Subtidal Kelp and Macroalgae Surveys in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick 2022-2023

140 sites were surveyed using towed camera systems in Nova Scotia and Southwest New Brunswick between 2022 and 2023. The dataset contains images and derived percent cover data for kelps, fucoids, and other macroalgae, collected along deep (7-12m) and shallow (3-5m) depth contours. Data collection occurred from July to October, with depths corrected to chart datum using tide predictions.

Use Cases

• Train computer vision models to identify kelp and fucoid species from the survey images.
• Analyze percent cover data across the 140 sites to map the distribution of macroalgae.
• Correlate species presence and percent cover with corrected depth data to model habitat preferences.
• Assess changes in kelp forest resilience by comparing survey data with historical records or future surveys.

Strengths

• Data collection is standardized across 140 distinct survey sites.
• Depth measurements are corrected for tide height using official predictions from tides.gc.ca.
• Percent cover is quantified using a consistent 10x10 point grid method for each image.

Limitations

• The dataset's size in terms of total rows or number of images is not specified.
• Species identification was performed where possible, indicating potential gaps or uncertainties in taxonomic labels.
• Sampling was limited to the July-October period, missing seasonal variability in algal communities.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Collection Method

Subtidal drop camera surveys using a GoPro HERO 10, towed along depth contours to collect images, with percent cover calculated via a point grid overlay.

Time Range

2022-2023, with sampling between July and October.

Freshness

Data was last updated on the platform in March 2026, covering surveys from 2022-2023.

Geography

Nova Scotia and Southwest New Brunswick, Canada.