Thorny Skate Catch Weight Distribution in the St. Lawrence 2004-2010

Spatial distribution of Thorny Skate presence in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, expressed by catch weight aggregated into 100 km² cells. The data originates from annual Department of Fisheries and Oceans groundfish research surveys conducted between 2004 and 2010, following standardized trawling protocols.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial distribution patterns of Thorny Skate catch weight across 100 km² grid cells in the St. Lawrence.
• Correlate catch weight data with seabed physiographic and oceanographic features from the associated hierarchical classification.
• Model temporal trends in Thorny Skate biomass using annual survey data from the 2004-2010 period.
• Map Thorny Skate presence hotspots by aggregating catch weight per nautical mile data into spatial cells.

Strengths

• Data is derived from standardized annual groundfish research surveys conducted by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
• Catch data is aggregated into a consistent 100 km² spatial grid for analysis.
• Associated with peer-reviewed scientific publications detailing the methodology and habitat classification.

Limitations

• The temporal coverage is limited to a 7-year period (2004-2010), which may not reflect current population status.
• Sample data and specific column details are unavailable, limiting understanding of the data structure.
• Data is aggregated into 100 km² cells, which may obscure finer-scale spatial patterns.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, from annual multidisciplinary groundfish surveys.

Collection Method

Catch data (kg/nautical mile) from standardized bottom trawl surveys, aggregated by 100 km² cells.

Time Range

2004 to 2010.

Freshness

Data covers 2004-2010; metadata was last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada.