Scotian Shelf Marine Protected Area Network Design Data

Ecological and human use data layers used in a 2016-17 Marine Protected Area network analysis for the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy Bioregion. The layers, modified for the analysis, include information on biodiversity and commercial fishing impacts. The dataset is documented in a 2021 technical report.

Use Cases

• Analyze the spatial relationship between biodiversity features and commercial fishing activity layers to assess potential conservation conflicts.
• Model the cumulative impact of human use layers on ecological features to inform marine spatial planning.
• Use the modified geospatial layers (e.g., clipped, reclassified) as inputs for systematic conservation planning tools to evaluate network design trade-offs.

Strengths

• Data is directly tied to a formal government MPA network design process conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
• Comprehensive documentation is provided in a 100-page technical report (Serdynska et al. 2021).
• Data is available in multiple formats including FGDB, ESRI REST, and CSV for flexibility in analysis.

Limitations

• Data layers were modified (clipped, reclassified) for a specific analysis and are not in their original, raw forms.
• The creators explicitly state the data should not be used for any other purpose, limiting its general applicability.
• Specific details on the number of layers, rows, columns, or spatial resolution are not provided in the input.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maritimes Region.

Collection Method

Bioregional-scale ecological and human use data layers were compiled, clipped, and reclassified for use in a Marine Protected Area network design analysis.

Time Range

Analysis conducted in 2016-17.

Freshness

Data reflects the analysis period of 2016-17, with metadata last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy Bioregion, Canada.