OTN VR2W Loan - Emera Snow Crab and American Lobster

Sampling event
Latest version published by Ocean Tracking Network on Nov 6, 2025 Ocean Tracking Network

Download the latest version of this resource data as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A) or the resource metadata as EML or RTF:

Data as a DwC-A file download 834,414 records in English (29 MB) - Update frequency: daily
Metadata as an EML file download in English (23 KB)
Metadata as an RTF file download in English (16 KB)

Description

This is the OBIS extraction of the Ocean Tracking Network and Emera Inc. (Emera) OTN VR2W Loan - Emera Snow Crab and American Lobster, consisting of the release tagging metadata, i.e. the location and date when the tagged animal was released, and summarized detection events of tagged individuals. If readers are interested in the source dataset they may also inquire with the project PIs as listed here or on the OTN web site (https://members.oceantrack.org/project?ccode=V2LEMERA).

Abstract:The NSP Maritime Link Inc. (NSPML) [operating as Emera Newfoundland and Labrador (ENL)], a wholly owned subsidiary of Emera Newfoundland and Labrador Holdings Inc., is constructing a 500 megawatt (MW) [+/- 200 kilo volts (kV)] high voltage direct current (HVdc) and high voltage alternating current (HVac) transmission line, and associated infrastructure, between Granite Canal, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), and Woodbine, Nova Scotia (NS) (the Maritime Link). The Project includes two 170 kilometer long subsea cables spanning the Cabot Strait from Point Aconi (NS) to Cape Ray (NL). As part of the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Project, the potential environmental effects of the installation and operation of these cables were assessed and, with the implementation of the design and mitigation measures, determined to be not significant. Consistent with commitments and conditions of the EA release NSPML initiated an Environmental Effects Monitoring Program for two resident commercially harvested marine species, snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) and American lobster (Homarus americanus), to confirm that once operational the subsea cables will not have an adverse impact on the movement of benthic species. The current study tracks the movements of snow crabs and American lobster in their natural habitat before and after the installation and energisation the submarine cables. This will allow for the characterization of the animals’ behaviour and the identification of any changes.

Data Records

The data in this sampling event resource has been published as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A), which is a standardized format for sharing biodiversity data as a set of one or more data tables. The core data table contains 834,414 records.

2 extension data tables also exist. An extension record supplies extra information about a core record. The number of records in each extension data table is illustrated below.

Event (core)
834414
Occurrence 
833677
ExtendedMeasurementOrFact 
1092

This IPT archives the data and thus serves as the data repository. The data and resource metadata are available for download in the downloads section. The versions table lists other versions of the resource that have been made publicly available and allows tracking changes made to the resource over time.

Versions

The table below shows only published versions of the resource that are publicly accessible.

How to cite

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

Nicolas, J.M., Cote, D., Broome, J. 2014. Emera snow crab and American lobster habitat utilization study. Accessed via the Ocean Tracking Network OBIS IPT on INSERT DATE

Rights

Researchers should respect the following rights statement:

The publisher and rights holder of this work is Ocean Tracking Network. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY 4.0) License.

GBIF Registration

This resource has been registered with GBIF, and assigned the following GBIF UUID: c7ae20eb-a8b8-4c58-96b6-26f86e2f745b.  Ocean Tracking Network publishes this resource, and is itself registered in GBIF as a data publisher endorsed by Ocean Biodiversity Information System.

Keywords

ACOUSTIC TAGS; EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > FISH; Occurrence; Samplingevent

External data

The resource data is also available in other formats

OTN VR2W Loan - Emera Snow Crab and American Lobster https://members.oceantrack.org/project?ccode=V2LEMERA ASCII HTM

Contacts

Ocean Tracking Network Data Centre
  • Originator
  • Point Of Contact
  • Data Manager
Ocean Tracking Network
  • Dalhousie University
B3H 4J1 Halifax
Nova Scotia
CA
  • +1 (902) 494-4101
Jonathan Pye
  • Metadata Provider
  • Data Manager
Ocean Tracking Network
CA
Jean-Marc Nicolas
  • Principal Investigator
Emera Inc.
CANADA
Jeremy Broome
  • Content Provider
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
CANADA
Keith Clarke
  • Content Provider
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
CANADA
Dave Cote
  • Content Provider
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre
CANADA
Christoph Konrad
  • Content Provider
Wood PLC
UNITED KINGDOM
James H. McCarthy
  • Content Provider
Wood PLC
UNITED KINGDOM
Martin Castonguay
  • Content Provider
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maurice Lamontagne Institute
CANADA
Richard Davis
  • Content Provider
Dalhousie University
CANADA
Bruce Hatcher
  • Content Provider
Cape Breton University
CANADA
Dave Hebert
  • Content Provider
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
CANADA
William Patterson
  • Content Provider
University of Florida Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
USA
Fred Whoriskey
  • Content Provider
Dalhousie University
CANADA
Chris McKindsey
  • Content Provider
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
CANADA

Geographic Coverage

NS

Bounding Coordinates South West [46.33, -60.34], North East [46.62, -60.15]

Taxonomic Coverage

Species included below are tagged by this project and have left any embargo. Other individuals or species may later be appended to this dataset.

Species Chionoecetes opilio (snow crab), Homarus americanus (American lobster)

Temporal Coverage

Start Date 2014-10-20

Project Data

The NSP Maritime Link Inc. (NSPML) [operating as Emera Newfoundland and Labrador (ENL)], a wholly owned subsidiary of Emera Newfoundland and Labrador Holdings Inc., is constructing a 500 megawatt (MW) [+/- 200 kilo volts (kV)] high voltage direct current (HVdc) and high voltage alternating current (HVac) transmission line, and associated infrastructure, between Granite Canal, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), and Woodbine, Nova Scotia (NS) (the Maritime Link). The Project includes two 170 kilometer long subsea cables spanning the Cabot Strait from Point Aconi (NS) to Cape Ray (NL). As part of the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Project, the potential environmental effects of the installation and operation of these cables were assessed and, with the implementation of the design and mitigation measures, determined to be not significant. Consistent with commitments and conditions of the EA release NSPML initiated an Environmental Effects Monitoring Program for two resident commercially harvested marine species, snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) and American lobster (Homarus americanus), to confirm that once operational the subsea cables will not have an adverse impact on the movement of benthic species. The current study tracks the movements of snow crabs and American lobster in their natural habitat before and after the installation and energisation the submarine cables. This will allow for the characterization of the animals’ behaviour and the identification of any changes.

Title OTN VR2W Loan - Emera snow crab and American lobster habitat utilization study
Funding OTN is a research and technology development initiative headquartered at Dalhousie University, in Halifax Nova Scotia. OTN is funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and is grateful to have once received funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). OTN is also grateful for the continued support from Research Nova Scotia, and OTN's host institution, Dalhousie University.
Study Area Description No study area description for this project was provided to OTN for publication.
Design Description A wide range of aquatic species are tagged with small electronic transmitters, surgically implanted or attached externally, which can operate for up to 20 years. Acoustic receivers arranged in line on the ocean floor as well as attached to buoys, gliders and large animals (e.g. grey seals) pick up the coded acoustic signals from these tags identifying each tagged sea creature that passes within half a kilometer of the receiver. Data collected by these listening stations are subsequently uploaded to one of many compatible data nodes, adding to the reach of an intercompatible network of networks designed and maintained by the Ocean Tracking Network, producing current and reliable records for every part of the globe. Certain classes of electronic tags and listening equipment (receivers) may also be outfitted or co-located with sensors to measure the ocean's temperature, depth, salinity, currents, chemistry, and other properties.

The personnel involved in the project:

Jean-Marc Nicolas
  • Principal Investigator

Sampling Methods

Acoustic tags released.

Study Extent Program started 2014-10-20 and ran until None
Quality Control OTN species names are verified using the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). If species names on new data cannot be verified against (a) known valid names in OTN, and/or (b) WoRMs the Data Provider will be notified so they can check they are correct. Names that cannot be placed after checking with WoRMS are, where possible, placed on the basis of other authoritative sources, such as the Fishbase or ITIS; and once completely verified a request will be sent to WoRMS for addition of the verified species name. http://members.oceantrack.org/data/discovery/byspecies

Method step description:

  1. This resource was created by the Ocean Tracking Network Data Centre as a summarized representation of animal presence determined by electronic tagging efforts. Darwin Core (DwC) records were extracted from the OTN database and filtered and summarized according to international agreed-upon standards.

Bibliographic Citations

  1. Nicolas, J.M., Cote, D., Broome, J. 2014. Emera snow crab and American lobster habitat utilization study In: Ocean Tracking Network Data Centre, Halifax Canada / otndc@dal.ca Retrieved: 2017-07-27 from db.load.oceantrack.org

Additional Metadata

Access Constraints: none Use Constraints: Acknowledge the use of specific records from contributing databases in the form appearing in the 'Citation' field thereof (if any); and acknowledge the use of the OBIS facility. For information purposes, email to info@obis.org the full citation of any publication made (printed or electronic) that cites OBIS or any constituent part. Recognize the limitations of data in OBIS. See https://manual.obis.org/policy.html#disclaimer for more details

Purpose

These data are for display on the OBIS portal and associated mapping programs and for download to personal computers for ad-hoc end-user analysis.

Alternative Identifiers 10.14286/3f6lsr
https://members.oceantrack.org/ipt/resource?r=otnemeravr2wloan-emerasno