Biologically Important Areas for Cetaceans within U.S. Waters 2015-03-01 - Present

Description

The Cetacean Density and Distribution Mapping Working Group identified Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) for 24 cetacean species, stocks, or populations in seven regions (US East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, West Coast, Hawaiian Islands, Gulf of Alaska, Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea, and Arctic [encompassing the northeastern Chukchi and western Beaufort seas]) within US waters. BIAs are reproductive areas, feeding areas, migratory corridors, and areas in which small and resident populations are concentrated. BIAs are region-, species-, and time-specific. Information provided for each BIA includes the following: 1) a written narrative describing the information, assumptions, and logic used to delineate the BIA; 2) a map of the BIA; 3) a list of references used in the assessment; and 4) a metadata table that concisely details the type and quantity of information used to define a BIA, providing transparency in how BIAs were designated in a quick reference table format. BIAs were identified through an expert elicitation process. The delineation of BIAs does not have direct or immediate regulatory consequences. Rather, the BIA assessment is intended to provide the best available science to help inform regulatory and management decisions under existing authorities about some, though not all, important cetacean areas in order to minimize the impacts of anthropogenic activities on cetaceans and to achieve conservation and protection goals. In addition, the BIAs and associated information may be used to identify information gaps and prioritize future research and modeling efforts to better understand cetaceans, their habitat, and ecosystems.

Resources

Name Format Description Link
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2024. GCMD Keywords, Version 19. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
57 CetMap_BIA_WGS84.zip http://cetsound.noaa.gov/Assets/cetsound/data/CetMap_BIA_WGS84.zip
23 http://services2.arcgis.com/C8EMgrsFcRFL6LrL/arcgis/rest/services/CetMap_BIA/FeatureServer
0 View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/23643
0 Online Resource http://cetsound.noaa.gov/important
33 NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/ost/dmp/pdf/23643.pdf
0 Online Resource http://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=721:biologically-important-areas-for-cetaceans-within-u-s-waters-a-special-issue&catid=58&Itemid=157
57 CetMap_BIA_WGS84.zip https://cetsound.noaa.gov/Assets/cetsound/data/CetMap_BIA_WGS84.zip
23 http://services2.arcgis.com/C8EMgrsFcRFL6LrL/arcgis/rest/services/CetMap_BIA/FeatureServer
0 View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/23643
0 Online Resource http://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=721:biologically-important-areas-for-cetaceans-within-u-s-waters-a-special-issue&catid=58&Itemid=157
33 NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/ost/dmp/pdf/23643.pdf
0 Online Resource https://cetsound.noaa.gov/important
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2024. GCMD Keywords, Version 19. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
57 CetMap_BIA_WGS84.zip https://cetsound.noaa.gov/Assets/cetsound/data/CetMap_BIA_WGS84.zip
23 http://services2.arcgis.com/C8EMgrsFcRFL6LrL/arcgis/rest/services/CetMap_BIA/FeatureServer
0 View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/23643
0 Online Resource http://www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=721:biologically-important-areas-for-cetaceans-within-u-s-waters-a-special-issue&catid=58&Itemid=157
0 Online Resource https://cetsound.noaa.gov/important
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
33 NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/ost/dmp/pdf/23643.pdf

Tags

  • aleutian islands
  • arctic
  • north pacific ocean
  • office of science & technology
  • distribution
  • cetmap
  • noaa
  • behavior
  • conservation
  • gulf of alaska
  • gulf of mexico
  • u.s. department of commerce
  • national marine fisheries service
  • noaa cetaceans and sound project (cetsound)
  • hawaiian islands
  • california
  • washington
  • anthropogenic sound
  • anthropogenic activity
  • northwest atlantic ocean
  • bering sea
  • doc/noaa/nmfs/ost
  • management
  • bia
  • oregon

Topics

  • Climate

Categories

  • Arctic
  • Arctic Peoples and Ecosystems
  • Arctic Ocean, Sea Ice and Coasts
  • Arctic-Global Teleconnections