Mapping Tools to Support Protected Area Management

Mapping tools from:

Mapping Tools to Support Protected Area Management

Mapping tools from:

Flower Garden Banks NMSGeo-Platform

Stellwagen Bank NMS

Flower Gardens Map Tool

• Bathymetry

• Biological and habitat information

• Management zones

• Oil and gas activities

• Oceanographic data

• Remotely-operated vehicle tracks

• Underwater photographs

Underwater Image Functions

www.geoplatform.gov

• Powered by Environmental Response Management Application® (ERMA)

• Web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) tool for emergency responders and resource managers emergency responders and resource managers

• Response operations for Deepwater Horizon spill

• Updated daily

• Partnership - NOAA and the University of New Hampshire's Coastal Response Research Center

• Designed by NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration, UNH, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

First Level Data Layers

Weather Functions

Spill Support Functions

Spatial Resolution

Here we are

StellwagenBank

Cape Ann

Atlantic

Stellwagen Bank

Bank NMS

2,188 square km

Boston

Cape Cod

AtlanticOcean

MASSACHUSETTS

Ship Strikes

Distribution of Ship Strikes for SBNMS Ship Strikes for Baleen Whales

Locations inferred from Jensen & Silber 2003

SBNMS

Why are Right Whales So Vulnerable to Ship Strikes?

• Slow• Coastal distribution• High % of time in upper 20 m

Red = highest density Blue = lowest densityBaleen Whales Distribution: 1979 - 2004

Shipping Lane/Traffic Separation Scheme

Whale tagging team and equipment

DTAG on humpback whale

Side rolls

Fluking

DivingGliding

Surface Swimming

Side rolls on bottom

Whale Tagging & Tracking

Gliding

Surface Swimming

Side rolls

Fluking

Diving

Rising

GOALShift the TSS to an area where whale density is

historically lower.

Red = highest density Blue = lowest densityBaleen Whales Distribution: 1979 - 2004

Sediment ClassificationOld TSS New TSS

36%48%16%

MudSandGravel

MudSandGravel

35%16%49%

Less Feeding Area traversed by New TSS

Shipping lanes moved in 2007 to reduce the risk of ship strike to whalesstrike to whales

81% all whales

58% right whales

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http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov