Demersal Fish Richness in the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf (2014-2023)

2014 to 2023 data on demersal fish group richness, estimated by the number of species per 10 km x 10 km grid cell in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. The data originates from standardized annual August and September multidisciplinary bottom trawl surveys conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, with historical surveys dating back to 1971 in the southern Gulf.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial distribution patterns of species richness across 10 km x 10 km grid cells in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence.
• Model temporal trends in demersal fish group richness from 2014 to 2023 using annual survey data.
• Correlate species richness estimates with environmental conditions recorded during the August and September multidisciplinary surveys.
• Compare biodiversity metrics between the Estuary, northern Gulf, and southern Gulf survey regions.

Strengths

• Data is derived from long-running, standardized annual surveys, with protocols documented in scientific publications.
• Provides a decadal time series (2014-2023) for analyzing biodiversity trends.
• Covers a significant marine region, the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, with geospatial granularity at a 10 km grid cell level.

Limitations

• The specific number of data rows, columns, and sample size is unknown, limiting assessment of statistical power.
• Data is limited to demersal fish groups and does not include pelagic species or other marine taxa.
• Richness is an estimate based on survey catches, which may underrepresent rare or elusive species.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Collection Method

Estimated from species counts in standardized annual August and September multidisciplinary bottom trawl surveys.

Time Range

2014 to 2023.

Freshness

Data is updated annually, with the record last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence.