Eastern Arctic Sponge Grounds Identified from Cosmos Trawl Survey Data

Polygons identifying concentrations of sea pens, gorgonian corals, and sponges were derived from research vessel by-catch data in eastern Canada. Kernel density analysis and catch weight thresholds were applied across five biogeographic zones. The data is provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and was last updated on May 8, 2026.

Use Cases

• Mapping vulnerable marine benthic habitats based on identified sponge and coral aggregations.
• Analyzing fishing pressure impacts on long-lived species like black coral based on tow location data.
• Comparing species distribution across biogeographic zones based on the five zones analyzed.
• Identifying priority conservation areas based on the 40 kg minimum catch threshold for sponge grounds.

Strengths

• Data is derived from spatial analysis of research vessel survey by-catch data, indicating a systematic collection method.
• Analysis covers five distinct biogeographic zones of eastern Canada, providing regional context.
• A specific 40 kg minimum catch threshold was used to define sponge ground habitats.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and sample size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data format is ESRI REST, which may require specific GIS software for analysis.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Spatial analysis of research vessel survey by-catch data using kernel density and catch weight thresholds.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-08 08:02:19.908949; freshness should be verified.

Geography

East coast of Canada, including the Eastern Arctic biogeographic zone, Laurentian Channel, Gulf of St. Lawrence, northern Labrador slope, and Scotian Shelf.