Gulf of Maine Mapping Initiative: A Regional Collaboration.
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Transcript of Gulf of Maine Mapping Initiative: A Regional Collaboration.
Gulf of Maine Gulf of Maine Mapping Initiative:Mapping Initiative:
A Regional CollaborationA Regional Collaboration
How deep is the water?How deep is the water?
Seafloor Mapping Basics:
What are the seafloor’s characteristics? What are the seafloor’s characteristics?
-topography, geology, biology -topography, geology, biology
Direct Depth Measurements
Lead line
.1800 B.C.
1930s A.D.
Discrete points
Indirect Measurements using Sound
1950s1950s
Multibeam sonar systems
Full coverage
1920s1920s
Echo sounder (single beam)
Traditional Nautical Charting
Lead lines
Echo sounders (with supplementary sounding poles and lead line)
19601960
18601860
20012001
Charting and Modern Mapping CombinedCharting
Higher resolution gives greater detail and clarity
Suite of Acoustic Techniquesto Characterize Seafloor
Data Integration
Four Main Map Products
Benthic Habitat Maps
Habitat maps interpret biological and geological data to show types of sediment and animals in a particular area
Geological Survey of Canada
Applications of Seafloor Mapping
Important tools for
Managers
Scientists
Industry (oil & gas, shipping, mining, etc.)
Fishermen
Other stakeholders
US Geological SurveyStellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
Management Success Story: Routing a Fiber-Optic Cable
Using seafloor maps, cable was routed through soft sediment
Before Mapping
Superimposing A.F. Pierce’s tracks on a seafloor map reveals that the vessel had dragged its fishing gear through mixed habitat: sand, gravel, and rocky outcrops.
This image shows some tracks of scallop vessel A.F. Pierce. These tracks were planned using only a traditional nautical chart.
Fisheries Success Story
After Mapping
By using seafloor maps to plan their tracks, scallopers avoided rocky outcrops, reducing damage to fishing gear and bottom habitat.
They caught just as many scallops by dragging over only 25% as much area. Savings in towing time and distance led to lower costs for fuel and crew.
Gulf of Maine
•One of the world’s most productive and important ocean systems
•Bi-national jurisdiction •Diverse topography•Supports a wide range of human uses
Gulf of Maine activities that could benefit from mapping
• LNG terminals• Electric power cables
• Offshore wind farms
• Sand and gravel mining
• Petroleum exploration and production
• National security
• Aquaculture leases
GOMMIGOMMI
However…
Only ~20% of the Gulf of Maine has been mapped using multibeam
Benthic habitat mapping: much lower percentage
Gulf of Maine Mapping InitiativeWhat is GOMMI?
• A partnership of governmental and NGOs in the
US and Canada
• Subcommittee of
• Led by 11-member Steering Committee (volunteers)– Federal: US & Canada
– State: MA, NH, ME
– Academia: UNH CCOM/JHC
GOMMI’s Mission
• To promote mapping of the entire Gulf of Maine basin
GOMMI’s Objectives• Facilitate communication and
collaboration within the mapping community
• Build logistical and financial support for new projects
• Make maps and data widely available
Four-phased strategic approach
Phase 1: Assess the need for GOM seafloor mapping
Phase 2: Strategic Plan Phase 3: User Needs Assessment• Phase 4: Phase 4:
– Secure partnerships and fundingSecure partnerships and funding– Implement:Implement:
– FieldworkFieldwork– Data management and interpretation, andData management and interpretation, and– Product distributionProduct distribution
Provincetown, MA
71 Nmi
50 Nmi
Area Surveyed by The NOAA Ship
Thomas Jefferson
Platts Bank
In 2005 GOMMI helped direct $1.5 M NOAA funds to an
acoustic survey in the Western Gulf of Maine
N JeffreysLedge
2005 survey
built on existing coverage of
Western GOM
NEXT: needs groundtruthing;
geological and biological data
2005
Also Surveyed
In 2005
2006 GOMMI ACTIVITIES
• Two-year work plan
• Interactive multibeam coverage map
• Pilot groundtruthing project on Cashes Ledge: GOM Research Institute and University of Ulster
• Outreach and education:– Semi-annual e-newsletter
– Seafloor mapping kiosk
Online multibeam coverage map
Challenges Ahead
• Mapping in Canadian GOM is progressing well (Geological Survey of Canada)– National Priority, Oceans Action Plan;
• Line item in federal budget
• No similar investment in US GOM– No single US entity mandated to map US
seafloor
– No dedicated federal funds
GOMMI’s Next Big Step
• Raise financial and logistical support to set up and run a significant regional ocean mapping program in the Gulf of Maine
• Where? University of New Hampshire
• Why there? Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping /Joint Hydrographic Center
– national center of ocean mapping expertise
– located in the GOM
– employs and collaborates many mapping experts
– excellent student training program
– largely NOAA-supported
– already gathered and processed data for GOMMI
– long-term Cooperative Agreement with USGS’s Coastal and Marine Geology Program
– much of the infrastructure already exists
GoM Mapping Program
Why? more formal association with UNH’s CCOM would provide sound infrastructure including:
• technical expertise• administrative support• strategically located headquarters
GoM Mapping Program at UNH
What Next?
• Identify and secure funding
– legislative outreach
– inter-agency partnerships
– private/public partnerships
• Work with UNH/CCOM to establish program requirements
“to hit the ground running”
But Wait, There’s More…
• Continue benthic habitat mapping on Cashes Ledge
– proof of concept of regional mapping collaboration
• Continue outreach and education efforts via web site, newsletters, public presentations, workshops
GOMMI’s Success Will Require
creative collaborations between researchers and managers representing
• Government
• Academia, and
• Private sector
Take Home Message
• Benthic habitat maps are vital tools to help managers visualize – distribution– diversity, and – extent of marine communities under
their jurisdiction
• By establishing a Gulf of Maine habitat mapping program, GOMMI will contribute to the comprehensive planning and management of ocean resources
Gulf of Maine Mapping InitiativeGulf of Maine Mapping Initiative
www.gulfofmaine.org/gommiwww.gulfofmaine.org/gommi