Monitoring regional conservation areas using paired environmental DNA and research trawl s

DFO's Maritimes Region program pairs environmental DNA (eDNA) samples with trawl catch data to monitor biodiversity in Canadian marine conservation areas. The data supports the goal of establishing a network of Marine Conservation Areas covering 30% of Canada's EEZ by 2030. The dataset includes information from 8 Marine Refuges, 3 Marine Protected Areas, and 2 Areas of Interest on the Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy.

Use Cases

• Compare species detection between eDNA metabarcoding and traditional trawl surveys based on the complementary data sources described.
• Monitor long-term biodiversity trends within Marine Protected Areas based on the described time-series monitoring goal.
• Assess the presence of cryptic or rare species in conservation areas based on eDNA's described detection capabilities.
• Inform zoning and activity approvals within protected areas based on the described need for species distribution data.

Strengths

• Pairs two complementary monitoring methods: eDNA for genetic diversity and rare species, and trawl surveys for fish abundance and size data.
• Supports a long-term monitoring time series for conservation areas, as described by the MCT 2.0 program established in 2021.
• Covers a specific bioregion containing 13 distinct conservation areas (8 MRs, 3 MPAs, 2 AOIs).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Freshness should be verified as the last update date is in the future (2026-06-15).

Provenance

Source

Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Maritimes Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Paired collection of environmental DNA water samples and research trawl survey catches.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-15 12:31:51.601853

Geography

Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy Bioregion, Maritimes Region, Canada