Track: Oceanography, Coastal Zone, Marine Resources
Coastal Management Decisions Using a GIS and National Marine Fisheries Service Survey Data
William NuckolsRelative abundance and economic value from the NMFS 1981-1992 groundfish survey tows were used to identify the relative importance of areas for fish or shellfish habitat within the New York Bight. Important habitat was related to topographic breaks and bottom type. These conclusions were applied to a particular management decision. An area east of the New York/New Jersey Harbor has been proposed as a dredged material disposal site. However, this paper demonstrates that eleven of twelve stations within the proposed area are among the tows with highest abundance or ex-vessel values.
William Nuckols
University of Charleston
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