National Eelgrass Dataset For Canada (NETForce)

National Eelgrass Dataset For Canada (NETForce) This collection of eelgrass data has been collated to produce a national map of the location and distribution of eelgrass beds across Canada. The data providers collaborating in this initiative include Federal, Provincial and Municipal government departments and agencies, academia, non-governmental organizations, community groups, private sector, Indigenous groups and independent science organizations. The National Eelgrass Task Force (NETForce) is a collaborative, diverse and inclusive partnership of scientists, managers, and stakeholders working towards a concrete vision which is to create a national map of eelgrass distribution in Canada that is publicly accessible, dynamic, and useful for monitoring and collective decision-making. The eelgrass data were collected using various mapping techniques including species distribution models, benthic sonar, field measurements of habitat presence or absence, video transects, aerial photography, field validation, literature review, satellite imageries, LiDAR, Airborne spectrographic imaging, and Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The metadata provided by the partners relevant for their own projects and the field names were made similar for the compiled dataset. We also created additional fields that differentiated the datasets, and these include data provider, institution code, water body, mapping techniques, province, biogeographic region, eelgrass observation... Other fields are included depending on the original metadata provided by the data provider (i.e. eelgrass percentage cover, eelgrass density, map reference, image classification technique). The data span from 1987 to present, with some eelgrass beds being surveyed only once while others were sampled across several years. Uncertainty information associated with a dataset is included in the metadata when available. This map is intended to be evergreen and more eelgrass data will be added when available. This compiled dataset has been collected by many organizations for different purposes, using different survey techniques and different methodologies and, therefore, considerable care must be taken when using these data. For further information concerning specific datasets contact the data provider/institution and/or see the associated technical report (if available) included in the Report folder under the ‘Data and Resources’ section. This group of eelgrass data has been divided using the geographic boundaries of the Federal Marine Bioregions (https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/23eb8b56-dac8-4efc-be7c-b8fa11ba62e9). The title of each geodatabase (FGDB/GDB) contains the name of the bioregion. The Data Dictionary guide provides the fields description (English and French) from each layer included in the geodatabases. For additional information please see: Gomez C., Guijarro-Sabaniel J., Wong M. 2021. National Eelgrass Task (NET) Force: engagement in support of a dynamic map of eelgrass distribution in Canada to support monitoring, research and decision making. Can. Tech. Rep. Aquat. Sci. 3437: vi + 48 p. https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library-bibliotheque/4098218x.pdf Guijarro-Sabaniel, J., Thomson, J. A., Vercaemer, B. and Wong, M. C. 2024. National Eelgrass Task Force (NETForce): Building a dynamic, open eelgrass map for Canada. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3583: v + 31 p. https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library-bibliotheque/41223147.pdf 2025-02-11 Fisheries and Oceans Canada javier.guijarro-sabaniel@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Nature and EnvironmentScience and TechnologyAquatic ecosystemsAquatic plantsCoastal watersMapsGeographic information systemsMarine Spatial PlanningMarine Conservation TargetsBlue CarbonBlue EconomyOceans National Eelgrass Dataset Canada NETForce Newfoundland Labrador ShelvesFGDB/GDB https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/National_Eelgrass_Dataset_Canada_NETForce_Newfoundland_Labrador_Shelves.gdb.zip National Eelgrass Dataset Canada NETForce Northern ShelfFGDB/GDB https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/National_Eelgrass_Dataset_Canada_NETForce_Northern_Shelf.gdb.zip National Eelgrass Dataset Canada NETForce Southern ShelfFGDB/GDB https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/National_Eelgrass_Dataset_Canada_NETForce_Southern_Shelf.gdb.zip National Eelgrass Dataset Canada NETForce Strait GeorgiaFGDB/GDB https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/National_Eelgrass_Dataset_Canada_NETForce_Strait_Georgia.gdb.zip CORI Shore Zone ProtocolPDF https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/CORI_ShoreZone_Protocol_2017.pdf DFO Gulf Region AIS Biodiversity SurveyPDF https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/DFO_GulfRegion_AIS_BiodiversitySurvey.pdf DNRR Musquodoboit Harbour Port JoliPDF https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/DNRR_MusquodaboitHarbour_PortJoli.pdf DRDC Janvrin IslandPDF https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/DRDC_Janvrin_Island.pdf Hakai Central Coast MetadataPDF https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/Hakai_CentralCoast_Metadata.pdf MICS Southern Gulf Islands Eelgrass MethodsPDF https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/MICS_Southern_Gulf_Islands_Eelgrass_Methods_2021.pdf Pugwash Musquodoboit Estuary Eelgrass MonitoringPDF https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/NCC_Pugwash_Musquodoboit_Estuary_Eelgrass_Monitoring.pdf NSCC Nova Scotia New BrunswickPDF https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/NSCC_NovaScotia_NewBrunswick.pdf Using Landsat Time-Series to Monitor and Inform Seagrass Dynamics: A Case Study in the Tabusintac Estuary, New Brunswick CanadaHTML https://doi.org/10.1080/07038992.2021.1893672 Branching Algorithm to Identify Bottom Habitat in the Optically Complex Coastal Waters of Atlantic Canada Using Sentinel-2 Satellite ImageryHTML https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2020.579856 Comparing Sentinel-2 andWorldView-3 Imagery for Coastal Bottom Habitat Mapping in Atlantic CanadaHTML https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14051254 Refinements in Eelgrass Mapping at Tabusintac Bay (New Brunswick, Canada): A Comparison between Random Forest and the Maximum Likelihood ClassifierHTML https://doi.org/10.1080/07038992.2020.1824118 Fine-scale ensemble species distribution modeling of eelgrass (Zostera marina) to inform nearshore conservation planning and habitat managementHTML https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.988858 Data DictionaryCSV https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/Data_Dictionary.csv National Eelgrass Dataset Canada NETForce HudsonBay ComplexFGDB/GDB https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/National%20Eelgrass%20Dataset%20Canada%20NETForce%20HudsonBay%20Complex.gdb.zip National Eelgrass Dataset Canada NETForce Scotian ShelfFGDB/GDB https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/National_Eelgrass_Dataset_Canada_NETForce_Scotian_Shelf.gdb.zip National Eelgrass Dataset Canada NETForce Gulf Saint LawrenceFGDB/GDB https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/National_Eelgrass_Dataset_Canada_NETForce_Gulf_Saint_Lawrence.gdb.zip National Eelgrass Dataset For CanadaESRI REST https://egisp.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/arcgis/rest/services/open_data_donnees_ouvertes/national_eelgrass_dataset_for_canada_netforce_en/MapServer National Eelgrass Dataset For CanadaESRI REST https://egisp.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/arcgis/rest/services/open_data_donnees_ouvertes/national_eelgrass_dataset_for_canada_netforce_fr/MapServer Dataset descriptionsPDF https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/a733fb88-ddaf-47f8-95bb-e107630e8e62/attachments/NETForce_Dataset_Description.pdf

This collection of eelgrass data has been collated to produce a national map of the location and distribution of eelgrass beds across Canada. The data providers collaborating in this initiative include Federal, Provincial and Municipal government departments and agencies, academia, non-governmental organizations, community groups, private sector, Indigenous groups and independent science organizations. The National Eelgrass Task Force (NETForce) is a collaborative, diverse and inclusive partnership of scientists, managers, and stakeholders working towards a concrete vision which is to create a national map of eelgrass distribution in Canada that is publicly accessible, dynamic, and useful for monitoring and collective decision-making. The eelgrass data were collected using various mapping techniques including species distribution models, benthic sonar, field measurements of habitat presence or absence, video transects, aerial photography, field validation, literature review, satellite imageries, LiDAR, Airborne spectrographic imaging, and Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The metadata provided by the partners relevant for their own projects and the field names were made similar for the compiled dataset. We also created additional fields that differentiated the datasets, and these include data provider, institution code, water body, mapping techniques, province, biogeographic region, eelgrass observation... Other fields are included depending on the original metadata provided by the data provider (i.e. eelgrass percentage cover, eelgrass density, map reference, image classification technique). The data span from 1987 to present, with some eelgrass beds being surveyed only once while others were sampled across several years. Uncertainty information associated with a dataset is included in the metadata when available. This map is intended to be evergreen and more eelgrass data will be added when available. This compiled dataset has been collected by many organizations for different purposes, using different survey techniques and different methodologies and, therefore, considerable care must be taken when using these data. For further information concerning specific datasets contact the data provider/institution and/or see the associated technical report (if available) included in the Report folder under the ‘Data and Resources’ section.

This group of eelgrass data has been divided using the geographic boundaries of the Federal Marine Bioregions (https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/23eb8b56-dac8-4efc-be7c-b8fa11ba62e9). The title of each geodatabase (FGDB/GDB) contains the name of the bioregion.

The Data Dictionary guide provides the fields description (English and French) from each layer included in the geodatabases.

For additional information please see:

Gomez C., Guijarro-Sabaniel J., Wong M. 2021. National Eelgrass Task (NET) Force: engagement in support of a dynamic map of eelgrass distribution in Canada to support monitoring, research and decision making. Can. Tech. Rep. Aquat. Sci. 3437: vi + 48 p. https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library-bibliotheque/4098218x.pdf

Guijarro-Sabaniel, J., Thomson, J. A., Vercaemer, B. and Wong, M. C. 2024. National Eelgrass

Task Force (NETForce): Building a dynamic, open eelgrass map for Canada. Can. Tech. Rep.

Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3583: v + 31 p. https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library-bibliotheque/41223147.pdf

Data and Resources
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Contact Information

Delivery Point: Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, PO Box 1006

City: Dartmouth

Administrative Area: Nova Scotia

Postal Code: B2Y 4A2

Electronic Mail Address: javier.guijarro-sabaniel@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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