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.
Complete Metadata
| @type | dcat:Dataset |
|---|---|
| accessLevel | non-public |
| contactPoint |
{
"fn": "Haverland, Timothy J",
"@type": "vcard:Contact",
"hasEmail": "mailto:tim.haverland@noaa.gov"
}
|
| describedByType | application/octet-steam |
| description | 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. |
| distribution |
[
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "CetMap BIA WGS84",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"downloadURL": "https://cetsound.noaa.gov/Assets/cetsound/data/CetMap_BIA_WGS84.zip",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "ArcGIS Online Feature Service",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"downloadURL": "http://services2.arcgis.com/C8EMgrsFcRFL6LrL/arcgis/rest/services/CetMap_BIA/FeatureServer",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP)",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort.",
"downloadURL": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/ost/dmp/pdf/23643.pdf",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "GCMD Keyword Forum Page",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords",
"downloadURL": "https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "Full Metadata Record",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset.",
"downloadURL": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/23643",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
}
]
|
| identifier | gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:23643 |
| issued | 2015-03-01T00:00:00.000+00:00 |
| keyword |
[
"BIA",
"CetMap",
"anthropogenic activity",
"anthropogenic sound",
"behavior",
"conservation",
"distribution",
"management",
"Aleutian Islands",
"Arctic",
"Bering Sea",
"California",
"Gulf of Alaska",
"Gulf of Mexico",
"Hawaiian Islands",
"North Pacific Ocean",
"Northwest Atlantic Ocean",
"Oregon",
"Washington",
"DOC/NOAA/NMFS/OST > Office of Science & Technology, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
"NOAA Cetaceans and Sound Project (CetSound)"
]
|
| landingPage | https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/23643 |
| language |
[]
|
| license | https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ |
| modified | 2015-03-01T00:00:00.000+00:00 |
| publisher |
{
"name": "NMFS Office of Science and Technology",
"@type": "org:Organization"
}
|
| references |
[
"https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/ost/dmp/pdf/23643.pdf"
]
|
| rights | otherRestrictions, unclassified |
| spatial | -66.19249,18.59151,-179.726956,72.265057 |
| title | Biologically Important Areas for Cetaceans within U.S. Waters 2015-03-01 - Present |
