Project Title:	Multibeam mapping of proposed MPAs on the continental shelf in the South Atlantic Bight

Principal Investigator:		Andrew David, NOAA Fisheries, Panama City Laboratory

Project Year:			2005

Implementation of area closures for protection of five grouper and two tilefish species in the U.S. South Atlantic is expected in late 2006.  NOAA Fisheries has been tasked with assessing habitat and fish assemblages within the proposed MPAs.  Prior to this project, <5% of the proposed areas had been mapped.  Comprehensive mapping of these areas is crucial to developing a robust monitoring program.  This project used a private hydrographic company and vessel to obtain cost effective mapping products.

This project produced high-resolution, geo-referenced multibeam and backscatter maps of portions of two proposed MPAs off the southeast coast of the United States.  The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) anticipates the implementation of nine Marine Protected Areas between Cape Hatteras, NC and the Florida Keys in the fall of 2006.  Five of these sites contain natural reef habitat, are located between southern NC and northern FL, and were examined by NOAA Fisheries during the spring of 2004.  The initial ROV and stationary video surveys revealed extensive reef structure and associated fish assemblages with dive site selection based upon local knowledge of anglers and other researchers in addition to split-beam echosounder bathymetry acquired on the spring 2004 cruise.  During the cruise, the need for accurate, high resolution bathymetric maps became obvious.  The requirement for fine scale maps to stratify the MPAs and select sampling locations cannot be overemphasized.  These MPAs offer the rare opportunity to quantify habitat and fish assemblages before closure for direct comparison after closure. However, mapping is a prerequisite for any comprehensive research program.

High resolution multibeam bathymetric and backscatter maps were produced with this project and will be added to an existing Geographic Information System (GIS) on east coast shelf habitat.  The GIS application will be available both on-line and as a CD-ROM product and this effort will be closely coordinated with CoRIS.  A hydrographic company was contracted to collect, process, and compile the data.  A university vessel was the platform used for data acquisition.  Video tapes made during the spring 2004 cruise will be used for groundtruthing backscatter data.  Completion of this project will greatly advance our ability to evaluate the use of area closures to protect habitat and fish assemblages in the South Atlantic Bight.  Multibeam bathymetric and backscatter maps will allow quantification of habitat and stratification of the proposed MPAs by habitat type permitting a stratified random design of site selection for future monitoring.

A private hydrographic company, Seafloor Systems, Inc., was contracted to collect, process, and compile multibeam bathymetric and backscatter data within and adjacent to two proposed MPAs in the U.S. South Atlantic.  A university vessel, owned by UNC-Wilmington, was contracted to provide ship support.  A multibeam system operating at 200 KHz, such as a Simrad Kongsberg EM-2000, provided the highest resolution product possible considering the water depths in the areas of interest.  Accuracy and precision of the mapping data were enhanced by the incorporation of positioning equipment, heading and motion sensing instruments, as well as sound velocity sensors.  Standard hydrographic protocols were followed to ensure complete coverage and a high quality product.  Cost effectiveness was obtained by combining two mapping projects into one cruise, thereby reducing mobilization, de-mobilization, and travel costs.