Eelgrass locations in Newfoundland and Labrador (2014)

Eelgrass (Zostera marina) has been identified as an Ecologically Significant Species in Canada. In contrast to widespread declines of eelgrass abundance and distribution reported worldwide, including locations elsewhere on the North Atlantic coast, expansions have been reported in at least some parts of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Mapping efforts were undertaken on the Newfoundland and Labrador coast between 1996 and 2006 by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Memorial University of Newfoundland Coasts Under Stress project and by independent researchers. Eelgrass locations were identified around the Island of Newfoundland and along the coast of southern Labrador. This technical report combines the data sets from those efforts to present the first comprehensive map of known and potential eelgrass locations in the province. Ground-truthing has demonstrated the utility of these data sets, and the methods used to obtain them, in predicting eelgrass locations. This dataset was published by Fisheries & Oceans Cana da in 2014 - the complete publication can be found here.