Seafloor Mapping and Fisheries Management in Massachusetts

Kathryn Ford, Ph.D., Fisheries Habitat Project Lead Daniel W. Sampson, GIS/Data Manager

Presentation objectives

• Part 1: – Overview of USGS-CZM mapping cooperative – Seabed ‘habitat’ classification pilot – Next steps…holistic UKSeaMap approach • Part 2: – How habitat information is used in fisheries management, some examples

CZM-USGS Seafloor Mapping Cooperative

• • • • • •

Established Partnership Identified Goal

Produce high-resolution maps and geospatial data of seafloor geology and topography

Prioritized Mapping Needs Determined Effective Methods Implemented Mapping Publish Results and Advertise Availability

Standard seafloor mapping methods

Stolen from USGS

3 2 1

existing mapping data of Stellwagen Bank and Massachusetts Bay

4 5 6 Seafloor Mapping Status

Completed Areas Nahant to Gloucester Boston Harbor Cape Ann to Salisbury Hull to Duxbury Northern Cape Cod Bay Eastern Cape Cod Current Mapping Areas Buzzards Bay Vineyard Sound

Seabed classification pilot

Approx. area = 134 km 2 Depth = 4 – 48 m A variety of bottom types ranging from soft mud to bedrock

What was our approach?

Goal:

“...a set of distinct seafloor conditions that may be

– Sediment type – Rugosity 2. Classify the polygons according to Greene et al. habitat classification schema – Scale – Physiography – Induration – Geomorphology

Potential habitat polygons

4,828 polys total Average size = 0.026 km 2 Std. Dev. = 0.38 km 2

Assign attributes to polys

i • All per Greene et al.

• Upgridded both the sediment and rugosity grids to 25m 2 statement in ArcGIS Soft bottom continental shelf zone composed of unconsolidated sand & mud; flat with very low rugosity & slope

Next steps

• • Better examine biology-substrate correlations • Further examine auto-classification techniques

Create an overall accuracy assessment or error budget:

–

Thematic accuracy

–

Spatial accuracy

• Combine with other datasets (water column) and follow a UK SeaMap/DFO type of “habitat mapping” exercise.

Part 2:

How does habitat data get used in Fisheries Management (FM)?

Disclaimer A view from “below”: A geologic seafloor mapper in a state fisheries agency

FM in Mass:

Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission (MFAC) Legislative – Executive – Judicial Branches Executive Office of Energy & Env. Affairs Dept. of Fish and Game Division of Marine Fisheries DEP, DCR, CZM? etc Division of Fish & Wildlife, Office of Boating Access, etc Sportfish Northern Shrimp Resource Assessment Statistics Policy & Management Shellfish Licensing Lobster Conservation Engineering Fisheries Dependent Investigations Fisheries Habitat •Environmental review •Policy •Habitat research Protected Species

Mass. Fish Habitat in the Federal System:

ASMFC NEFMC Mass. Division of Marine Fisheries Fisheries Habitat Project • • • • Habitat Committee Bottom Mapping Fish Habitat Characterization Working Group ACFHP Reef Committee • • Habitat Committee Habitat PDT

These groups make recommendations to the Council/Commission and address specific tasks assigned by the Council/Commission

Management Decisions

• Based on three legs: – Science – Politics – Fisheries Issues • Use Conflict • Industry Sustainability • Non-fishing Impacts

How Strong is the Science Leg?

• The weakest?

– Science is not often definitive – The dollar value of resource impacts due to management decisions is hard to quantify (especially for habitat) – The scientists aren’t as “squeaky*” as fishermen or politicians As in “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” (English idiom).

Examples of Habitat Science Used in Fisheries Mgt.:

• Inshore closures to protect vulnerable habitat and life stages: • Cod Conservation Zone  Year round mobile gear closures, north shore.

Examples of Habitat Science Used in FM:

• Sinking groundline regs for pot fisheries • Cape Cod Bay Critical Habitat Jan 1- May 15 gear restrictions (Humpback whale illustration courtesy of Scott Landry of Center for Coastal Studies & gear illustration by David Gabriel)

Examples of Habitat Science Used in FM:

• Shellfisheries – Red Tide – Eelgrass Western Gulf of Maine Modeling, courtesy of USGS http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/modeling/wgulf/modelin g.html

ECOM-si, a variant of the Blumberg and Mellor 3D coastal ocean model

But FM in Mass. also covers…

• Non-fishing impacts • Habitat restoration • Basic research: lobster, eelgrass, horseshoe crabs, shellfish, cod, striped bass, anadromous spp….

These all use maps!

Maps used to extent possible?

View of Horns Rev wind farm, Denmark; 8.7 miles offshore 80 1.8 MW windmills

Habitat Research Priorities

• How do species use different seafloor types – Are all “hard” bottom areas the same?

– Classification/landscape modeling – Basic life history information • What are indicator and keystone species? What should we

really

be paying attention to?

• Linkages to the water column • Multiple maps for multiple questions

Obstacle: Communication

• Fisheries Scientists: Stock assessments– relative abundance – allowable catches [how many fish] • Habitat Scientists: Spatial distribution – non-managed species – resolution [where are the fish] • Managers: Different timelines, different pressures, not always knowing the “right” question to ask.

Obstacle: Technology

• Fisheries data in multiple databases • Habitat data in multiple databases • Software availability • Education • Information overload/dueling scientists (is Joint Fact Finding a solution?)

Thanks to: Tony Wilbur, Bruce Carlisle David Pierce, Vincent Malkoski, Michael Hickey, Jeremy King, Bob Glenn

We’ve got a long way to go!

[email protected]

[email protected]

Ask us about the Mass. Ocean Plan!