NEEC) for preparation and response in case of an oil spill. Concentration areas were defined using Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) inventories conducted between 2000 and 2020. This layer is dependent on the inventories carried out and thus only represents known clam areas. For example, for the Haute-Côte-Nord, inventories have been limited to areas open to harvesting (with the exception of 4 sectors), but it is known that the Softshell clam is also present outside these areas. In addition, little information was available for the Moyenne and Basse-Côte-Nord. This data layer does not represent the general distribution of the species nor the extent to which fishing is allowed. The extent of shellfish beds may vary over time in response to, among others harvesting and the recruitment rates. The boundaries of polygons from inventory data may be underestimated relative to the actual size of the deposit since the inventories were conducted at the location where the resource is most abundant, without necessarily sampling the entire bed. However, the accuracy is sufficient for the protection and management needs of the resource in the event of an environmental incident. Data sources and references: Brulotte, S. 2011. Évaluation des stocks de mye commune des eaux côtières du Québec. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2011/044. x + 53 p. Brulotte, S. 2018. Évaluation de la mye commune (Mya arenaria) des eaux côtières du Québec en 2016 – méthodologie et résultats. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2018/004. ix + 60 p. Brulotte, S. 2020. Évaluation des stocks de la mye commune (Mya arenaria) des eaux côtières du Québec en 2019 – méthodologie et résultats. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2020/055. vii + 43 p. Brulotte, S. 2022. Résultats des inventaires de gisements de mye commune (Mya arenaria) réalisés de 2016 à 2020 et mise à jour des résultats de ceux effectués de 2001 à 2014 au Québec. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2022/xxx. (in progress) Brulotte, S. and M. Giguère. 2003. Évaluation d'un gisement de mye commune (Mya arenaria) de l'embouchure de la rivière Mingan, Québec, Rapp. can. ind. sci. halieut. aquat. No. 2511: xi + 58. Brulotte, S., M. Giguère, S. Brillon and F. Bourque. 2006. Évaluation de cinq gisements de mye commune (Mya arenaria) aux Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Québec, de 2000 à 2003. Rapp. tech. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 2640 : xii + 92 p. Brulotte, S., Giguère, M. and Duluc, C. 2015. Essais de techniques de captage du naissain de mye commune (Mya arenaria) sur la rive nord de l’estuaire et du golfe du Saint-Laurent. Rapp. tech. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 3084 : ix + 60 p. Giguère, M., S. Brulotte and F. Hartog.2007. Évaluation de quelques gisements de mye commune (Mya arenaria) de la rive sud de l'estuaire du Saint-Laurent en 2005 et 2006. Rapp. can. ind. sci. halieut. aquat. No. 2738: xi + 107. Giguère, M., S. Brulotte, M. Boudreau and M.-F. Dréan. 2008. Évaluation de huit gisements de mye commune (Mya arenaria) de la rive nord de l’estuaire du Saint-Laurent de 2002 à 2008. Rapp. tech. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 2821 : x + 91 p. Roy, I., M. Giguère, S. Brulotte and M. Gagnon. 2003. Évaluation de douze gisements de mye commune (Mya arenaria) du sud de la Gaspésie, Rapp. Tech. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 2469: xvi + 140 p.

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 Arctic wedge clam (Mesodesma arctatum) in the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec region. The dataset was created for the National Environmental Emergencies Centre (NEEC) for preparation and response purposes in case of an oil spill. Concentration areas were delimited using Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) inventories conducted between 2000 and 2020 and data from various DFO research projects. For more information on how the data layer was built, see the metadata included in its shapefile (.shp), particularly the “Lineage” section. This layer is dependent on the inventories carried out and thus only represents the known concentration areas of the Arctic wedge clam. It 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 beds were mapped based on DFO research project data which were compiled in a benthic biodiversity Access database. Polygons drawn around these data are not precise and may be reviewed. The polygons delimited based on inventory 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: Bourdages, H., P. Goudreau, J. Lambert, L. Landry et C. Nozères. 2012. Distribution des bivalves et gastéropodes benthiques dans les zones infralittorale et circalittorale des côtes de l’estuaire et du nord du golfe du Saint-Laurent. Rapp. tech. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 3004: iv + 103 p. Brulotte, S. Données non-publiées. Pêches et Océans Canada. Brulotte, S. 2011. Évaluation des stocks de mye commune des eaux côtières du Québec. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2011/44: x + 53 p. Brulotte, S. 2012. Évaluation des stocks de buccin des eaux côtières du Québec. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2012/058: xi + 106 p. Brulotte, S. et M. Giguère. 2003. Évaluation d'un gisement de mye commune (Mya arenaria) de l'embouchure de la rivière Mingan, Québec, Rapp. can. ind. sci. halieut. aquat. No. 2511: xi + 58. Gendreau, Y. 2018. MS Access database on benthic biodiversity. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Giguère, M., S. Brulotte et F. Hartog.2007. Évaluation de quelques gisements de mye commune (Mya arenaria) de la rive sud de l'estuaire du Saint-Laurent en 2005 et 2006. Rapp. can. ind. sci. halieut. aquat. No. 2738: xi + 107. Giguère, M., S. Brulotte, M. Boudreau et M.-F. Dréan. 2008. Évaluation de huit gisements de mye commune (Mya arenaria) de la rive nord de l’estuaire du Saint-Laurent de 2002 à 2008. Rapp. tech. can. sci. halieut. aquat. 2821 : x + 91 p. Provencher, L. Unpublished data. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Provencher, L. et C. Nozères. 2011. Protocole de suivi des communautés benthiques de la zone de protection marine Manicouagan. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2011/051:iv +25 p.

Most of the data were collected during aerial surveys carried out at low tides during 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 Harbour seal distribution and the mean abundance for all aerial surveys (tables 3 and 5, figures 3 and 5 from Robillard et al. 2005). In the estuary, areas of high abundance have more than 30 individuals, areas of medium abundance have between 10 and 30 individuals and areas of low abundance have fewer than 10 individuals. In the Gulf, areas of high abundance have more than 50 individuals and areas of medium to low abundance have fewer than 50 individuals. Unpublished data obtained from Parks Canada and Sepaq were also used to identify important haulout areas in the Saguenay Fjord sector and in Pointe-aux-Vaches tidal flat sectors, which have been categorized in this dataset as high abundance areas. Data are valid only during summer (except for the Pointe-aux-Vaches flats identified as mainly frequented in autumn by Parc Canada), because spring and fall distributions of the Harbour seal are unknown. Data shown in the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence are a picture of the situation in 2005 because it is the most recent mapping available for this specie. The distribution of the Harbour seal is non-uniform among the different concentration areas but is similar between June and August. However, Harbour seals tend to decrease their presence along the south shore and the Lower Estuary in August to the benefit of the Saguenay River colonies. Abundance classes are arbitrary but fit with the published results of haulout site utilization from Robillard et al. (2005). Data sources : Parks Canada. 2021. Personal communication. Harbor seal monitoring data on the Pointe-aux-Vaches tidal flat. Parks Canada and SÉPAQ, 2020. Données du suivi du phoque commun dans le fjord du Saguenay. Unpublished data. 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.

The standardized NEFSC Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Survey has covered an area from Cape Hatteras to Georges Bank. The survey was conducted every two or three years and currently, a subset of the survey area is completed annually, with the entire survey area completed every three years. The dredge had been operated in a consistent fashion using the same survey protocols and gear from 1982 until 2011. In 2012, the platform was changed to an industry vessel, which resulted in a gear change from a 5' hydraulic dredge to a 13' commercial style hydraulic dredge. Five-minute tows are made at stations that are randomly selected to provide unbiased abundance measurements. Station data includes: shipboard sensors, including ship speed and position, dredge angle, voltage and amperage of electrical current that powers the pump on the dredge (through 2011), manifold pressure, water depth and temperature. Biological data includes: catch weight, catch number, lengths, weights, and meat weights.