The dataset is composed of Ichthyoplankton and zooplankton captured during the ArcticNet cruise aboard the CCGS Amundsen from 2017 to 2019. Three samplers fitted with 200 µm to 500 µm mesh nets were used for zooplankton collection . One was a metallic structure with 4 nets of 1 square meter opening each (2x2 multiple net sampler) for water column integrated sampling pulled vertically over from 10 m above the bottom to the surface to catch mesozooplankton. The other sampler was 2 nets of 1 square meter opening each towed at 10 m depth for 20 minutes at 2 knots to catch ichthyoplankton and macrozooplankton. Finally, a 0.5 square meter opening multinet Hydrobios for stratified sampling into nine layer also hauled vertically from 10 m above the sea bottom to the surface. Zooplankton samples were preserved in a 10% buffered formalin seawater solution and were sieved through 1000 µm and 200 µm sieves for analysis. Ichthyoplankton was identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible, a sub-sample was measured and all larvea were kept in ethanol.

The dataset is composed of adult fish species captured during the ArcticNet cruise aboard the CCGS Amundsen from 2017 to 2019. Pelagic fish were caught with an Isaacs-Kidd Midwater Trawl (IKMT, 9-m2 rectangular mouth aperture with mesh sizes of 11 mm in the first section and 5 mm in the last section). It was deployed from the surface to depths targeting possible aggregation of fish as recorded by the acoustic echosounder from the ship. Demersal and benthic fish were sampled with a bottom beam trawl (3-m2 rectangular aperture with a headline and a footrope of 4.27 m and a cod-end mesh of 9.5 mm) deployed on the seafloor. The pelagic and bottom trawls were towed at ~3 knots for 10 to 20 min. All fish collected by the trawls were measured and identified at least to the family level before freezing at -20°C.

The dataset is composed of raw files (.raw) recorded with a SIMRAD EK60 three-frequency (38, 120, 200 kHz) split-beam echosounder that was operated continuously during the ArcticNet cruise aboard the CCGS Amundsen from 2006 to 2016 (no data were collected in 2012 due to the CCGS Amundsen being in dry dock). All three 7° transducers were hull-mounted and calibrated prior to departure. The acoustic signal was recorded continuously on a PC using ER60 software version 2.0.0. Ping rate varied from 1 to 2 seconds depending on maximum depth, and the pulse length was set at 1.024 milliseconds. The files can be read with the open source programming software R, other proprietary programming software like MATLAB or with specific proprietary software for hydro-acoustic analysis such as Echoview (https://www.echoview.com/​).

A first survey was conducted in and around EL446 onboard the CCGS Amundsen from 16 July to 30 July, 2009. A total of 21 biophysical stations were sampled, involving 25 box core deployments and 18 Agassiz trawl tows. In addition, the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) was deployed once (station 10) for epibenthos observation. A second survey was conducted in EL449 and EL451 onboard the CCGS Amundsen from 12 August to 26 August, 2010. A total of 18 biophysical stations were sampled, comprising 25 box core deployments and 18 Agassiz trawl tows. A third survey was conducted in EL451 and EL453 onboard the CCGS Amundsen from 7 September to 22 September 2011. A total of 13 biophysical stations were sampled, comprising 18 box core deployments and 13 Agassiz trawl tows. The box core was deployed to quantitatively sample diversity and abundance of endobenthic organisms. After retrieval of the box core, a subsample of about 0.125 m2 area and 12-15 cm depth was collected and passed through a 0.5 mm mesh sieve to separate sediment from endofauna. Organisms were immediately preserved in a 4% buffered formaldehyde solution for further taxonomical identification in the laboratory. The volume of sediments sieved from each box core was measured (depth × width × length) to the nearest 1 cm to estimate endobenthic fauna density in each sample. An Agassiz trawl (1.5 m width × 0.7 m height, cod end of 0.5 cm mesh size) was towed on the seabed at a speed of 1.5 - 2 knots for about 3 to 5 minutes to survey epibenthic species diversity and abundance. Retrieved samples were washed with seawater in a sieve (0.5 mm mesh), and organisms were counted and identified to the lowest taxonomical level possible.

The data set is composed of raw files recorded with a SIMRAD EK60 three-frequency (38, 120, 200 kHz) split-beam echosounder that was operated continuously during the 2012, 2013, and 2014 BREA cruise aboard the F/V Frosti. This entry also includes EK60 data collected during the ArcticNet cruise aboard the CCGS Amundsen in 2014. All three 7° transducers were hull-mounted and calibrated prior to departure. The acoustic signal was recorded continuously on a PC using ER60 software version 2.0.0. Ping interval was set around 1 s and the pulse length was set at 1.024 ms.