OCS Study

BOEM 2020-002

NOAA NCCOS 270

US Department of the Interior

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Headquarters (Sterling, VA)

Regional Essential Fish Habitat 

Geospatial Assessment and Framework 

for Offshore Sand Features
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OCS Study

BOEM 2020-002

NOAA NCCOS 270

US Department of the Interior

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Headquarters (Sterling, VA)

Regional Essential Fish Habitat 

Geospatial Assessment and Framework 

for Offshore Sand Features

January 2020

Editors:

Bradley A. Pickens1,2

J. Christopher Taylor1

Prepared under Interagency Agreement: IA M17PG00028

By

1

NOAA, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Biogeography Branch, 

101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, North Carolina, USA 28516

and

2

CSS-Inc., 10301 Democracy Lane, Suite 300, Fairfax, Virginia 22030, USA; Under NOAA/NCCOS 

Contract #GS-00F-217CA
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DISCLAIMER

This study was funded, in part, by the US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management (BOEM), Environmental Studies Program, Washington, DC, through Interagency 

Agreement Number IA M17PG00028 with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This 

report has been technically reviewed by BOEM, and it has been approved for publication. The views and 

conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as 

representing the opinions or policies of the US Government, nor does mention of trade names or 

commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

REPORT AVAILABILITY

To download a PDF file of this report, go to the US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management Data and Information Systems webpage (http://www.boem.gov/Environmental-StudiesEnvData/), click on the link for the Environmental Studies Program Information System (ESPIS), and 

search on 2020-002. The report is also available at the National Technical Reports Library at 

https://ntrl.ntis.gov/NTRL/.

CITATION

Pickens, BA, Taylor JC, editors. 2020. Regional Essential Fish Habitat geospatial assessment and 

framework for offshore sand features. Sterling (VA): US Department of the Interior, Bureau of 

Ocean Energy Management. OCS Study BOEM 2020-002 and NOAA NCCOS Technical 

Memorandum 270. https://doi.org/10.25923/akzd-8556. 4 pp. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This reports represents a collaboration between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Marine 

Minerals Program, National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration National Centers for Coastal Ocean 

Science, and Quantum Spatial, Inc. to produce maps and data tools to aide in planning and lease of sand 

shoals. B.A. Pickens was supported by CSS-Inc. under NOAA/NCCOS Contract #GS-00F-217CA. We 

thank the numerous subject matter experts who contributed critical input to the framework of the 

synthesis, classification schemes, and decision support tools. We want to specifically recognize 

contributors from the Southeast US Seafloor Mapping Workshop, international experts at the GeoHab 

2018 conference, and the Habitat Conservation Division in the National Marine Fisheries Service. 

Acknowledgments are included in each chapter recognizing outstanding contributions to each component 

of this multifaceted project.
i

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations and Acronyms............................................................................................................... i

1 Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Scope of the Report ...................................................................................................................... 1

1.3 Key Findings.................................................................................................................................. 1

Volume 1: Fish Habitat Associations and the Potential Effects of Dredging on Fish of the Atlantic and 

Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf. A Literature Synthesis and Gap Analysis..............................1

Volume 2: Shoal Identification and Classification of Sand Resources .................................................2

Volume 3: Predicting the Distribution of Select Fish Species of the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, 

and Greater Atlantic .............................................................................................................................. 2

Volume 4: Development of ShoalMATE: Shoal Map Assessment Tool for Essential Fish Habitat......3

2 References............................................................................................................................................ 4
i

List of Abbreviations and Acronyms

BOEM Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

CMECS Coastal Marine Ecological Classification Standard

CPUE catch per unit effort

EFH Essential Fish Habitat

Magnuson-Stevens Act Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 

nm nautical miles

NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

OCS Outer Continental Shelf

SDM species distribution model

ShoalMATE Shoal Map and Assessment Tool for EFH
1

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Background

The demand for marine sand resources is increasing in the United States (Drucker et al. 2004), as coastal 

and offshore sands are commonly used for beach renourishment and barrier island restoration. The 

dredging of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), and sand shoals in particular, is likely to increase in the 

near future because nearshore sand resources are being depleted while demand increases due to 

renourishment cycles for beaches, emergency repairs of beaches after storms, and the projected effects of 

sea-level rise (Nairn et al. 2004). The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), as part of the U.S. 

Department of the Interior, is responsible for the management and development of energy and mineral 

resources on the OCS, including marine minerals. Concurrently, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), written in 1976 and amended in 1996 and 

2007, has the objectives of preventing overfishing, rebuilding overfished stocks, increasing long-term 

economic and social benefits, and ensuring a sustainable supply of seafood. Under the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service 

(NMFS) is responsible for identification and protection of "Essential Fish Habitat" (EFH) of federally 

managed marine and anadromous fishes during each of their life stages. Projects authorized or conducted 

by the Federal Government must consult with NMFS regarding EFH to ensure full consideration of the 

environmental effects and possible mitigation measures so that fish and their habitats are not adversely 

affected. This study follows an comprehensive literature review by Rutecki et al. (2014) on sand shoal 

geology, geography, and general biological value. Here, we concentrate on the attributes of sand dredging 

that relate directly to fish and EFH: the potential impacts of dredging on fish, a synthesis of known fish 

habitat associations, and the development of predictive models to identify the location and types of shoals 

and distribution of fish species. These new data were then incorporated into an interactive mapping tool 

“ShoalMATE” that generates semi-automated reports for the EFH consultation process.

1.2 Scope of the Report

The project covers the shallow waters of the OCS for the Atlantic and US Gulf of Mexico. More 

specifically, the landward boundary of the study area was defined by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 

Act (1953), which distinguishes Federal and state jurisdictions (3 nm for all states except 9 nm for Gulf 

coasts of Florida and Texas). The oceanic boundary of the study area was defined by a 50-m contour line 

from NOAA’s Coastal Relief Model (NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information 2010). 

Only waters ≤ 50 m deep were included in this study because logistics and costs of dredging in deeper

depths and distance from shore generally prohibits dredging projects in deeper waters. Throughout this 

report, we use the term "sand" to broadly characterize sediment resources, and we recognize that sediment 

dredging may include a variety of grain sizes depending on the application. The report presents the key 

findings in four volumes as described below.

1.3 Key Findings

Volume 1: Fish Habitat Associations and the Potential Effects of Dredging on Fish of the 

Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf. A Literature Synthesis and 

Gap Analysis

This volume synthesizes the latest international scientific knowledge on the direct effects of dredging on 

fish and their habitats, as well as reviews the state-of-science on fish habitat associations. Sand and 
2

sediment dredging in the OCS of the Atlantic and US Gulf of Mexico has expanded in recent years as 

demand for sediments has increased. Marine sediment dredging occurs in shallow waters (≤ 50 m) and 

often utilizes sand shoals, where large volumes of sand can be efficiently extracted. With the goal of 

understanding the effects of dredging on fish, we first synthesize the known effects of sand dredging. This 

includes the potential dredging effects of hydraulic entrainment, underwater sounds, suspended 

sediments, and substrate removal. Secondly, fish habitat use and distributions are major determinants of 

dredging effects. A synthesis of international literature on spatially explicit marine fish distribution 

models and habitat associations provides context for the latest technologies for mapping fish distributions. 

We also synthesized the documented regional habitat associations specifically for federally managed 

species in the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Greater Atlantic. Overall, the literature synthesis 

summarizes how dredging may affect fish species and how the distribution of fish is influenced by 

physical, biological, and chemical habitat factors

Volume 2: Shoal Identification and Classification of Sand Resources

This volume comprises two components. First, we develop a predictive model for identifying and 

delineating potential sand shoals using broadly available, unified digital elevation models for the seafloor 

along the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coastlines from 3 nm from shore to the 50-m depth contour. 

Seafloor complexity and relief metrics were derived from the Coastal Relief Model and used to predict 

areas of relative higher relief and to produce polygons showing geomorphological features consistent with 

sand shoals, ridges, and swales. Maps depict bedforms, shoal complexes, and yet-unclassified features 

along the Gulf and Atlantic coastlines. Recognition of these features in the context of EFH and sand 

resource demand will aide in improved planning and permitting for sand dredging activities. We then 

classify these features and sand shoals according to a new scheme developed by subject matter experts in 

the fields of geology, biology, and seafloor habitats during three facilitated workshops and webinars. This 

new classification scheme is proposed for adoption under the Coastal Marine Ecological Classification 

Standard (CMECS) as a new schema for classifying OCS sand features.

Volume 3: Predicting the Distribution of Select Fish Species of the Gulf of Mexico, South 

Atlantic, and Greater Atlantic

This volume presents the scientific analysis and results of predictive modeling for select federally 

managed fish. Species distribution models (SDMs) are a state-of-the-art statistical modeling approach that 

quantifies the relationships between species and spatially explicit environmental data. SDMs work by 

extending the identified species-habitat relationships to the entire distribution of species under 

consideration. These predictive modeling results are ideal to inform management decisions. In this 

volume, we used a variety of fisheries-independent data sources in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic 

to produce SDMs for select marine fish and shrimp species. Environmental data on habitats included 

oceanographic conditions, geomorphology, geography, prey, and the nearby ecosystems of wetlands and 

estuaries. For the Greater Atlantic, we summarize SDMs developed by the Northeast Fisheries Science 

Center which combined trawl surveys with data on oceanographic conditions, substrate, and zooplankton. 

Together, these maps and quantified habitat relationships (or lack thereof) add to the information 

synthesized in Volume 1, "Fish Habitat Associations and the Potential Effects of Dredging on the Atlantic 

and Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf." The analyses evaluated the best habitat predictors of 

marine species and depicted the distribution of select marine fish and shrimp species. Species' 

relationships with geomorphology characteristics were limited and of minor importance compared to 

other habitat predictors. None of the Gulf of Mexico species examined were related to bottom currents, 

slope, or heterogeneity of depth. Of minor importance in the models, white shrimp had a higher catch per 

unit effort (CPUE) farther away from shoals, and pink shrimp were positively related to sand grain sizes. 

Red snapper age-0 had a higher CPUE in close proximity to shoals and where the bathymetric position 

index predominately showed a hill topography. In the South Atlantic, none of the five species examined 

were associated with geomorphology characteristics. Overall, species' distributions were primarily related 
3

to oceanographic conditions, nearby wetlands and estuaries, and prey species. When applicable, 

geomorphology predictors only had minor influence on species' distribution.

Volume 4: Development of ShoalMATE: Shoal Map Assessment Tool for Essential Fish 

Habitat

This volume outlines the process and framework used to develop the interactive mapping tool, user 

interface, and automated reporting of ShoalMATE (Shoal Map and Assessment Tool for EFH).

ShoalMATE was conceived as a standardized reporting tool to facilitate better communication between 

BOEM and NOAA during EFH assessments required for dredging projects on the OCS. Development 

initiated by gathering requirements from BOEM’s Marine Minerals Program and NOAA’s Habitat 

Conservation Division. A database architecture and workflow were proposed to meet the needs of access 

and usability for stakeholders with varying levels of familiarity with Geographic Information Systems. 

We ran the data necessary to support the tool (e.g., habitat descriptors, species models, project 

boundaries) through a series of custom scripts that store information describing each identified shoal in a 

database that was specifically designed for expedited queries within the front-end application. The frontend application presents this queried information within a web browser and generates a template report as 

a Microsoft Word document, which can be edited by analysts to create a final, consistent product across a 

range of geographies and project extents.
4

2 References

Drucker BS, Waskes W, Byrnes MR. 2004. The US Minerals Management Service Outer Continental 

Shelf Sand and Gravel Program: environmental studies to assess the potential effects of offshore 

dredging operations in federal waters. Journal of Coastal Research 20(1):1-5.

Nairn R, Johnson JA, Hardin D, Michel J. 2004. A biological and physical monitoring program to 

evaluate long-term impacts from sand dredging operations in the United States outer continental 

shelf. Journal of Coastal Research. 20(1):126-137.

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. 2010. U.S. Coastal Relief Model. [accessed 2 

March 2018]. http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/coastal/crm.html. 

Rutecki D, Dellapenna T, Nestler E, Scharf F, Rooker J, Glass C, Pembroke A. 2014. Understanding the 

habitat value and function of shoals and shoal complexes to fish and fisheries on the Atlantic and Gulf 

of Mexico outer continental shelf. Literature synthesis and gap analysis. Prepared for the U.S. Dept. 

of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Contract # M12PS00009. BOEM 2015-012; 

2014 2014. 176 pp.
Department of the Interior (DOI)

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resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information 

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communities.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)

The mission of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is to manage 

development of U.S. Outer Continental Shelf energy and mineral resources in 

an environmentally and economically responsible way.

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The mission of the Environmental Studies Program is to provide the 

information needed to predict, assess, and manage impacts from offshore 

energy and marine mineral exploration, development, and production 

activities on human, marine, and coastal environments. The proposal, 

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