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Boundary Options for a Research Area within Grays Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Boundary Options for a Research Area within Grays Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Objectives

NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries Program (NMSP) and specifically the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS) are exploring the potential implementation of a designated research area (RA) within Gray's Reef. To meet this need, the Biogeography Branch, in consultation with GRNMS and the Research Area Working Group (RAWG) conducted a GIS study to determine the optimal location for the potential RA.

Project Summary

A mid-shelf area designated for scientific research currently does not exist in the southeastern US. GRNMS encompasses approximately 58 square kilometers of seafloor located 17 nautical miles off the coast of Georgia in approximately 60 feet of water and offers the potential for such a research area within its borders. To explore the possibility of an RA within GRNMS, the sanctuary created a working group to discuss and provide them with recommendations on the issue. To guide the recommendation of the Research Area Working Group or RAWG, the CCMA Biogeography Branch conducted a GIS based analysis to determine potential sites within GRNMS that are suitable for the research area. The analysis selected among alternative sites based on maximum inclusion of preferred bottom types, amount of prior research, and minimizing displacement of any users. The spatial analysis was based on benthic maps, locations of prior research, and surrogates of use such as the distribution of marine debris on the bottom. The result of the analysis includes a series of boundary options with different characteristics which GRNMS and NOAA can select among should the RA be considered further. Access a pdf version of the report and complete findings here.

MPA Boundary Analysis
The figure above conceptualizes the RA analysis (click image for a PDF)

Products

Current/Completed -

Reports and Publications

  • A detailed technical report to GRNMS is the primary product from this project
  • An article in a peer reviewed journal will also be produced which will focus on the key findings from the study (expected 2007)

Data

  • Benthic mapping data are available from GRNMS only.
  • The input data and the summary data for each boundary option will be made available through GRNMS

Partners

Relevant Links

Time Frame

  • Data compilation completed December 2005
  • Report and data products now available
  • Peer reviewed journal article expected 2007

For More Information

Project Manager:
 Matt Kendall
1305 East West Highway
SSMC-IV, N/SCI-1
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-713-3028 x144

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