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

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.

BIAs were created to aid NOAA, other federal agencies, and the public in the analyses and planning that are required under multiple US statutes to characterize and 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. Because this is a scientific effort, the identification of BIAs does not have immediate regulatory significance or 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. For decision making purposes, the BIAs identified here should be evaluated in combination with areas identified as having high cetacean density; the present effort is meant to augment, not displace, cetacean density analyses.

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Restrictions and legal prerequisites for accessing the data set. Includes any access constraints applied to assure privacy or intellectual property and any special restrictions on the use of the data.

These data are available for public use. At least one of the following citations must be included in any publication or report that uses this data. The first citation covers the entire dataset and special issue publication, other citations are specific to each regional dataset (East coast, Gulf of Mexico, West coast, Hawaii, Gulf of Alaska, Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea, Arctic).

Van Parijs, S. M., Curtice, C., & Ferguson, M. C. (Eds.). (2015). Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters. Aquatic Mammals (Special Issue), 41(1), 1-128.

Van Parijs, S. M. (2015). Letter of Introduction to the Biologically Important Areas Issue. In S. M. Van Parijs, C. Curtice, & M. C. Ferguson (Eds.), Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters (p. 1). Aquatic Mammals (Special Issue), 41(1). 128 pp.

Ferguson, M. C., Curtice, C., Harrison, J., & Van Parijs, S. M. (2015). 1. Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters Overview and Rationale. In S. M. Van Parijs, C. Curtice, & & M. C. Ferguson (Eds.), Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters (pp. 2-16). Aquatic Mammals (Special Issue), 41(1). 128 pp.

LaBrecque, E., Curtice, C., Harrison, J., Van Parijs, S. M., & Halpin, P. N. (2015). 2. Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters East coast region. In S. M. Van Parijs, C. Curtice, & & M. C. Ferguson (Eds.), Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters (pp. 17-29). Aquatic Mammals (Special Issue), 41(1). 128 pp.

LaBrecque, E., Curtice, C., Harrison, J., Van Parijs, S. M., & Halpin, P. N. (2015). 3. Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters Gulf of Mexico region. In S. M. Van Parijs, C. Curtice, & M. C. Ferguson (Eds.), Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters (pp. 30-38). Aquatic Mammals (Special Issue), 41(1). 128 pp.

Calambokidis, J., Steiger, G. H., Curtice, C., Harrison, J., Ferguson, M., Becker, E., DeAngelis, M., & Van Parijs, S. M. (2015). 4. Biologically important areas for selected cetaceans within U.S. waters West coast region. In S. M. Van Parijs, C. Curtice, & M. C. Ferguson (Eds.), Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters (pp. 39-53). Aquatic Mammals (Special Issue), 41(1). 128 pp.

Baird, R. W., Cholewiak, D., Webster, D. L., Schorr, G. S., Mahaffy, S. D., Curtice, C., Harrison, J., & Van Parijs, S. M. (2015). 5. Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters Hawai'i region. In S. M. Van Parijs, C. Curtice, & M. C. Ferguson (Eds.), Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters (pp. 54-64). Aquatic Mammals (Special Issue), 41(1). 128 pp.

Ferguson, M. C., Curtice, C., & Harrison, J. (2015). 6. Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters Gulf of Alaska coast region. In S. M. Van Parijs, C. Curtice, & M. C. Ferguson (Eds.), Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters (pp. 65-78). Aquatic Mammals (Special Issue), 41(1). 128 pp.

Ferguson, M. C., Waite, J.M. Curtice, C., Clarke, J. T., & Harrison, J. (2015). 7. Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea region. In S. M. Van Parijs, C. Curtice, & M. C. Ferguson (Eds.), Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters (pp. 79-93). Aquatic Mammals (Special Issue), 41(1). 128 pp.

Clarke, J. T., Ferguson, M. C., Curtice, C., & Harrison, J. (2015). 8. Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters Arctic region. In S. M. Van Parijs, C. Curtice, & M. C. Ferguson (Eds.), Biologically important areas for cetaceans within U.S. waters (pp. 94-103). Aquatic Mammals (Special Issue), 41(1). 128 pp.

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Disclaimer - While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.

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BIAs were defined by regional and species experts, using the CetMap BIA Criteria as a guideline. Data used to delineate BIAs varies among the seven regions in availability, quality, quantity, and type. Some BIAs were created by digitizing high density portions of density rasters; many were created from sightings data paired with expert input to determine boundary lines. Individual species BIA narratives and accompanying supplementary tables give the most detailed description of how each BIA was determined. BIA boundaries are not exact, but are the best approximation of the areas used by animals that are of biological importance to the health and overall survival of the individual and the species. Each BIA was reviewed by at least 7 and up to 20 exerts, including reviews prior to the publication process, and rigorous peer-reviews during the journal¿s publication process.

This instance of the BIA data is not complete, and the BIAs are intended to be updated periodically as new information becomes available. Gaps exist in each region, for various reasons. Not all species were evaluated, and not all important areas or seasons were evaluated for all species. A full gap assessment is summarized in: Ferguson, M. C., Curtice, C., Harrison, J., & Van Parijs, S. M. (2015). 1. Biologically Important Areas for Cetaceans within U.S. Waters ¿ Overview and Rationale. Aquatic Mammals, 41(1), 2-16. DOI 10.1578/AM.41.1.2015.2. This assessment only considers BIAs in US Waters.

Each BIA was reviewed by at least 7 and up to 20 exerts, including reviews prior to the publication process, and rigorous peer-reviews during the journal¿s publication process.

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Some BIAs were created by digitizing high density portions of density rasters; many were created from sightings data paired with expert input to determine boundary lines. Individual species BIA narratives and accompanying supplementary tables give the most detailed description of how each BIA was determined. BIA boundaries are not exact, but are the best approximation of the areas used by animals that are of biological importance to the health and overall survival of the individual and the species. Each BIA was reviewed by at least 7 and up to 20 exerts, including reviews prior to the publication process, and rigorous peer-reviews during the journal’s publication process.