GC DFO Salmon Ontology

Release: 2025-12-11

Modified on: 2025-12-12
This version:: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon/0.1.0
Latest version:: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon
Revision:: 0.1.0 (hybrid OWL+SKOS approach)
Creator:: DFO Pacific Science — Data Stewardship Unit, Fishery & Assessment Data Section
Contributors:: Brett Johnson✉; Melissa K. Morrison✉
Publisher:: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Pacific Region Science Branch
Download serialization:
License:
Visualization:
Bibliographic citation:: Fishery & Assessment Data Section (FADS) Data Stewardship Unit. GC DFO Salmon Ontology. Revision: 0.1.0 (hybrid OWL+SKOS approach). Retrieved from: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon/0.1.0
Vocabulary maintained at:: https://github.com/dfo-pacific-science/dfo-salmon-ontology

Ontology Specification Draft

Abstract

Salmon decisions stall on semantics, not on science. Take “wild salmon”: locally it can mean natural-origin fish, fish spawning naturally this year (including hatchery-origin spawners), or simply adipose-intact fish—definitions that change counts and benchmarks and challenge regional analyses. This fragmentation slows management, obscures accountability, and undermines confidence in otherwise excellent science. What’s needed is a shared vocabulary and an agreed-upon map of salmon terms—clear definitions and relationships that connect local labels to common meanings so people and software interpret data the same: a shared dictionary and rulebook for salmon data, an ontology. The DFO Salmon Ontology provides that map of how terms relate, and the controlled vocabularies that underpin it supply precise definitions—showing where terms differ, how they align, and where they should converge. Together, they standardize key terms across programs and regions. Teams can map local terms once, keep source systems unchanged yet aligned regionally, and link inputs to methods, benchmarks, and policy thresholds for Fisheries Science Reports, the Fish Stock Provisions, and the Wild Salmon Policy. Developed by the Fishery & Assessment Data Section in the Pacific Region Science Branch, this work builds on the International Year of the Salmon Data Mobilization initiative and collaborations with the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (U.S.) and the global Research Data Alliance. It is open source and implements community standards from the W3C, OBO Foundry, and Darwin Core. By removing terminology friction, it prepares us for AI-assisted data integration and cross-discipline interoperability while immediately letting biologists spend less time cleaning data. Our goal is straightforward: to provide persistent, web-accessible definitions that help scientists and software combine data efficiently, support reproducible analyses, and strengthen confidence in salmon management.

Introduction

The GC DFO Salmon Ontology is a data stewardship and operational process ontology designed to provide a semantic framework for managing, integrating, and stewarding Pacific salmon data across Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Its goal is to make salmon data interoperable, discoverable, and analyzable with minimal friction for scientists, data stewards, and managers.

Technical overview

Hybrid approach: OWL for formal relationships, SKOS for controlled vocabularies

Darwin Core aligned: Uses DwC classes as top-level framework for interoperability; implements Darwin Core Conceptual Model (DwC-CM) patterns

OBO Foundry principles: Open, interoperable, logically well-formed, scientifically accurate

Pragmatic imports: MIREOT terms outlined below; prefix-only for PROV-O/RO/SKOS

Upper ontology: BFO grounding for process/entity hierarchy

Units: QUDT/OM IRIs stored as literals (starter convention)

Community-aligned: Builds on NCEAS Salmon Ontology, ENVO, and OBO Foundry vocabularies

Namespace declarations

Table 1: Namespaces used in the document
[Ontology NS Prefix]	<https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon>
bfo	<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/BFO_>
dcterms	<http://purl.org/dc/terms/>
dqv	<http://www.w3.org/ns/dqv#>
dwc	<http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/>
dwciri	<http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/iri/>
envo	<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/ENVO_>
gcdfo	<https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#>
iao	<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/IAO_>
oa	<http://www.w3.org/ns/oa#>
obo	<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/>
odo	<http://purl.dataone.org/odo/>
org	<http://www.w3.org/ns/org#>
owl	<http://www.w3.org/2002/07/owl#>
prov	<http://www.w3.org/ns/prov#>
qudt	<http://qudt.org/schema/qudt/>
qudtunit	<http://qudt.org/vocab/unit/>
rdf	<http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#>
rdfs	<http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>
schema	<https://schema.org/>
skos	<http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core#>
xml	<http://www.w3.org/XML/1998/namespace>
xsd	<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#>

GC DFO Salmon Ontology: Overview

MIREOT Terms

The GC DFO Salmon Ontology uses Minimum Information to Reference an External Ontology Term (MIREOT) to import selected terms from external ontologies rather than importing entire ontologies. This approach helps to reduce complexity and improve performance while maintaining interoperability with established standards. GFDFOS contains the following classes and object properties.

BFO (4 terms): process, material entity, generically dependent continuant, specifically dependent continuant

IAO (7 terms): measurement datum, information content entity, directive information entity, document, definition, definition source, plan specification

OA (1 term): Annotation

DQV (3 terms): Dimension, QualityAnnotation, inDimension

DWC (5 terms): Organism, Material Entity, Event, Occurrence, Identification

ODO (5 terms): [ECSO] year of measurement; [SALMON] Fishery type, Fish measurement type, Salmon escapement count, Fish stock type

ENVO (7 terms): lentic water body, lake, pond, lotic water body, river, stream, bayou

Why This Matters

Performance: MIREOT = fast loading; full imports = slow

Clarity: Local term definitions aid understanding in Protégé

Maintenance: Fewer dependencies = easier updates

Interoperability: Pragmatic balance between standards compliance and usability

GC DFO Salmon Ontology: Description

OWL + SKOS ontology for DFO salmon data: stocks/CUs/MUs, survey events, escapement measurements, and GSI constructs; aligns to DwC via rdfs:subClassOf; hybrid approach with SKOS for methods and OWL for events.

Cross-reference for GC DFO Salmon Ontology classes

This section provides details for each class defined by GC DFO Salmon Ontology.

Classes

Algorithm threshold^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#AlgorithmThreshold

Threshold value used by the rapid-status algorithm (such as Learning Tree 3) that may differ from expert-defined benchmarks to incorporate precautionary buffers.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: DFO (2024). Rapid Status Approximations for Pacific Salmon Derived from Integrated Expert Assessments under Canada’s Wild Salmon Policy. CSAS Science Response 2024/004.; https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/ScR-RS/2024/2024_004-eng.pdf

has super-classes: information content entity ^c

Brood year^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#BroodYear

The year that a cohort of salmon spawns.

The parental year for a group of returning salmon, i.e. the calendar year when the majority of parents of these fish spawned.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: Adapted from the Government of Canada Pacific Salmon Glossary; https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/salmon-saumon/gloss-eng.html

has super-classes: Year basis ^c

Catch year^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#CatchYear

The calendar year in which returning salmon are caught in fisheries (as opposed to the brood year in which the cohort was spawned).

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

has super-classes: Year basis ^c

Conservation Unit^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#ConservationUnit

A group of fish sufficiently isolated from other groups that, if extirpated, is very unlikely to recolonize naturally within an acceptable timeframe.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: Canada's Policy for Conservation of Wild Pacific Salmon Glossary.; Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (2005). Canada's Policy for Conservation of Wild Pacific Salmon. Retrieved from https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library-bibliotheque/315577.pdf.; https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/salmon-saumon/wsp-pss/policy-politique-eng.html#glossary

has super-classes: Reporting or management stratum ^c

Escapement^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#Escapement

The process by which mature salmon pass through (or escape) fisheries and return to fresh water to spawn.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (2005). Canada's Policy for Conservation of Wild Pacific Salmon. Retrieved from https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library-bibliotheque/315577.pdf.

has super-classes: process ^c

Escapement measurement^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#EscapementMeasurement

A measurement or estimate of escapement tied to a stock and a survey event.

Salmon escapement count

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

has super-classes: measurement datum ^c

Escapement Survey Event^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#EscapementSurveyEvent

A survey event specifically for estimating escapement.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

has super-classes: Survey event ^c

Exploitation rate^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#ExploitationRate

Expressed as a percentage, the proportion of the total return of adult salmon in a given year that die (harvested or removed) as a result of fishing activity. ER = total fishing mortality / (total fishing mortality + escapement)

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (2019). Government of Canada. Pacific Salmon - Glossary. https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/salmon-saumon/gloss-eng.html. [Accessed 09-10-2025]

has super-classes: Target or limit rate or abundance ^c
has sub-classes: Total exploitation rate ^c

Indicator river^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#IndicatorRiver

All spawning streams that are listed to be monitored by DFO are classified as an indicator or non-indicator stream. Indicator streams are those that have been identified in some Regions as providing more reliable indices of spawner abundance. Indicator streams tend to give relatively accurate annual spawner abundance estimates, given that they use higher quality methodologies and are more intensively/regularly surveyed. Indicator streams are also assumed to be representative of spawner returns to other streams in close geographic proximity. Non-indicator streams are typically less consistently surveyed, using more variable methodologies, and/or may simply be difficult to survey (e.g., poor water quality, remote location, etc.).

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

has super-classes: lotic water body ^c

Limit reference point^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#LimitReferencePoint

A fish stock experiencing serious harm may be depleted to the point where it has impaired productivity or reproductive capacity. As a result, the stock would be less resilient to fishing and could not easily rebuild. Serious harm may be irreversible, or only slowly reversible over the long-term, and can be due to fishing, other human-induced impacts, or natural causes. Under the Precautionary Approach policy and the Fish Stocks Provisions (FSPs), breaching the LRP is a trigger for a rebuilding plan.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (2024). Introduction to Stock Assessment - Glossary. https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/species-especes/fisheries-halieutiques/assessment-evaluation/glossary-glossaire/index-eng.html. [Accessed 09-10-2025].

has super-classes: Reference point ^c

Metric benchmark^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#MetricBenchmark

Benchmark value for a WSP metric that helps delineate status zones (for example, the limit reference point for absolute abundance).

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: Pestal, G. et al. (2023). State of the Salmon: Rapid Status Assessment Approach for Pacific Salmon under Canada’s Wild Salmon Policy.; https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.928944/publication.html

has super-classes: information content entity ^c

Observed rate or abundance^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#ObservedRateOrAbundance

A measurement datum representing an empirically observed rate, count, or abundance derived from monitoring or survey data.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

has super-classes: measurement datum ^c

Reference point^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#ReferencePoint

Reference points are used as targets to achieve or as limits to avoid.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: DFO Introduction to Stock Assessment Glossary.; https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/species-especes/fisheries-halieutiques/assessment-evaluation/glossary-glossaire/index-eng.html

has super-classes: information content entity ^c
has sub-classes: Limit reference point ^c, Upper stock reference ^c

Reporting or management stratum^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#ReportingOrManagementStratum

An information-defined grouping of fish populations used for reporting, conservation assessment, or management purposes. Examples include Conservation Units (CUs), Stock Management Units (MUs), and Designatable Units (DUs).

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

has super-classes: information content entity ^c
has sub-classes: Conservation Unit ^c, Stock Management Unit ^c

Stock^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#Stock

A biologically meaningful but operationally-focused salmon demographic unit used in assessment and reporting.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: DFO Introduction to Stock Assessment Glossary; Pacific Salmon Commission Technical Report No. 49.; https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/species-especes/fisheries-halieutiques/assessment-evaluation/glossary-glossaire/index-eng.html

has super-classes: Organism ^c

Stock assessment^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#StockAssessment

The scientific process of analyzing data to estimate the abundance and productivity of fish stocks in the past, present, and future. It is the backbone of successful science-based fisheries management.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (2024). Introduction to Stock Assessment. Available at https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/species-especes/fisheries-halieutiques/assessment-evaluation/module-1/09-eng.html [Accessed 10-28-2025].

has super-classes: process ^c

Stock Management Unit^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#StockManagementUnit

A collection of stocks that are managed together with a joint stock status.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: DFO Introduction to Stock Assessment Glossary.; Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (2024). Introduction to Stock Assessment - Glossary. https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/species-especes/fisheries-halieutiques/assessment-evaluation/glossary-glossaire/index-eng.html. [Accessed 09-10-2025].; https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/species-especes/fisheries-halieutiques/assessment-evaluation/glossary-glossaire/index-eng.html

has super-classes: Reporting or management stratum ^c

Survey event^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#SurveyEvent

A field event that collects information about key fish stocks to track their status, and track progress to implement fishery policies and measures for these stocks.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (2021). About the Sustainability Survey for Fisheries. Available at https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/reports-rapports/regs/sff-cpd/survey-sondage/about-propos-en.html. [Accessed 09-10-2025].

has super-classes: Event ^c
has sub-classes: Escapement Survey Event ^c

Target or limit rate or abundance^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#TargetOrLimitRateOrAbundance

A value specification representing a policy- or model-defined target or limit, such as TAC, UMSY, or reference points.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

has super-classes: measurement datum ^c
has sub-classes: Exploitation rate ^c

Total exploitation rate^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#TotalExploitationRate

The overall proportion of the total return of adult salmon removed by all fisheries over a defined period, aggregating across gear or fishery components.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

has super-classes: Exploitation rate ^c

Upper stock reference^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#UpperStockReferencePoint

A threshold below which fishing must be reduced to avoid reaching the LRP. The USR must be set at an appropriate distance above the LRP to provide sufficient opportunity for managers to recognize a declining stock status and sufficient time for management actions to take effect.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: DFO Introduction to Stock Assessment Glossary.

has super-classes: Reference point ^c

WSP rapid status^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#WSPRapidStatus

The WSP rapid status assessment approach builds on previously completed WSP integrated status assessments. The detailed WSP integrated assessments are labour intensive, taking 10-40 experts up to three days to complete for each group of CUs. For this reason, assessments have only been completed for ~11% of the 377 current Pacific Salmon CUs, many of which are outdated. The WSP rapid approach can fill gaps by expanding coverage of CU statuses across time, species, and geographic areas. The WSP rapid status approach ensures statuses are scientifically objective, consistent, and comparable across BC/Yukon CUs. This approach is also relatively easy to implement, applicable to data rich and data poor CUs, and can be updated annually.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: Pestal, G., MacDonald, B. L., Grant, S. C. H., and Holt, C. A. (2023). State of the Salmon: rapid status assessment approach for Pacific salmon under Canada’s Wild Salmon Policy. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3570: xiv + 200 p.

Year basis^c

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#YearBasis

A year-based temporal reference used to contextualize measurements or rates (e.g., brood year or catch year).

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

has sub-classes: Brood year ^c, Catch year ^c

Named Individuals

Aerial Survey Count
Amber zone
Area Under the Curve
Biological Benchmark and Indicator Scheme
Census by Manual Count at Fixed Site
Confidence category
COSEWIC Status Scheme
Downgrade Criteria Scheme
Enumeration Method
Enumeration Method Scheme
Estimate Method
Estimate Method Scheme
Estimate Type
Estimate Type Scheme
Fixed‑Station Tally
Green zone
High rapid-status confidence
Low rapid-status confidence
Medium rapid-status confidence
Peak Count Analysis
Rapid status confidence scheme
Red zone
Salmon Origin Scheme
Stock Status Zone Scheme
Type-1, True Abundance, high resolution
Type-2, True Abundance, medium resolution
Type-3, Relative Abundance, high resolution
Type-4, Relative Abundance, medium resolution
Type-5, Relative Abundance, low resolution
Type-6, Presence or Absence
Visual Snorkel Count
Wild Salmon Policy biological status zone
Wild Salmon Policy metric scheme
Wild Salmon Policy Status Zone

Aerial Survey Countⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#AerialSurveyCount

Repeated overflights enumerate visible spawners over defined waterbodies using helicopter fixed wing or drone platforms. Flight lines altitude sensor settings and ground sampling distance are documented and imagery may be reviewed post flight.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c
has facts: broader: Enumeration Method ⁿⁱ

Amber zoneⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#AmberZone

Amber status implies caution in the management of the Conservation Unit. While a CU in the Amber zone should be at a low risk of loss, there will be a degree of lost production. Decisions about the conservation of CUs in the Amber zone will involve broader consideration of biological, social, and economic issues.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (2021). Wild Salmon Policy 2018-2022 Implementation Plan. Available at https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library-bibliotheque/40728109.pdf.

belongs to: Concept ^c; Wild Salmon Policy biological status zone ^c
has facts

Area Under the Curveⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#AreaUnderTheCurve

Integrates serial counts over time using a survey‑life parameter; may apply observer efficiency.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c
has facts: alternative label: AUC; broader: Enumeration Method ⁿⁱ, Estimate Method ⁿⁱ; in Scheme: Enumeration Method Scheme ⁿⁱ, Estimate Method Scheme ⁿⁱ

Biological Benchmark and Indicator Schemeⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#BiologicalBenchmarkAndIndicatorScheme

Controlled vocabulary for key biological benchmarks, performance indicators, and reference points used in salmon stock assessment and management (e.g., SMSY, Sgen, spawner abundance).

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept Scheme ^c
has facts: has Top Concept: Target or limit rate or abundance ^c

Census by Manual Count at Fixed Siteⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#CensusByManualCountAtFixedSite

Salmon are guided through a controlled opening in a fence/weir where trained observers visually tally each passage event on a continuous or daily schedule. Counting chambers/windows and SIL/SEN daily logs document coverage; bypass routes are monitored and closed where possible.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c
has facts: broader: Enumeration Method ⁿⁱ; in Scheme: Enumeration Method Scheme ⁿⁱ

Confidence categoryⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#ConfidenceCategory

Categorical confidence rating (High, Medium, Low) reported alongside a rapid status assessment.

belongs to: Concept ^c
is also defined as: class

COSEWIC Status Schemeⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#COSEWICStatusScheme

Controlled vocabulary for COSEWIC statuses

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept Scheme ^c
has facts: has Top Concept: COSEWIC Status Category ^ep

Downgrade Criteria Schemeⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#DowngradeCriteriaScheme

Controlled vocabulary for estimate type downgrade criteria

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept Scheme ^c
has facts: definition: Controlled vocabulary for estimate type downgrade criteria; has Top Concept: Downgrade Criteria ^ep

Enumeration Methodⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#EnumerationMethod

A method used to enumerate or count salmon in the field

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c
has facts: in Scheme: Enumeration Method Scheme ⁿⁱ

Enumeration Method Schemeⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#EnumerationMethodScheme

Controlled vocabulary for salmon enumeration methods

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept Scheme ^c
has facts: has Top Concept: Enumeration Method ⁿⁱ

Estimate Methodⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#EstimateMethod

A method used to analyze and estimate salmon abundance from enumeration data

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c
has facts: in Scheme: Estimate Method Scheme ⁿⁱ

Estimate Method Schemeⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#EstimateMethodScheme

Controlled vocabulary for salmon estimate methods

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept Scheme ^c
has facts: has Top Concept: Estimate Method ⁿⁱ

Estimate Typeⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#EstimateType

Classification of escapement estimate quality based on Hyatt 1997 framework

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c
has facts: in Scheme: Estimate Type Scheme ⁿⁱ

Estimate Type Schemeⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#EstimateTypeScheme

Controlled vocabulary for Hyatt 1997 estimate types

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept Scheme ^c
has facts: has Top Concept: Estimate Type ⁿⁱ

Fixed‑Station Tallyⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#FixedStationTally

Seasonal total = roll‑up of daily/continuous counts from a fixed (non‑sonar) station; simple arithmetic with documented coverage.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c
has facts: broader: Estimate Method ⁿⁱ; in Scheme: Estimate Method Scheme ⁿⁱ

Green zoneⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#GreenZone

Social and economic considerations will tend to be the primary drivers for the management of Conservation Units in the Green zone, though ecosystem or other non-consumptive use values could also be considered.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (2021). Wild Salmon Policy 2018-2022 Implementation Plan. Available at https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library-bibliotheque/40728109.pdf.

belongs to: Concept ^c; Wild Salmon Policy biological status zone ^c
has facts: in Scheme: Wild Salmon Policy Status Zone ⁿⁱ

High rapid-status confidenceⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#RapidStatusConfidenceHigh

Rapid status confidence category indicating that high-quality abundance metrics support the result.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c; Confidence category ⁿⁱ
has facts: in Scheme: Rapid status confidence scheme ⁿⁱ

Low rapid-status confidenceⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#RapidStatusConfidenceLow

Rapid status confidence category indicating limited supporting data (for example, derived from trend metrics alone).

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c; Confidence category ⁿⁱ
has facts: in Scheme: Rapid status confidence scheme ⁿⁱ

Medium rapid-status confidenceⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#RapidStatusConfidenceMedium

Rapid status confidence category indicating mixed evidence or reliance on trend metrics supplemented by some abundance information.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c; Confidence category ⁿⁱ
has facts: in Scheme: Rapid status confidence scheme ⁿⁱ

Peak Count Analysisⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#PeakCountAnalysis

Uses the peak survey (live ± dead variants) as the season estimate/index.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c
has facts: broader: Estimate Method ⁿⁱ; in Scheme: Estimate Method Scheme ⁿⁱ

Rapid status confidence schemeⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#RapidStatusConfidenceScheme

Controlled vocabulary for categorical confidence ratings attached to rapid status assessments.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept Scheme ^c
has facts: has Top Concept: Confidence category ⁿⁱ

Red zoneⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#RedZone

A Conservation Unit in the Red zone is undesirable because of the risk of extirpation, and the loss of ecological benefits and salmon production. Changes in status will trigger management actions that will vary depending on species, geographic regions, and cause of the decline.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada. (2021). Wild Salmon Policy 2018-2022 Implementation Plan. Available at https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library-bibliotheque/40728109.pdf.

belongs to: Concept ^c; Wild Salmon Policy biological status zone ^c
has facts: in Scheme: Wild Salmon Policy Status Zone ⁿⁱ

Salmon Origin Schemeⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#SalmonOriginScheme

Controlled vocabulary for describing the origin of individual salmon (e.g., natural-origin, hatchery-origin, mixed-origin).

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept Scheme ^c

Stock Status Zone Schemeⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#StockStatusZoneScheme

Controlled vocabulary for stock status zones under the Precautionary Approach.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept Scheme ^c
has facts: has Top Concept: Stock Status Zone ^ep

Type-1, True Abundance, high resolutionⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#Type1

Total, seasonal counts through fence or fishway; virtually no bypass. Simple, often single step analysis. Reliable resolution of between year differences >10% (in absolute units).

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c
has facts: broader: Estimate Type ⁿⁱ; in Scheme: Estimate Type Scheme ⁿⁱ

Type-2, True Abundance, medium resolutionⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#Type2

High effort (5 or more trips), standard methods (e.g. mark-recapture, serial counts for area under curve, etc.). Simple to complex multi-step, but always rigorous. Reliable resolution of between year differences >25% (in absolute units).

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c
has facts: broader: Estimate Type ⁿⁱ; in Scheme: Estimate Type Scheme ⁿⁱ

Type-3, Relative Abundance, high resolutionⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#Type3

High effort (5 or more trips), standard methods (e.g. equal effort surveys executed by walk, swim, overflight, etc.). Simple to complex multi-step, but always rigorous. Reliable resolution of between year differences >25% (in relative units).

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c
has facts: broader: Estimate Type ⁿⁱ; in Scheme: Estimate Type Scheme ⁿⁱ

Type-4, Relative Abundance, medium resolutionⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#Type4

Low to moderate effort (1-4 trips), known survey method. Simple analysis by known methods. Reliable resolution of between year differences >200% (in relative units).

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c
has facts: broader: Estimate Type ⁿⁱ; in Scheme: Estimate Type Scheme ⁿⁱ

Type-5, Relative Abundance, low resolutionⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#Type5

Low effort (e.g. 1 trip), use of vaguely defined, inconsistent or poorly executed methods. Unknown to ill defined; inconsistent or poorly executed. Uncertain numeric comparisons, but high reliability for presence or absence.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c
has facts: broader: Estimate Type ⁿⁱ; in Scheme: Estimate Type Scheme ⁿⁱ

Type-6, Presence or Absenceⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#Type6

Any of above methods. Not required for analysis. Moderate to high reliability for presence/absence.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c
has facts: broader: Estimate Type ⁿⁱ; in Scheme: Estimate Type Scheme ⁿⁱ

Visual Snorkel Countⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#VisualSnorkelCount

Two or more trained snorkelers conduct standardized passes within defined segments, tallying live/dead by species. Field forms capture visibility class, segment boundaries, and repeat‑visit schedule; counts are aggregated across observers/passes.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept ^c
has facts: broader: Enumeration Method ⁿⁱ; in Scheme: Enumeration Method Scheme ⁿⁱ

Wild Salmon Policy biological status zoneⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#WSPBiologicalStatusZone

belongs to: Concept ^c
is also defined as: class

Wild Salmon Policy metric schemeⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#WSPMetricScheme

Controlled vocabulary for the Wild Salmon Policy rapid-status metrics and related analytical concepts.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept Scheme ^c
has facts: has Top Concept: WSP Metric ^ep

Wild Salmon Policy Status Zoneⁿⁱ

IRI: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon#WSPBiologicalStatusZoneScheme

Controlled vocabulary for biological status zones under the Wild Salmon Policy.

Is defined by: https://w3id.org/gcdfo/salmon

belongs to: Concept Scheme ^c
has facts: has Top Concept: Wild Salmon Policy biological status zone ⁿⁱ

Legend

^c: Classes
ⁿⁱ: Named Individuals
^op: Object Properties
^ep: External Properties

References

Courtot, M., Courtot, M., Gibson, F., Lister, A., Malone, J., Schober, D., Brinkman, R., & Ruttenberg, A. (2009). MIREOT: the Minimum Information to Reference an External Ontology Term. Nature Precedings. https://doi.org/10.1038/npre.2009.3576

Garijo, D. (2017). WIDOCO: A wizard for documenting ontologies. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (Including Subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics), 10588 LNCS, 94–102. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68204-4_9

Jackson, R., Matentzoglu, N., Overton, J. A., Vita, R., Balhoff, J. P., Buttigieg, P. L., Carbon, S., Courtot, M., Diehl, A. D., Dooley, D. M., Duncan, W. D., Harris, N. L., Haendel, M. A., Lewis, S. E., Natale, D. A., Osumi-Sutherland, D., Ruttenberg, A., Schriml, L. M., Smith, B., … Peters, B. (2021). OBO Foundry in 2021: operationalizing open data principles to evaluate ontologies. Database : The Journal of Biological Databases and Curation, 2021(0), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/database/baab069

Wilkinson, M. D., Dumontier, M., Aalbersberg, Ij. J., Appleton, G., Axton, M., Baak, A., Blomberg, N., Boiten, J.-W., da Silva Santos, L. B., Bourne, P. E., Bouwman, J., Brookes, A. J., Clark, T., Crosas, M., Dillo, I., Dumon, O., Edmunds, S., Evelo, C. T., Finkers, R., … Mons, B. (2016). The FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship. Scientific Data, 3(1), 160018. https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2016.18

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Silvio Peroni for developing LODE, a Live OWL Documentation Environment, which is used for representing the Cross Referencing Section of this document and Daniel Garijo for developing Widoco, the program used to create the template used in this documentation.

GC DFO Salmon Ontology

Release: 2025-12-11

Abstract

Introduction

Technical overview

Namespace declarations

GC DFO Salmon Ontology: Overview

MIREOT Terms

Why This Matters

GC DFO Salmon Ontology: Description

Cross-reference for GC DFO Salmon Ontology classes

Classes

Algorithm thresholdc

Brood yearc

Catch yearc

Conservation Unitc

Escapementc

Escapement measurementc

Escapement Survey Eventc

Exploitation ratec

Indicator riverc

Limit reference pointc

Metric benchmarkc

Observed rate or abundancec

Reference pointc

Reporting or management stratumc

Stockc

Stock assessmentc

Stock Management Unitc

Survey eventc

Target or limit rate or abundancec

Total exploitation ratec

Upper stock referencec

WSP rapid statusc

Year basisc

Named Individuals

Aerial Survey Countni

Amber zoneni

Area Under the Curveni

Biological Benchmark and Indicator Schemeni

Census by Manual Count at Fixed Siteni

Confidence categoryni

COSEWIC Status Schemeni

Downgrade Criteria Schemeni

Enumeration Methodni

Enumeration Method Schemeni

Estimate Methodni

Estimate Method Schemeni

Estimate Typeni

Estimate Type Schemeni

Fixed‑Station Tallyni

Green zoneni

High rapid-status confidenceni

Low rapid-status confidenceni

Medium rapid-status confidenceni

Peak Count Analysisni

Rapid status confidence schemeni

Red zoneni

Salmon Origin Schemeni

Stock Status Zone Schemeni

Type-1, True Abundance, high resolutionni

Type-2, True Abundance, medium resolutionni

Type-3, Relative Abundance, high resolutionni

Type-4, Relative Abundance, medium resolutionni

Type-5, Relative Abundance, low resolutionni

Type-6, Presence or Absenceni

Visual Snorkel Countni

Wild Salmon Policy biological status zoneni

Wild Salmon Policy metric schemeni

Wild Salmon Policy Status Zoneni