Krill Aggregation Probability in the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf, 10-Year Model

Fisheries and Oceans Canada provides modeled data on significant krill aggregation areas in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. The dataset shows monthly points of high krill concentration from April to November, with each point representing the number of years (6 to 10) of high aggregation probability over a 10-year period. The data were produced from a statistical habitat model published by Plourde et al. in 2016.

Use Cases

• Modeling blue whale foraging hotspots based on the described association with krill patches.
• Analyzing seasonal krill distribution patterns based on monthly concentration points from April to November.
• Assessing habitat suitability for marine mammals based on predicted high krill aggregation probabilities.
• Validating or comparing statistical habitat models for euphausiids using the described 10 x 10 km cell methodology.

Strengths

• Data is derived from a peer-reviewed statistical habitat model published in a DFO Science Advisory document.
• Model outputs provide a 10-year probability of high krill aggregation, offering a temporal perspective.
• Spatial resolution is defined at the 10 x 10 km cell level for the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Limitations

• Data is incomplete upstream of Pointe-des-Monts due to a lack of required input variables for the model.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale analysis.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Mathematical/statistical habitat model calculating probability of strong krill aggregation.

Time Range

Model based on a 10-year period; monthly outputs cover April to November.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-28 13:30:52.239895; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada.