Estuarine Benthic Habitat Mapping Data 2020-08-04T11:17:26.296-04:00 2020-08-04T11:17:27.234-04:00 The need for extensive shellfish management in North Carolina has been recognized since the 1947 North Carolina General Assembly authorized the Division of Commercial Fisheries to conduct a rehabilitation program to restore the declining oyster (Crassostrea virginica) fishery. More recently, rising prices and increased demand for hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria) and Bay Scallops have spurred the implementation of new management techniques and philosophies toward this expanding fishery. Although the Fisheries Management Section of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has been actively managing these shellfish resources since 1964, it has done so with limited resource base information. The most complete and accurate shellfish bottom survey in North Carolina waters was done by Lt. Francis Winslow, US Navy, in 1889 and was limited to the larger estuaries. This survey was targeted solely toward oysters and potential oyster producing grounds, and although it was quite extensive in Pamlico Sound, it has long since become outdated. Beginning in 1978, the Division of Marine Fisheries has undertaken a shellfish bottom survey of the commercial shellfish-producing waters in the coastal area. The purpose of the survey is to locate and map shellfish-producing areas and to delineate potentially productive benthic shellfish habitats. Gross determinations of shellfish concentrations within productive bottom types are to be determined through a stratified random sampling program. The information generated from this survey is expected to update resource base data to a level from which information can be drawn for making management decisions. A preliminary survey of the Newport River system was conducted from November 1980 to April 1981. Newport River was selected as a testing ground for survey techniques because of its close proximity to sampling headquarters, its diverse fisheries and environmental characteristics, and the pressing need for resource base data in such a dynamic system. From this survey it was deemed that the mapping techniques and survey methods proved acceptable, and in 1987 the estuarine waters were divided into areas based on shellfish habitat suitability criteria. In 1989 the Shellfish Resource Mapping Proposal was introduced, which led to the creation of the Shellfish Mapping Program in 1990 MSA I2 is the second iteration of Shellfish Bottom Mapping. I2 is developed based on newer shoreline created from high resolution imagery. There are changes in mapping process with use of updated transect grid size (6&quot; * 6&quot;) and also use of mapping grade GPS for ground truthing purposes. Iteration 2 (I2) data should be used when it is geographically available.<span style='font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;'>Purpose: </span>GOAL - To survey, evaluate and map North Carolina's shellfish habitat to provide a more comprehensive fisheries management scheme. OBJECTIVES - 1) To summarize existing shellfish information and evaluate shellfish producing habitat based on environmental and utilization criteria. 2) To survey shellfish habitats to obtain baseline data and production potential information. 3) To define and delineate existing and potential shellfish habitat through a series of resource maps. 4) To provide for better utilization of estuarine resources through improved information for management and increased public awareness.<span style='font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;'>Supplemental Information: </span>Process from Survey to GIS Data Developement: Base maps of each area were created by use of ESRI ARCGIS software, using shapefiles of USGS 24K quad maps and shellfish area boundary polygons. A one-minute and a ten-second latitude/longitude grid layers were placed on the area coverage. One-minute latitude/longitude lines were labeled for geographic reference. Mapping of strata was accomplished through the use of various size small outboard vessels and a crew of at least two individuals. One person navigates the survey vessel on the ten second transects using a DGPS unit, while the other person uses sounding poles of various lengths to probe the benthic habitat. The person using the sounding poles calls out the strata type as it is found, and the person navigating records the strata type on the field map at that particular latitude and longitude on the field map. In areas where there are apparent changes in strata between the ten second lines, five second lines or less are transected until the strata type boundaries are identified. Field map data consisting of strata types and boundaries is then transferred to an office map by use of a light table. After which, the paper office map is digitally scanned using a Widesystem Contex scanner. Data is scanned at a high resolution as a color image. The image is then georeferenced using Georeferencing tools in ESRI ArcGIS. MSA coverage, 1-min and 10-sec grids are used in the process for Georeferencing the image to their true coordinates. At least 4 control points are used and a low RMS error is achieved before registering the image. Line work is digitized in ESRI Personal Geodatabase Feature Class and converted into polygon data. Later the data is checked for topology errors. Attributes, including acreage, are calculated and added as required. Individual area coverages are then verified by the Shellfish Mapping Biologist/Supervisor; once verified these areas are merged into the final MSA database. Estuarine Benthic Habitat Mapping Layers North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Marine Fisheries DMFNCDEQNCDENRFisheriesShellfishHabitat Anne Deaton Marine Fisheries anne.deaton@ncdenr.gov ISO 19139 Metadata Implementation Specification 2020-08-04 11091900 2020-08-04 11:19:39.68 TRUE 1.0 ISO19139 editor:esri.dijit.metadata.editor 2020-08-04 1596554180445r03483805403732876 /9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQEAAQABAAD/2wBDAAgGBgcGBQgHBwcJCQgKDBQNDAsLDBkSEw8UHRofHh0aHBwgJC4nICIsIxwcKDcpLDAxNDQ0Hyc5PTgyPC4zNDL/2wBDAQkJCQwLDBgNDRgyIRwhMjIyMjIyMjIyMjIyMjIyMjIyMjIyMjIyMjIyMjIyMjIyMjIyMjIyMjIyMjIyMjIyMjL/wAARCACFAMgDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAHwAAAQUBAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQFBgcICQoL/8QAtRAAAgEDAwIEAwUFBAQAAAF9AQIDAAQRBRIhMUEGE1FhByJxFDKBkaEII0KxwRVS0fAkM2JyggkKFhcYGRolJicoKSo0NTY3ODk6Q0RFRkdISUpTVFVWV1hZWmNkZWZnaGlqc3R1dnd4eXqDhIWGh4iJipKTlJWWl5iZmqKjpKWmp6ipqrKztLW2t7i5usLDxMXGx8jJytLT1NXW19jZ2uHi4+Tl5ufo6erx8vP09fb3+Pn6/8QAHwEAAwEBAQEBAQEBAQAAAAAAAAECAwQFBgcICQoL/8QAtREAAgECBAQDBAcFBAQAAQJ3AAECAxEEBSExBhJBUQdhcRMiMoEIFEKRobHBCSMzUvAVYnLRChYkNOEl8RcYGRomJygpKjU2Nzg5OkNERUZHSElKU1RVVldYWVpjZGVmZ2hpanN0dXZ3eHl6goOEhYaHiImKkpOUlZaXmJmaoqOkpaanqKmqsrO0tba3uLm6wsPExcbHyMnK0tPU1dbX2Nna4uPk5ebn6Onq8vP09fb3+Pn6/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwD3+iiigAooooAKKKKACiiigAooooAKKKKACiiigAooooAKKKKACqWo6vp2kxeZf3sNupGR5jYJ+g6n8Ku1xfxHsp5NHgv7dmVrOTcxGOAcDPr1x+Gamb5Y3RUVd2Op03VLLV7MXdhcLPATjcoIwfQg8irdeY+BNXtoNee2M8SLfQqwiVsKs4+8Np6E8kY7YFenUQlzK45x5XYKKKKogKKKKACiiigAooooAKKKKACiiigAooooAKKKKACiiigAoqrNqFrbTiGaZY2KlsucDjHc/X9D6VNDcQ3C7oZUcYB+U568igCSiiigArF8SXNulpDZ3FvJObuTakapuVmX58MPQ7cdD/WpNc1OG10uVY2aW5mUxwRQjc7OeBgZ7dSewFU7aDxFcLYLfx2McUMitPskZpJMAYIJGF+bJI5yBjPJqZO+hcUl7zOQ8exz20ZnGii0WwlVrO9tyANuV4IHQ55Hpiu+8Pasut6BZ6gucyx/Pxj5xw34ZBq3fWsF7YT21zCJoZEKvGf4h6fWuT+F3mHwhls+UbmTyQTkhOOPz3VKjyy9S/ip+h2lFFFaGIUUUUAFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAFFFFAHLatPY30csO25SUgtF9oR4l3deAwGc5xjn8OtUNK1Gy0GxvXJ/fo20Bx8zjqpwD/ABDnOBye4wBs6vpTxqsumvdW7jAKW+DGRnnMZ46e1UnSM6laaTqtpZXi3CNHFKIQkkaBMjI7dCOMYwKh33K0NjS9dstUtDNHMoKoHdSCNoIBzz14IqW91OG30qe9wGjSBpVyOGwDx/L865i6+HkEdsBpl7cJcbwS8zjBXBBHyqPzxxW43hu3nlBvrq5v4VXakNywKj1JwAW6DrmiLl1QWj3ItAWbUbmbXLy0+zzSL5NuhzlYeDzwM5bnpW/SKoVQqgBQMADoKiu7uCws5bu5fy4IlLu2CcAew5qthblfWpbaDQ76S8jMlsIH8xB/EuOR+NYnw7jEfgmx252M0jLk84MjVy2ua1qnj6KXS/D9q62aMDLI5CmT0DHoozzjqcfhXf8Ah2wl0vw9YWM4UTQwqj7DkZ71EXzSujWS5Kdnu2adFFFaGIUUUUAFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAFFFRXM32e2kmwDsGcE4z+PagDI8StrC2THSjEFMUnmFj84OPl2jByev8Anpi+A9MLfaNUu41NyHaGJ1I2heN2MHGc9ccZB960byWfUXEeoIkFiXDxxJC008qgDqm07Rk4Jwe2Dzmk/t+xstKWDT7WaCH7LIbKRgqRMUHC7iTgntuFRu7ldLHTUjMqKWYhVAySTgAV5rpfxMvPs7T6jZRSW6KCXhzG3BwSNxIbkrnGCNw4NR3Opaj8SLxLDTRNZaRH81xKf4vY468dF/E+zUr7By9zvbjWFGxNPge/lkTevksPLAOcFnPAHB6ZPHSoU0u8v4pBrVykscilTaWwKxAH1Y/Mx/Ie1WdH0i10PTIrCzD+VGODI25ic5JJ+pJ/Gr9CV9xyaTaj95Fb20FpAsNvCkUSgBURcAADH9KlooqiAooooAKKKKACiiigAooooAKKKKACiiigAooooAKKoQava3Oqz6dEXaaBcyHGFB449zyOnrUmoM4tsRTrDNkGNmHykjnaeRwfrQBbpsieZEybmXcMZUkEfiKwoPF2lf2Wl5dXIg+XlZFKlsZBKrySMg9Kyz46h1E+XpljqzupBVorUOjezc5Az1xj61PNHuPlZrwaOqfYbue4IvInD3Eh+9K5XbtJB4Xn7vTOPxfPpOnWlhfx3Uqx2Ny25lbCrETjO3sASAenXJOc1w2pajq0F1qFxe29+bG6s5IwZLYx7ZHUcDGdv3VHJPQ+tYtzqt/4pttK0eBrn7W7OJTJICHLHJ5B6Abuo6Z5pKUb2RXJJq5pwRv47IstKWawsIHP2hxKfLlVnzkRgbdx6npzXpul6XaaNp8VjZRCOGMYA7k9yfUmotD0a20HSorC1Hypyz4wXbuT/noAO1aNUlYlu4UUUUxBRRRQAUUUUAFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAFFFFABRRRQAUUVhX2uSy3TafoscdzfISJfMLLHDjuxxz9Acnt6hpXAzdTuhH4tsnu8aekZZVughPnAjhMkYHXPPv0rS1DTD4khCyT3VtZiTa0ahcXCjBDDI3Ic9CMcDuCDUtvoKSSxXWrSC/vI+VZ0AjjPfYnQfXk1sUrWC5l2Hh3SNOhWO3sIBj+N0DMfqx5rU6UUUkktgvcKzYdB0231dtUhtUjumjKFlGByck49T61pUUWC4UUUUwCiiigAooooAKKKKACiiigAooooAKKKKACiiigAoorO16+fTtEurqIMZEUBAvUsSFAGe5JHr9D0oAzNZ1C81G8GiaLKY7jcDdXY6WyA9P8AeOMAfj71r6XpdtpFmLa2DEZLPI5y8jHqzHuTVfQNJ/sjTikpV7udzPdSKuA8jdcD0HAHsBWrTuNhRRRSEFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAFFFFABRRRQAUUVWv7z7Bam4+zzTqCAywruYA98dT+FAFmo/PT7SLfJ8woXxjjGcdfxrHv47/W7BoI7RLRHx893hnHB5VVJAIOOSfwqa50y+uHtJBqEaTW5z5ogOXBxlThsbTjkew9KAsa1YB3an4juLOZw9vYPBcBGj5DlWI+YccHBwcnj6VLfWevG1H2PU7dplKtiaAqr45wSpyM9/w981PBllqEVneX+rqy6je3BaUEYwq/Kox6cHHsR1pX1sVyrlvc6WiiimSFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAf/Z