Greenland Shark Habitat Suitability in Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador region data models habitat suitability for the Greenland shark, a long-lived species vulnerable to bycatch. The model uses presence-only bycatch observations from 1983 to 2019 and environmental variables like bathymetry and bottom temperature. It identifies high-suitability areas along the shelf edge and in channels to inform fisheries management.

Use Cases

• Train a species distribution model using presence-only bycatch observations and environmental variables like bathymetry and bottom temperature.
• Identify areas of high bycatch risk by analyzing predicted habitat suitability scores across NAFO divisions and channels.
• Assess the impact of bottom temperature variations on predicted habitat suitability for Greenland sharks.
• Validate model predictions by comparing suitability maps with known bycatch locations from At-Sea Observers.

Strengths

• Model is based on bycatch observations spanning over 35 years (1983–2019).
• Environmental variables like bathymetry and mean monthly bottom temperature are used to predict habitat suitability.
• Results are spatially detailed, identifying specific high-suitability areas like the Laurentian Channel and NAFO Division 3OP.

Limitations

• Dataset is presence-only, lacking confirmed absence data which can bias model outputs.
• Environmental data (e.g., bottom temperature) covers a different time range (1990–2015) than the full observation period.
• The raw observation data and specific model outputs (rows/columns) are not described in the provided metadata.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, compiled from At-Sea Observers, Spain, and the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Secretariat.

Collection Method

Species distribution modeling (MaxEnt) applied to compiled bycatch presence records and selected environmental variables.

Time Range

Bycatch observations: 1983–2019; Environmental variables: 1990–2015.

Freshness

Data was last updated in March 2026, but the underlying observations and model are based on periods ending in 2019.

Geography

Newfoundland and Labrador region, Northwest Atlantic, including NAFO Regulatory Area and specific divisions/channels.