Biologically Important Areas for Cetaceans within U.S. Waters

Biologically important areas (BIAs) for cetaceans were defined by compiling the best available information from scientific literature (including books, peer-reviewed articles, and government or contract reports), unpublished data (sighting, acoustic, tagging, genetic, photo identification), and expert knowledge. This information was then used to create written summaries and maps highlighting areas shoreward of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone that are biologically important to cetacean species (or populations), either seasonally or year-round. This collection contains the data displayed by BIA type, including feeding, migratory corridors, reproduction, and small and resident populations.

Feeding BIAs include areas and months within which a particular species or population selectively feeds. These may either be found consistently in space and time, or may be associated with ephemeral features that are less predictable but can be delineated and are generally located within a larger identifiable area. Migratory Corridor BIAs include areas and months within which a substantial portion of a species or population is known to migrate. Reproduction BIAs include areas and months within which a particular species or population selectively mates, gives birth, or is found with neonates or other sensitive age classes. Small and Resident Population BIAs include areas and months within which small and resident populations occupy a limited geographic extent.

BIAs were created to aid NOAA, other federal agencies, and the public in the analysis 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.

This metadata records pertains solely to the data found within the service published on the coast.noaa.gov domain for MarineCadastre.gov. For the original data found in the data download, please reference the original metadata record.

Original contact information:

Contact Name: Haverland, Timothy J

Phone: 301-427-8137

Email: tim.haverland@noaa.gov

https://www.marinecadastre.gov/about/disclaimer.html

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.

Restriction and legal prerequisites for using the data set after access is granted. Includes any constraints applied to ensure the protection of privacy or intellectual property, and any special restrictions or limitations on using the data set.

Microsoft Windows, ArcGIS Pro, Azure SQL

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 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.

These data are logically consistent