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.

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/​).

The data set is composed of raw files recorded with a SIMRAD EK60 three-frequency split-beam echosounder that was operated continuously during the annual ArcticNet (2005-2013) sampling expeditions in the Canadian Arctic and Subarctic aboard the CCGS Amundsen. Three 7° transducers were hull-mounted, two in oil-filled arctic wells protected by a 2.5 cm thick acoustically transparent polycarbonate plate (38 and 120 kHz) and one in a Traveocean piston well in direct contact with water (200 kHz). The acoustic signal was recorded continuously on a PC using ER60 software version 2.0.0. Ping interval was set at 2 or 3 s and the pulse length was set at 1.024 ms.

The data set is composed of raw files recorded with a SIMRAD EK60 three-frequency split-beam echosounder that was operated continuously during the annual ArcticNet (2005-2010) and the 15 months IPY-CFL (2007-2008) sampling expeditions aboard the CCGS Amundsen. Three 7° transducers were hull-mounted, two in oil-filled arctic wells protected by a 2.5 cm thick acoustically transparent polycarbonate plate (38 and 120 kHz) and one in a Traveocean piston well in direct contact with water (200 kHz). The acoustic signal was recorded continuously on a PC using ER60 software version 2.0.0. Ping interval was set at 2 or 3 s and the pulse length was set at 1.024 ms.

The dataset is composed of raw files recorded with a SIMRAD EK60 three-frequency split-beam echosounder that was operated continuously during the annual ArcticNet (2005-2014) sampling expeditions in the Canadian Arctic aboard the CCGS Amundsen. Three 7° transducers were hull-mounted, two in oil-filled arctic wells protected by a 2.5 cm thick acoustically transparent polycarbonate plate (38 and 120 kHz) and one in a Traveocean piston well in direct contact with water (200 kHz). The acoustic signal was recorded continuously on a PC using ER60 software version 2.0.0. Ping interval was set at 2 or 3 s and the pulse length was set at 1.024 ms.

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 datasets present new data from microscopic counts and selected nutrient and physical data assembled from the following missions. Aboard the CCGS Louis St-Laurent: IPY Canada's Three Oceans 2007. Aboard the CCGS Amundsen: International Polar Year (IPY) Circumpolar Flaw Lead Study 2008; ArcticNet 2008. Temporal coverage is July-September. Cell density of the three sub-clades MAST-1A, MAST-1B and MAST-1C was measured by cell-counts using fluorescent in situ hybridization with taxa-specific probe. Biomass of phototrophic organisms, of different size classes, was obtained by counts of DAPI-stained cells under epifluorescence microscopy. Samples for total chlorophyll a (chl a) were filtered onto GF/F filters, extracted in either ethanol or acetone and analysed by spectrofluorometry. Chl a was also measured for the < 3 µm size fraction, and chl a in the < 3 µm size fraction was calculate by simple substraction. CCGS Amundsen data: Temperature, salinity, transmissivity, oxygen, and photosynthetically active radiation were provided by Dr. Y. Gratton (Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Québec). Nitrate and Phosphate concentrations were provided by Dr. J.-É. Tremblay (Université Laval, Québec). CCGS Louis St-Laurent data were supplied by Drs. E.C. Carmack and J. Nelson (Institute of Ocean Sciences, Sidney, B.C.). Distance to ice edge was obtained from the Canadian Ice Services (http://ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca).

The datasets present new data from microscopic counts and selected nutrient and physical data assembled from the following cruises. Aboard the CCGS Amundsen: ArcticNet Expeditions 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010; International Polar Year (IPY) Circumpolar Flaw Lead Study 2008 and MALINA Project 2009 (French IPY project headed by Dr. M. Babin). Aboard the CCGS Louis St-Laurent: IPY Canada's Three Oceans 2007. Temporal coverage is Feb.-Nov., but varies by year, with the greatest sampling effort in July-Oct. Cryothecomonas abundance was measured by cell-counts using fluorescent in situ hybridization with a taxon-specific probe. Biomass of phototrophic and heterotrophic organisms, of different size classes, was obtained by counts of DAPI-stained cells under epifluorescence microscopy. Samples for total chlorophyll a (chl a) were filtered onto GF/F filters, extracted in either ethanol or acetone and analysed by spectrofluorometry. Chl a was also measured for the < 3 µm size fraction. CCGS Amundsen data: Temperature, salinity, oxygen, and photosynthetically active radiation were provided by Dr. Y. Gratton (Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Québec). Nitrate and Phosphate concentrations were provided by Dr. J.-É. Tremblay (Université Laval, Québec). CCGS Louis St-Laurent data were supplied by Drs. EC Carmack and John Nelson (Institute of Ocean Sciences, Sidney, B.C.). Distance to ice edge was obtained from the Canadian Ice Services (http://ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca).