Characterization of the Batture-aux-Alouettes Kelp Bed, Baie-Sainte-Catherine, Quebec

This project aims to characterize the kelp bed of the Batture-aux-Alouettes, a preferred food source for the green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) which is fished commercially in Quebec. This dataset presents an assessment of the abundance and biomass of the kelp bed of the Batture-aux-Alouettes collected using quadrats on a drop camera and underwater diving.

This project was funded by DFO Coastal Environmental Baseline Program (CEBP) under Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan (OPP). This initiative aims to acquire environmental baseline data contributing to the characterization of important coastal areas and to support evidence-based assessments and management decisions, while preserving marine ecosystems. Consult the dataset also available on the Open Data Canada portal.

Note that the occurrence data is currently presented only in the form of presence/absence pending the publication of a scientific article. Biomass data will be updated following this release.