The Northeast Ocean Data Portal: Maps and Data for New England’s Oceans

Kelly Knee1, Emily Shumchenia2, Nick Napoli2, Jenna Ducharme3, Jeremy Fontenault3, Stephen Sontag3, Daniel Martin4, Peter Taylor5 and Marta Ribera6, (1)RPS Ocean Science, South Kingstown, United States, (2)Northeast Regional Ocean Council, United States, (3)RPS Ocean Science, United States, (4)NOAA Office for Coastal Management, United States, (5)Waterview Consulting, United States, (6)Nature Conservancy, Arlington, United States
Abstract:
The Northeast Ocean Data Portal (Portal) was established in 2009 as a centralized, peer-reviewed source of data and maps of the ocean ecosystem and ocean-related human activities in New England. The Portal serves as a common resource for practitioners working in various agencies or institutions on diverse topics and at various scales, including by bringing together data and information from multiple sectors to understand potential effects of climate change on both the ecosystem and human communities. Users can launch interactive thematic maps, view any combination of layers using the Data Explorer, access ready-made static and interactive maps in the map gallery, and download data. For nearly 10 years, the Portal has been used to support regulatory, management, and business decisions, stakeholder engagement, and educational and research activities on topics ranging from climate change to offshore aquaculture. The Northeast Ocean Data Portal is distinct from, but partners with, regional Integrated Ocean Observing System efforts that serve real-time data and model forecasts, and instead serves regional ocean data products that represent the footprints of resources and activities.

The portal data is continuously updated. Recent updates include

  • Growing library of visualizations of commercial fishing vessel activity over the last several years including transit counts for vessels carrying Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders, by fishery via Vessel Monitoring System, and by gear and port using Vessel Trip Report analyses.
  • Updated marine life maps that include recent observations, new species, new species groups and a new tool for accessing individual species data within the Data Explorer.
  • Vessel traffic (AIS) data for 2015, 2016, & 2017 including maps of vessel transit counts, new categories of various vessel types, and a time-slider allowing users to explore how activity varies by month throughout the year.
  • The latest proposed project envelopes, potential cable routes, and lease areas for offshore wind development

For this talk, Portal staff will provide a demonstration of portal functionality relevant to coastal resilience.

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