Southeast US Recommended Two-Way Routes to Avoid Whales

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Publication_Date: 20061101

Title: Southeast US Recommended Two-Way Routes to Avoid Whales

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

Online_Linkage: <http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/maps_gis_data/index.html>

Description:

Abstract:

The North Atlantic right whale is among the world's most endangered whale species. Its recovery from commercial whaling has been slowed by impacts from human activities. Each year several right whales are killed or seriously injured by colliding with vessels.NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has developed a Right Whale Ship Strike Reduction Strategy that includes a number of actions to modify vessel operations in right whale habitat. One key action is the charting of specific recommended routes into three ports in Florida and Georgia and within Cape Cod Bay. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), at the request of Congress, analyzed the routes with regard to their navigational safety in a Port Access Route Study (PARS). The purpose of the PARS was to assess potential vessel traffic density and safe access routes for vessels prior to establishing them. In its report to Congress (USCG, 2006) the USCG recommended the routes be placed on charts in waters off Florida and Georgia and in Cape Cod Bay. And, in a letter to Captain Steven R. Barnham dated September 20, 2006, the USCG endorsed placing the routes on the appropriate charts.The proposed routes will be recommended, not required. Nonetheless, if they are used by mariners as anticipated, substantial risk reduction to right whales is expected. NMFS Science Center analysis (Garrison, 2005; Garrison, 2006) confirms this.

Purpose:

Recommended two-way routes to avoid whales to reduce the possibility of vessel strikes with right whales, Two-Way Routes were developed for vessels arriving and departing the ports of Brunswick, GA, Fernandina Beach, FL and Jacksonville, FL. The routes were developed from an analysis of historical right whale sightings and are designed to reduce the likelihood of adverse interactions between large vessels and right whales. The routes are found on the latest NOAA Nautical Charts.

Status:

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -81.395933

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -80.859999

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 31.085875

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.000002

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: two-way

Theme_Keyword: shipping routes

Theme_Keyword: whale

Theme_Keyword: ship strike

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Categories

Theme_Keyword: biota

Theme_Keyword: boundaries

Theme_Keyword: economy

Theme_Keyword: oceans

Theme_Keyword: transportation

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Place_Keyword: Brunswick, GA

Place_Keyword: Fernandina Beach, FL

Place_Keyword: Jacksonville, FL

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints:

The GIS data for Recommended two-way routes to avoid whales is provided to help visualize the routes. Refer to the latest version of NOAA Nautical chart 11480 for the most up to date routing information. <http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/download_agreement.htm>

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: NOAA/NMFS

Contact_Person: Gregory Silber

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 301-713-2322

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: greg.silber@noaa.gov

Data_Set_Credit:

USCG-2005-20380-036 Port Access Route Study to Analyze Potential Vessel Routing Measures for Reducing Vessel (Ship) Strikes of North Atlantic Right Whales.

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows 7 Version 6.1 (Build 7601) Service Pack 1; Esri ArcGIS 10.4.1.5686

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: GT-polygon composed of chains

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 8

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: 8.9831528411952133e-009

Longitude_Resolution: 8.9831528411952133e-009

Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal Degrees

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: D North American 1983

Ellipsoid_Name: GRS 1980

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222101

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: SE_shiplanes_pilot_buoy_po

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: FID

Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Shape

Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ID

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: AREA_DESCR

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: NOAA/NMFS

Contact_Person: Amanda Frick

Contact_Position: GIS Coordinator

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

Address: 263 13th Ave S

City: St Petersburg

State_or_Province: FL

Postal_Code: 33701-5505

Country: US

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727-824-5312

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 727-824-5309

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: amanda.frick@noaa.gov

Distribution_Liability: See access and use constraints information.

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20161130

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: NOAA/NMFS

Contact_Person: Amanda Frick

Contact_Position: GIS Coordinator

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

Address: 263 13th Ave S

City: St Petersburg

State_or_Province: FL

Postal_Code: 33701-5505

Country: US

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727-824-5312

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 727-824-5309

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: amanda.frick@noaa.gov

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Time_Convention: local time