California Ocean Uses Atlas

This dataset is a result of the California Ocean Uses Atlas Project: a collaboration between NOAA's National Marine Protected Areas Center and Marine Conservation Biology Institute. The Project was designed to enhance ocean management through geospatial data on the full range of significant human uses of California's ocean environment from the shoreline to the 200 nm EEZ boundary. Data was gathered from regional ocean experts and users through participatory GIS methods. For more information on the project scope, background and related data products, please visit www.mpa.gov.

The California Ocean Uses Atlas Project fills a critical information gap in ocean management by providing an unprecedented, comprehensive, consistent and spatially explicit picture of human uses for management agencies, policy makers and stakeholders interested in sound and equitable ocean governance. Using participatory GIS concepts and applications, the Atlas Project generated spatial data and map products illustrating patterns, intensity, and temporal changes in a wide range of human uses in three broad categories of use: (i) fishing, (ii) non-consumptive, and (iii) industrial activities. The resulting datasets depict patterns of ocean use on a broad scale appropriate for a variety of ocean planning and management needs.

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The California Ocean Uses Atlas bins human use data into 3 sectors: fishing, industrial, and non-consumptive. Each sector has a unique dataset within the geodatabase, and expanded information on use definitions and data processes for each sector can be found in each dataset's metadata file. Ancillary datasets used for processing and analysis are also included. Fishing database - contains data on commercial dive fishing, commercial fishing with benthic fixed gear, commercial fishing with benthic mobile gear, commercial kelp and algae harvest, commercial pelagic fishing, hunting for marine animals other than fish or invertebrates, kayak fishing, shore-based fishing, recreational dive fishing, recreation fishing from boats, and shore-based recreational harvest; Industrial database - contains data on aquaculture, military operations, mining and mineral extraction, offshore alternative energy, offshore oil and gas, shipping, and underwater cables; Non-Consumptive database - contains data on beach use, motorized boating, paddling, sailing, scuba and snorkeling, surface water sports, swimming, tidepooling, and wildlife viewing at sea; Ancillary dataset - contains project boundaries and analysis microblocks; All use feature classes contain a field that reflects the use name, and a value of 1 for that field indicates a "yes" for the use's presence. A value of <null> for any use indicates the use was not collected for that region of the study area. In 3 of the 4 regional atlas workshops, an attempt was made to map uses of the ocean by tribal peoples. Two distinct approaches were taken. First, we mapped tribal activities taking place within the existing range of ocean uses addressed by the Atlas project (e.g. tribal pursuit of benthic fishing with fixed gear; beach use by tribal peoples). Most of the resulting tribal use patterns fell within either the general maximum footprint or the dominant use area drawn for those uses by other non-tribal participants and are thus not represented as uniquely tribal activities. Second, we attempted to map distinctly tribal use areas tied to specific geographic locations of special cultural, spiritual or historical significance. Although some tribal participants provided relevant information, not all tribal interests were represented in each workshop and some participants were reluctant to portray use patterns of other tribes. As a result, the resulting maps of tribal activity patterns may depict an incomplete or misleading picture of the full spectrum of tribal uses of the ocean in each region. Consequently, in order to avoid misinterpretation of the tribal use patterns, and to maintain data consistency and integrity throughout the Atlas maps, the tribal use data are not explicitly depicted in the public release of the atlas data or map products. They will, however, be provided to the California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative and to the tribal participants for their use, with appropriate explanatory information about their content and limitations. For additional information on the tribal ocean use data, please contact the MPA Center.

For more information on use definitions and types, see the readme document within the geodatabase or visit https://coast.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/MarineCadastre/OceanUsesCalifornia/MapServer.

Atlas data describe broad uses of the ocean, and are not intended to be used for navigational purposes or provide information on regulations affecting human activities.

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Atlas data describe broad uses of the ocean, and are not intended to be used for navigational purposes or provide information on regulations affecting human activities.

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