Salish Sea Pelagic Ecosystem Trawl Survey Data Since 2001

Surface water trawl surveys have been conducted in the coastal waters of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska since 1992, with a specific focus on the inland sea waters of the Salish Sea since 2001. The data collection initially focused on juvenile Pacific Salmon migratory patterns and physiology, and has broadened since 2016 to monitor the entire pelagic ecosystem. The dataset is provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and is available in formats including CSV and ESRI REST.

Use Cases

• Analyze juvenile Pacific Salmon migratory patterns and growth using trawl survey data from the Salish Sea.
• Monitor changes in the pelagic ecosystem composition by comparing data from the pre-2016 physiology-focused surveys and post-2016 broader ecosystem surveys.
• Conduct spatial analysis of marine species distribution in the Strait of Georgia, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound using geographic data.

Strengths

• Long-term data collection spanning from 1992 to the present, with consistent surveys in the Salish Sea since 2001.
• Broadened scope since 2016 to include monitoring of the whole pelagic ecosystem beyond just juvenile Pacific Salmon.
• Data is provided by a national government agency, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, indicating an authoritative source.

Limitations

• The specific number of data rows, columns, and sample size is unknown, limiting precise assessment of dataset scale.
• Data collection methods and focus have shifted over time (1992-2002, 2003-2016, post-2016), which may complicate longitudinal analysis.
• The dataset's geographic coverage is extensive but may have varying spatial resolution or consistency across the different coastal regions.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Surface water trawl surveys conducted from research vessels.

Time Range

1992 to present, with Salish Sea-specific data from 2001 onward.

Freshness

The dataset was last updated on March 24, 2026, indicating it is actively maintained.

Geography

Coastal waters of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and the high seas of the Gulf of Alaska; specifically the Salish Sea (Strait of Georgia, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound).