Chemical and Biological Oceanographic Conditions on the Scotian Shelf and in the Eastern Gulf of Maine during 2024

Casault, B., Johnson, C.L., Devred, E., Clay, S., and Beazley, L. 2025. Chemical and Biological Oceanographic Conditions on the Scotian Shelf and in the Eastern Gulf of Maine during 2024. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3744: vi + 58 p. https://doi.org/10.60825/p6ad-1k52 Nutrient and plankton conditions were assessed in the context of physical conditions observed in the Maritimes Region in 2024. Nutrient depletion was widespread across the region, with Prince 5 (P5) station recording its tenth consecutive year of below-normal surface and subsurface nitrate inventories, while Cabot Strait section recorded record-low inventories for surface nitrate, silicate, and phosphate. Lower nutrient conditions likely influenced phytoplankton productivity, as chlorophyll-a measured in situ or derived from satellite remote sensing was mainly near or below normal across the region. The spring phytoplankton bloom was earlier than normal in the eastern area, near normal in the central area, and later than normal in the western area of the region. The intensity of the spring bloom was mainly normal to slightly below normal regionwide (except for Lurcher Shoal). The onset of the fall phytoplankton…

Publisher

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Resources

15

Catalogue metadata updated

2026-03-24