Data: Ecological & Physical

The foundation for sound decision making is current, credible, comprehensive data.  Since the premise of coastal and marine spatial planning is that ocean ecosystems produce the goods and services that we rely upon, it is essential that we expand our knowledge of the biotic and abiotic components of marine ecosystems.

This group of MOP-supported projects is designed to better define the baseline information critical to understanding ecological and physical building blocks of marine ecosystems.




Data: Ecological and Physical
*prior to 2011, SeaPlan operated under the name “Massachusetts Ocean Partnership (MOP)”

Project Title:

Primary Goal:

Status:

Participants:

EEA Workgroup Reports

Provide baseline data to inform the planning process

Completed

EEA; CZM

Ecological Valuation Index (EVI) Workshop

Support the State’s assessment of the EVI and make recommendations for potential future adaptation/application

Completed

MOP, EEA, MRAG, Members of the SAC, Duke, UMD (Maryland), UCSB-NCEAS, Beta Scientific Consulting

Oceanographic Modeling

Develop database and related data products for key oceanographic parameters from 1978-2010

In Progress

MOP, EEA, UMass-Dartmouth SMAST, WHOI, USGS, ASA, NERACOOS
Habitat Imagery Analyze images of the seafloor to understand associations between species and different bottom types (mud, sand, gravel, rock) In Progress MOP, EEA, WHOI