Sea Pen Concentration Areas in the Gulf of St. Lawrence

2016 analysis identifies significant concentration areas of sea pens (Pennatulacea) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence biogeographic unit. The dataset results from kernel density estimation and random forest species distribution models applied to geo-referenced biomass data from research trawl surveys. It was produced by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to support the protection of sensitive benthic marine ecosystems.

Use Cases

• Apply kernel density estimation on geo-referenced biomass data to map sea pen 'hot spots' for marine spatial planning.
• Validate or refine species distribution models for sea pens (Pennatulacea) using the provided significant concentration areas.
• Analyze the spatial relationship between sea pen concentrations and other benthic features using the SHP or CSV file formats.

Strengths

• Based on quantitative analyses of research vessel trawl survey data, supplemented with other sources.
• Methodology is documented in a detailed 178-page scientific advisory report from 2016.
• Includes data for a specific taxonomic group (sea pens/Pennatulacea) within a defined biogeographic unit (Gulf of St. Lawrence).

Limitations

• Data is based on a 2016 analysis and may not reflect current population distributions.
• Analysis is limited to the Gulf of St. Lawrence unit; results for other corals and sponges are not included here.
• Underlying sample size, row count, and column details for the raw data are unknown.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Collection Method

Kernel density estimation and random forest machine-learning models applied to geo-referenced biomass data from trawl surveys.

Time Range

Analysis period references data up to 2016.

Freshness

Dataset metadata was last updated in March 2026, but the underlying analysis is from 2016.

Geography

Gulf of St. Lawrence biogeographic unit, east coast of Canada.