Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Stomach Contents from Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

2018 to 2023 data contains metadata and stomach content information from Atlantic Bluefin Tuna sampled in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. It was collected by Fisheries and Oceans Canada from the commercial fishery between mid-August and late September each year. The dataset supports analyses of diet composition and predator-prey dynamics.

Use Cases

• Analyze diet composition by calculating prey weight percentages for taxonomic groups like 'Unidentified teleostei remains'.
• Model predator-prey relationships using tuna attributes like curved fork length and round weight against prey weight data.
• Investigate spatio-temporal feeding patterns by linking stomach samples to logbook data on catch location and time.
• Validate DNA barcoding species identification (2019-2023) against visual prey classification from laboratory sorting.

Strengths

• Multi-year temporal coverage from 2018 to 2023, enabling time-series analysis.
• Integrated data collection linking stomach contents to detailed logbook metadata for each fish.
• Enhanced species identification for 2019-2023 samples through DNA barcoding analysis.

Limitations

• Sample size and number of rows are unspecified, limiting assessment of statistical power.
• Prey identification has constraints: live bait cannot be identified, and some remains are only classified at high taxonomic levels.
• Geographic bias towards samples primarily from near eastern Prince Edward Island.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Stomachs obtained from commercial fishery harvesters, processed in lab with visual sorting and, from 2019, DNA barcoding.

Time Range

2018 to 2023

Freshness

Data covers up to 2023, with platform record updated in March 2026.

Geography

Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, primarily near eastern Prince Edward Island and Miscou/Baie-des-Chaleurs area.