EK60 Water Column Sonar Data Collected During NF1607

The objectives of this project are to 1) collect high resolution multibeam and fisheries acoustic data in depths approximately 10 to 1000 meters so as to continue to characterize seafloor habitats and fish biomass hotpots in priority areas in the SE US Atlantic Waters (Outer Continental Shelf) including hardbottom seafloor habitats, sand shoals and ridges, and Ocean Dredge Material Disposal Sites (ODMDS, US Environmental Protection Agency), 2) validate seafloor habitat types using drop cameras from small boats, and 3) conduct ecological assessments of ODMDS and adjacent hardbottom habitats to determine habitat value. In addition, this project will include piggy-back objective: 1) evaluate a new unmanned surface vehicle (USV) for use in extending capabilities for seafloor mapping by NOAA survey, researchers and partners.