Arctic Wedge Clam Concentration Areas in the Gulf of St. Lawrence

Fisheries and Oceans Canada inventories from 2000 to 2020 define known concentration areas of harvested or unharvested Arctic wedge clam (Mesodesma arctatum). This geospatial dataset was created for the National Environmental Emergencies Centre to support oil spill preparation and response. It does not represent the species' full distribution or fishing allowances.

Use Cases

• Map known concentration areas of Arctic wedge clam for environmental emergency planning and resource protection.
• Analyze the spatial distribution of shellfish beds derived from Fisheries and Oceans Canada inventories and research projects.
• Support habitat management by identifying areas documented in technical reports and a benthic biodiversity Access database.

Strengths

• Data is based on Fisheries and Oceans Canada inventories conducted over a 20-year period from 2000 to 2020.
• Polygons delimited from inventory data provide sufficient precision for resource protection and management needs in environmental incidents.
• The dataset is explicitly designed for a practical application: preparation and response for the National Environmental Emergencies Centre.

Limitations

• The layer only represents known concentration areas from specific inventories and does not show the species' general distribution, which is likely wider.
• Polygons drawn from compiled research project data in a benthic biodiversity database are not precise and may be reviewed.
• The extent of shellfish beds can change over time due to factors like harvesting and recruitment, and inventory sampling may underestimate true concentration areas.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Concentration areas were delimited using DFO inventories and data from various DFO research projects, compiled from sources including technical reports and a benthic biodiversity Access database.

Time Range

2000 to 2020

Freshness

Data inventories span 2000-2020; the dataset record was last updated in 2026.

Geography

Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec region, Canada