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