Atlantic Fisheries Management Areas with Legal Source Documentation

Cartographic representations of Fisheries Management Areas (FMAs) for nine key species in the Atlantic and Arctic regions of Canada. The polygon feature classes are drafted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada based on legal documents like the Atlantic Fisheries Regulations and Integrated Fisheries Management Plans. The dataset was last updated on 2026-03 24 and is projected into NAD83, with notes on any adjustments from original sources.

Use Cases

• Marine spatial planning based on legally defined fisheries management boundaries.
• Analyzing species-specific management zones for resources like crab, shrimp, and salmon.
• Cross-referencing administrative boundaries with indigenous treaty areas and the Territorial Sea.
• General reference mapping for marine conservation and resource management initiatives.

Strengths

• Based on authoritative legal sources including Atlantic Fisheries Regulations and Integrated Fisheries Management Plans.
• Includes nine currently published management areas for species like Capelin, Crab, Herring, Mackerel, Salmon, Scallop, Shrimp, Snow Crab, and Squid.
• Metadata for each feature class lists specific sources and includes direct links to public documentation.
• Projected into a consistent datum (NAD83) from diverse original sources.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The dataset is explicitly not intended for navigation, legal interpretation, or enforcement; original written documents are authoritative.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Drafted from legal documents, treaties, and public information; processed using ArcGIS Pro tools.

Time Range

Current as of publication; areas may change as new documentation is incorporated.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-24 08:02:32.544023; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Atlantic and Arctic Regions of Canada.