Metadatabase of data and sample collections

In 2011, the Board recognized that recent international initiatives under the SALSEA Programme had generated some extremely valuable databases, including biological and genetic databases generated under the SALSEA Merge project, and time-series of data and historical tagging information compiled by ICES workshops supported by the Board.  Similarly, the Board had also noted the existence of some historical marine survey samples, such as those generated by the international sampling programme at West Greenland, that represent an invaluable resource dating back forty years or more. The Board had decided that it could play an important role with regard to marine salmon survey data and sample coordination by establishing a metadatabase of existing datasets and sample collections. The metadatabase is not intended to be a vehicle to provide raw data to researchers and interested parties, but serves to increase awareness among researchers and other interested parties of the availability of these valuable and unique datasets/sample collections related to the marine phase of the Atlantic salmon.

 

Metadatabase
Name of Data Sample Collection (Select to view)	Info Type	Description
Greenland tag recaptures	Data	All known recaptures of CWTs and external tags in the West Greenland fishery
SALSEA - Merge biological samples	Biological Samples	Held in various locations and includes samples analysed and those yet to be analysed.  Some samples are committed to existing studies.
External tag recoveries from tagging programmes in Canada, USA, EU, Norway and Russia and International adult salmon tagging at Faroes and Greenland.	Data	Information on 2,696 external tag recoveries at Faroes and 5,080 tag recoveries from Greenland from smolt releases in homewater countries of EU, N. America, Norway and Russia
Faroes CWT recoveries	Data	Information on 348 tag recoveries of coded wire tags at Faroes from mid 1980s to mid 1990s
Greenland catch data	Data	Logbook data and catch data
North-East Atlantic run reconstruction data	Data	National catches. non-reporting rates, exploitation rates, return times, sex ratios, fecundities, smolt age composition
SALSEA Greenland	Biological Samples	Samples came from a land-based marine survey of Atlantic salmon harvested in the mixed-stock fishery off the west coast of Greenland.  Biological characteristics data, tissue for DNA sampling, preserved sea lice, various tissue samples for a variety of disease and parasite sampling (heart, kidney, spleen, pyloric caeca, gill arch,  liver, gill filaments, brain, heart, muscle, intestines) , stomach samples, variety of tissue samples for stable isotope sampling (scales, liver, muscle, caudal fin, adipose), tissue for lipid sampling, otoliths, and scales were collected and are in various states of processing and availability.
SALSEA North America biological samples	Biological Samples	Samples came from a marine pelagic survey targeting Atlantic salmon in the Labrador Sea.  Biological characteristics data, tissue for DNA sampling, preserved sea lice, various tissue samples for a variety of disease and parasite sampling (heart, kidney, spleen, pyloric caeca, gill arch,  liver, gill filaments, brain, heart, muscle, intestines) , stomach samples, variety of tissue samples for stable isotope sampling (scales, liver, muscle, caudal fin, adipose), tissue for lipid sampling, otoliths, scales and plankton samples at select locations were collected and are in various states of processing and availability
North American Run Reconstruction Data	Data	Seven base files in Excel format that contain catch data, returns data, and spawners data by jurisdiction
SALSEA - Merge Marine Feeding	Data	Information on stomach contents of adult salmon and post-smolts taken in SALSEA Merge research surveys
SALSEA - Merge Genetics Database: Genetically-based Regional Assignment of Atlantic Salmon Protocol (GRAASP)	Data	Genetic profiles are now available in for some 26, 813 individuals from 467 locations, in 284 rivers across Europe as well as genetic assignments of samples taken in the SALSEA Merge surveys
Kolarctic Coastal samples	Biological Samples	Scale samples collected from coastal fisheries for Atlantic salmon in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark counties, Norway. In total over 26,000 samples were collected, anaysed for orgin (wild/farmed), smolt and sea age. Scales were also used for genetic analyis, and individual fish were assigned to region and river origin by comparison to a comprehensive genetic baseline of 185 rivers
PINRO Atlantic salmon scales collection	Biological Samples	Atlantic salmon scales collected in rivers within the Kola Peninsula, Russia during annual surveys. Over 160,000 samples were collected and read for smolt and sea age
USA origin juvenile and adult scale samples	Biological Samples	Scale samples collected from juvenile (parr and smolt) and adult USA origin Atlantic salmon from multiple rivers throughout the USA range of the species and across varying numbers of years
West Greenland Sampling Database	Data	Annual sampling of the West Greenland Atlantic salmon fishery has occurred since 1968 with the exception of 1993 and 1994. As of 2017, there are ~60,000 individual records that provide information on the biological characteristics of the sampled fish

The data and sample collections contained in the metadatabase can also be viewed, as PDFs, following the links below:

• View all data and sample collections
• View all data collections
• View all sample collections

Download a zipped copy of the Metadatabase Data Entry Form (Excel) to submit additional information.