Important Fish Areas in Strait of Georgia Ecoregion

Fisheries and Oceans Canada mapped Important Areas for key fish species to inform the selection of marine Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas. Experts identified areas based on criteria like Uniqueness, Aggregation, and Fitness Consequences. This geospatial dataset is part of a series covering other marine life groups like birds and cetaceans.

Use Cases

• Analyze the spatial distribution of Important Areas for fish based on the Uniqueness, Aggregation, and Fitness Consequences criteria.
• Integrate this layer with other datasets in the series (e.g., for birds or cetaceans) for a multi-taxa assessment of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas.
• Use the geospatial data to evaluate regional ecosystem management strategies under Canada’s Oceans Act framework.
• Assess temporal changes by comparing IA assessments from 2004-2005 in PNCIMA with subsequent 2009 efforts in the Strait of Georgia and WCVI.

Strengths

• Data originates from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, a governmental authority on marine ecosystems.
• Assessment is grounded in expert-defined scientific criteria including Uniqueness, Aggregation, and Fitness Consequences.
• Part of a broader series detailing Important Areas for multiple marine taxa, enabling comparative analysis.

Limitations

• The assessment methods, scientific advisors, and temporal extents differed between the 2004-2005 PNCIMA effort and the 2009 SOG/WCVI efforts, complicating direct comparisons.
• Data collection is considered complete, but the description notes it may become outdated if significant new data emerges.
• Specific data volume (rows/columns), sample data, and file sizes are unknown, limiting pre-download assessment of structure.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Expert assessment and spatial data collection, coordinated for different regions (PNCIMA, WCVI, SOG) between 2004 and 2009.

Time Range

Assessments conducted from September 2004 to March 2005 (PNCIMA) and in 2009 (WCVI and SOG).

Freshness

Last updated on 2026-03-24, though the underlying assessments are from 2009 and earlier.

Geography

Strait of Georgia ecoregion, with related efforts covering the west coast of Vancouver Island and the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area.