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 

Volume 4: Development of ShoalMATE: Shoal Map

Assessment Tool for Essential Fish Habitat
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 

Volume 4: Development of ShoalMATE: Shoal Map

Assessment Tool for Essential Fish Habitat

January 2020

Authors:

Alexa Ramirez

Prepared under NOAA contract EA133C16CQ0044 as part of Interagency Agreement M17PG00028

By

Quantum Spatial, Inc.

10033 MLK Street N, Suite 200

St. Petersburg, Florida 33716 USA
i

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

Rimerez, A. 2020. Volume 4: Development of the ShoalMATE reporting tool. In: Pickens, BA, Taylor 

JC, editors. 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. 75 pp.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The work could not have been completed without all the BOEM, NOAA, and Quantum Spatial, Inc. 

personnel that made up the development team: BOEM –Deena Hansen, Lora Turner, Kerby Dobbs; 

NOAA – Brad Pickens, Chris Taylor, Mark Finkbeiner; Quantum Spatial, Inc. – Elizabeth Rogers, Patrick 

Lines, Maggie Satterfield, Emily Sandrowicz, Keith Struzzieri, Cherie Jarvis, Jeff Skahill, Steve Raber. In 

addition, a special thanks to the Argis Solutions, Inc. technical team that contributed to the design of the 

application: Sal Baldovinos. The author would also like to acknowledge the many people who have 

contributed their valuable time and knowledge to this project, especially those who have participated in 

requirement gathering meetings, prototype demonstrations, and provided feedback for enhancements to 

the application.
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Contents

List of Figures................................................................................................................................................iii

List of Tables.................................................................................................................................................iii

List of Abbreviations and Acronyms............................................................................................................. iv

Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... v

1 Background to the Tool Development Process .................................................................................... 1

2 Application Development ...................................................................................................................... 2

2.1 Data Development ........................................................................................................................ 3

2.2 Step 1 – Select Shoal.................................................................................................................... 7

2.3 Step 2 – Review Results ............................................................................................................... 7

2.4 Step 3 – Review Maps .................................................................................................................. 9

2.5 Step 4 – Create Custom Maps....................................................................................................10

2.6 Step 5 – Generate Report ...........................................................................................................10

2.7 Potential Improvements and Future Work ..................................................................................11

Appendix A: User Manual for ShoalMATE: Shoal Map Assessment Tool for EFH ....................................12

Appendix B: Example Report from ShoalMATE Reporting Tool.................................................................27
iii

List of Figures

Figure 2-1. High-level architecture for the ShoalMATE application..............................................................2

Figure 2-2. High-level workflow for the ShoalMATE application................................................................... 3

Figure 2-3. Extent of the ShoalMATE Tool represented in beige. Shoals and MMIS sand resources within 

this boundary are available for analysis within the tool................................................................................. 4

Figure 2-4. Impact potential logic.................................................................................................................. 6

Figure 2-5. Selecting shoal/sand resource. .................................................................................................. 7

Figure 2-6. Pop up window for selecting BMPs and mitigation measures to be included in the report........8

Figure 2-7. Selecting a map to load a preview.............................................................................................. 9

Figure 2-8. A custom map displaying juvenile red snapper relative abundance in relation to OCS drilling 

platforms and oil and gas pipelines.............................................................................................................10

Figure 2-9. Preview of the report export page of the ShoalMATE tool. ......................................................11

List of Tables

Table 1-1. List of required components in an EFH Assessment document..................................................1

Table 2-1. Suggested improvements to the ShoalMATE tool for future development ...............................11
iv

List of Abbreviations and Acronyms

AOI area of interest

BMP best management practices

BOEM Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

DOI US Department of the Interior

EFH Essential Fish Habitat

ETL Extract-Transform-Load

fGDB file geodatabase

GIS Geographic Information System

HAPC Habitat Areas of Particular Concern

MGET Marine Geospatial Ecology Tools

MMP Minerals Management Program

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

OCS Outer Continental Shelf

ShoalMATE Shoal Map Assessment Tool for EFH

SST sea surface temperature
v

Abstract

QSI was contracted to build a standardized reporting tool to facilitate better communication between 

BOEM and NOAA during Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) assessments required for dredging projects on the 

Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). QSI initiated development by gathering requirements from BOEM’s 

Marine Minerals Program and NOAA’s Habitat Conservation Division. We then designed the database 

architecture and workflow to meet the needs of access and usability for stakeholders with varying levels 

of familiarity with GIS. 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 specifically designed for expedited queries within the front-end application. 

The front-end application presents this queried information within a web browser and generates a 

template report, as a Microsoft Word document, that can be edited by analysts to create a final, tangible 

product.
1

1 Background to the Tool Development Process

One of the primary goals of this project was to develop a standardized geographically and temporally 

based reporting tool for use by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM’s) Marine Minerals 

Program (MMP) practitioners in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico region to support Essential Fish Habitat 

(EFH) consultations for dredging. The ShoalMATE (Shoal Map and Assessment Tool for EFH) tool 

allows a user to share their assessment logic in a consistent manner. Having the information readily 

available to review will improve communications between agencies and provide more power and 

transparency in the EFH consultation process. 

The results of the literature review completed as part of Volume 1 of this report, and additional data 

exploration associated with the tool development revealed numerous data sources that could help to 

characterize bottom habitats, particularly those of sandy shoals utilized for dredging operations. The 

development team identified a set of required information to be included in a template version of an 

assessment document in consultation with members of the MMP and the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Habitat Conservation Division, as well as external subject matter 

experts, and through review of previous EFH Assessments for dredging projects, (Table 1-1).

Table 1-1. List of required components in an EFH Assessment document.

Requirement

A description of the proposed project area

Overview of the location

Bathymetry 

Bottom current direction

Substrate type

Recovery potential/accretion of sand resource

Previous dredge events

A list of federally managed species with overlapping EFH polygons (from NOAA)

Evaluation of potential impacts on those species based on known habitat affinities or 

predicted distribution of fish and shrimp species

Proposed mitigations and best management practices

Results and conclusions

References

Data to support these requirements were compiled into an ESRI file geodatabase (fGDB) if hosted web 

services were not available. Data sources included MarineCadastre.gov, BOEM’s Marine Minerals 

Information System, and personal communications with BOEM and NOAA stakeholders. Remotely 

sensed data (sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll-a, current velocity, etc.) were compiled as 

10-year monthly averages using the Marine Geospatial Ecology Tools (MGET) developed by the Marine 

Geospatial Ecology Lab at Duke University (Roberts et al. 2010). We utilized NOAA’s EFH polygons 

but created additional related tables to store information digitized from EFH source documentation 

compiled by regional Fishery Management Councils. The table also documents where Volume 1 

identified additional sources of information on managed species exceeding the information in the official 

documentation. Once all available datasets were combined into a fGDB, the data was loaded into ESRI 

MXD files and published as web services for use in the application.
2

2 Application Development

BOEM was interested in creating a simple interactive mapping application for users with minimal to 

moderate Geographic Information System (GIS) skills and experience. This ruled out developing an addin package to be used in conjunction with desktop mapping software such as ESRI ArcMap, as access to 

software licenses would be limiting. We determined the solution to be a web-based mapping application 

that could be operated through any internet browser. The chosen technologies (Figure 2-1) were selected 

to be consistent with other applications developed for BOEM. A more detailed description of the 

technical architecture can be found in Appendix A.

Figure 2-1. High-level architecture for the ShoalMATE application.

The high-level workflow for ShoalMATE involves five main steps (Figure 2-2). 

• Step 1: Select Shoal – The user chooses an area of interest (AOI) and selects the relevant seasons 

in which dredging may occur.

• Step 2: Review Results – The user can review the results of intersecting the selected shoal 

feature with various data that will be utilized in the generated report. 

• Step 3: Review Maps – The user can select and review a set of default maps with preset layers. 

• Step 4: Create Custom Maps – To tell a more detailed story of the shoal, the user can choose to 

generate additional maps to include in the report by choosing from a variety of provided data 

layers.

• Step 5: Generate Report – The Reporting Tool compiles all the user inputs and results into an

editable report in Microsoft Word document format. 
3

Figure 2-2. High-level workflow for the ShoalMATE application.

2.1 Data Development

To optimize the application’s processing time, an Extract-Transform-Load (ETL) script was developed 

utilizing Python to compile data layer values into a shoal feature class, which became the scale of analysis 

for the tool. The feature class is a combination of the modeled shoals developed as part of this project and 

existing Marine Minerals Sand Resources. The analysis area available for ShoalMATE (Figure 2-3) 

includes Federal waters of the OCS to a 50-m depth. This range was driven by the depth limitations of 

dredge operations. Because of the large area covered, this “canning” of the data allows for significant 

performance improvements over conducting the analyses on the fly with each run of the tool.
4

Figure 2-3. Extent of the ShoalMATE Tool represented in beige. Shoals and MMIS sand resources 

within this boundary are available for analysis within the tool.

Two primary categories of data exist within the ShoalMATE source database: vector data that 

characterizes presence, absence, or count of a seabed or political feature (e.g., seagrass or MMP leases) 

and continuous data (point and raster) that indicate a value (e.g., depth and SST).

For each shoal, the ETL performs one of two analyses on each data layer. For vector data, the script runs 

a spatial intersect and records the intersecting features as attributes for each shoal. For continuous data, a 

minimum, maximum, average or sum is calculated over the extent of the shoal and the value is stored as 

an attribute for each feature. This process was iterated for temporally discrete data layers so that an 

attribute exists for SST in January, SST in February, etc. The result is a set of over 10,000 shoals with a 

variety of information associated that can be used to describe the habitat of each one.

A second ETL was also developed to store the results of six intersections completed between individual 

shoals and six key datasets that provide critical information about a particular shoal’s use (by fish species 

and humans) along with external resources to aid in further describing the shoal habitat in sufficient detail 

for meeting the requirements of a complete EFH Assessment. These results are presented in the tool and 

are populated in the generated report to resolve the requirements established in Table 1-1 or to provide 

the user with additional resources to reference in the completion of the EFH Assessment document.

• EFH Species Intersection – Comparison between the shoal feature and the EFH polygons. 

Generates a list of species/life stage combinations that intersects with the shoal. Perform 
5

additional analysis to rank the potential for a species/life stage to be impacted by dredge 

operations within a certain time frame. Assign a qualitative value of High, Medium, or Low to 

each combination based on if the shoal habitat meets the documented habitat preferences of the 

species/lifestage (Figure 2-4).

• Predicted Relative Abundance Models Intersection – Summarizes shoal features with fish and 

invertebrate species distribution models developed or acquired as part of this study. Reports 

values of predicted mean relative abundance within the shoal alongside the predicted mean 

abundance for the surrounding area (within 20 km) and predicted abundance within each species' 

geographic range within each region (e.g., Gulf of Mexico). In this way, the data shows the 

importance of the shoal in the context of other available habitat in the region. 

• Predicted Probability of Presence Models Intersection – Summarizes shoal features with fish 

and invertebrate species distribution models developed or acquired as part of this study. Reports 

values of predicted probability of presence within the shoal alongside the predicted probability of 

presence for the surrounding area (within 20 km) and within each species' geographic range 

within each region (e.g., Gulf of Mexico). In this way, the data shows the importance of the shoal 

in the context of other available habitat in the region. 

• Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC) Intersection – Knowing what, if any, HAPCs 

intersect the shoal will allow for additional consideration of those areas and the species that may 

be affected. 

• MMIS Lease Area Intersection – The intersection of a shoal with a previous lease indicates that 

the shoal has likely been dredged in the past. Information on the volume removed and what is still 

available as well as information to direct the user to the lease documentation which may include 

prior EFH Assessments that can aid in the completion of the manual portions of the generated 

report. This table is empty if there has been no prior dredging at the site. 

• MMIS Study Intersection – This intersection may provide additional resources the user can 

reference when developing the report. A list of BOEM-funded studies by the MMP is provided 

and a link to the reports are included if available. 
6

Figure 2-4. Impact potential logic.

Sand dredging impact potential for marine fish is assumed to be based on four main factors as depicted in the 

diagram: sand affinity, depth range, temperature range, and water column zone. The rankings result in either low, 

medium, or high potential impact.

A detailed user manual is provided in the Appendix, but a summary of the tool workflow is provided 

below.
7

2.2 Step 1 – Select Shoal

After initiating ShoalMATE, the user can zoom in to their AOI to select a shoal or sand resource of their 

choice. If multiple shoals are present where the user clicked, the user will have to specify by selecting one 

(Figure 2-5). The user must also select one or more seasons during which dredge is anticipated to occur. 

Figure 2-5. Selecting shoal/sand resource.

Available shoals in the selected area are shaded in blue. The shoal highlighted in orange on the left is the one 

selected for analysis during the summer season.

2.3 Step 2 – Review Results

Each “View” button will display the tabular information that will be carried into the generated report. The 

user can review this information before selecting mitigations and best management practices from the 

final “Continue” button. The tool provides a list of standard options that are found among the many 

existing EFH Assessment documents reviewed for this study (Figure 2-6). Several Best Management 

Practice (BMPs) and Mitigation Measure options have been included to capture past NOAA Conservation 

Recommendations, and these should be considered for each project. 
8

Figure 2-6. Pop up window for selecting BMPs and mitigation measures to be included in the 

report.
9

2.4 Step 3 – Review Maps

Step three of the workflow contains five preset maps (Figure 2-7) developed to meet the requirements of 

the EFH Assessment. 

1) Overview Map – to provide a sense of location of the shoal

2) Bathymetry Map – to provide a view of the surrounding elevation as well as the prevailing 

current directions for the seasons selected at the start of the tool. 

3) Substrate Map – to indicate the characteristics of the surrounding substrate and any substrate 

features that are known to influence fish distribution (e.g., artificial reef, oil platforms, natural 

reefs)

4) Accretion Map – for areas where two or more previous dredge events have occurred, accretion 

maps are generated by determining the difference between dredge events using pre- and postdredge surveys. This allows some insight into how the area has recovered between events. Note 

that these data are still in prototype and not available in all dredged sites yet.

5) Dredge Exposure Map – displays in time units how long a dredge vessel was within an area. This 

data is currently only available for hopper dredges and is not available for all dredged sites.

Figure 2-7. Selecting a map to load a preview.

(Left) Thumbnails of available preset maps. At a minimum, the overview, bathymetry, and bottom type maps should 

always be included. (Right) Bathymetry map with prevailing bottom current directions for summer months overlaid.
10

2.5 Step 4 – Create Custom Maps

Additional data sources accumulated for this project are also available to generate maps outside of the 

five default maps to include in the report. A selection of over 100 data layers are available to map. The 

user can create multiple custom maps (for individual species distributions, for instance) by saving them to 

the report and then clearing the layers and starting over (Figure 2-8).

Figure 2-8. A custom map displaying juvenile red snapper relative abundance in relation to OCS 

drilling platforms and oil and gas pipelines.

2.6 Step 5 – Generate Report

User selections are stored throughout the run of the tool, so a report containing a summation of results can 

be generated upon completion (Figure 2-9). The report is exported as a Word document to be stored 

locally (Appendix B: Example Report from ShoalMATE Reporting Tool). The generated report is 

formatted and includes all information gathered from the tool. Within the report are additional prompts 

that users must manually complete to satisfy the remaining requirements for the EFH Assessment. Having 

a large portion of this information already identified via the intersection tables gives the user easy access

to share it with planning partners.
11

Figure 2-9. Preview of the report export page of the ShoalMATE tool.

2.7 Potential Improvements and Future Work

Through the course of development, new needs were generated that exceeded the scope and/or timeline of 

this project. The implementation of these needs would result in a more accurate and/or more robust tool 

and should be considered. A list of key suggestions is provided in Table 2-1.

Table 2-1. Suggested improvements to the ShoalMATE tool for future development

ID Improvements Logic Effort

1 Create a user-friendly 

interface for the back-end

data processing

To update the shoal feature class on regular intervals as new

MMIS sand resources are identified, the ETL processes need

to be re-run to include the new feature in the tool. Currently,

the process is run through a series of Python scripts with 

minimal graphical user interface (GUI). Advanced users only 

should update the database.

Low

2 Incorporate additional 

project data

Identify how to incorporate cutter head dredge operations into 

the exposure raster generation process so that those maps 

can be completed. Determine workflows for fully developing 

the accretion rasters to make that information more widely 

available.

Medium

3 Add additional habitat 

descriptors to the report

Provide distance to hard bottom features in the study region. Low
12

Appendix A: User Manual for ShoalMATE: Shoal Map Assessment 

Tool for EFH

The following pages contain the complete user manual for ShoalMATE. It is presented in original format 

to be consistent with the ShoalMATE reporting tool. 
Reporting Tool User Manual

Authors: Emily Sandrowicz

Revision: 1.0, 9/16/2019
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Document Information

General Information

Project Name shoalMATE: Shoal Map Assessment Tool for EFH

Prepared By Emily Sandrowicz Document Version 1.0

Title shoalMATE User Manual Document Version Date 9/16/2019

Reviewed By Review Date

History

Ver. No. Ver. Date Revised By Description Filename

1.0 9/16/2019 Emily Sandrowicz How-to guide for 

shoalMATE

shoalMATE_User_Manual.docx

Distribution List

From Date Contact Information

To Action Due Date Contact Information

Acknowledgements

NOAA and BOEM are the sponsors of this project. Project concept, oversight, and funding were provided 

through Interagency Agreement M17PG00014 with the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office for Coastal Management (OCM), and the by the U.S. 

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Marine Minerals Program (MMP).
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Table of Contents

Document Information ...............................................................................................................................14

General Information ...............................................................................................................................14

History.....................................................................................................................................................14

Distribution List.......................................................................................................................................14

Acknowledgements.................................................................................................................................14

1 Summary .............................................................................................................................................16

2 Getting Started....................................................................................................................................17

2.1 Map Window...............................................................................................................................18

2.2 Left Panel ....................................................................................................................................19

3 Generating Reports.............................................................................................................................19

3.1 SELECT Tab ..................................................................................................................................19

3.2 RESULTS Tab................................................................................................................................20

3.3 MAPS Tab....................................................................................................................................22

3.4 LAYERS Tab..................................................................................................................................23

3.5 REPORT Tab.................................................................................................................................25
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1 Summary

Quantum Spatial, Inc. (QSI) was contracted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

(NOAA), through an interagency agreement with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), to 

develop an assessment tool that integrates multiple data sources within a simple and standardized user 

interface to support environmental assessments.

BOEM’s Marine Minerals Program (MMP) is tasked with managing the use of marine minerals on the 

Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in an environmentally responsible way. Through execution of this project, 

BOEM will develop a tool to help analyze the impact of dredging on Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). Such OCS 

sediment resource dredging projects are designed to support shore protection and coastal restoration 

projects along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. The purpose of the tool is to generate reports 

intended to assist in EFH consultations with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) by analyzing 

shoal habitat, identifying fish distribution statistics, and finding resulting overlap of EFH in a user-specified 

area and season. Information for this tool was gathered from EFH documentation, literature reviews, 

scientific models, readily available data sources, subject matter experts, and the MMIS.

This document contains information on how to use the Shoal Map Assessment Tool for EFH (shoalMATE)

reporting tool. Also included is information on how to interpret the results and the logic that went into 

getting them.
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2 Getting Started

1. Open a web browser from within the DOI network and navigate to 

https://mmisdev.bc.doi.net/shoalMATE. The shoalMATE homepage has three sections, the Title 

Bar, Left Panel and Map Window.

2. The Title Bar holds links to various webpages that users may find helpful.

a. Clicking on the shoalMATE Logo will return users to the shoalMate home screen

b. Clicking on the BOEM or DOI Logo will open the respective entity’s home page

3. There are also links to other resources at the bottom of the Left Panel, including additional data 

portals, regional FMCs, and regional NMFSs.

Left Panel Map Window

Title Bar
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2.1 Map Window

The Map Window displays the mappable area and also contains useful tools. Users can measure 

distances and areas, view the legend, switch the base map and zoom in/out with the tools in the top 

right corner of the Map Window.

1. To measure, select the white measuring square and click 

Θ Create a new measurement from the popup.

2. Lines are measured by left clicking on the map where the 

desired measurement is to begin, then double-clicking

where the line is to end.

3. Areas are measured in a similar manner, but with 

additional vertices added via left click in between the 

starting and ending points. Click again at the next point 

in the measurement.

4. Measurements are removed from the map by clicking 

the Delete icon in the measurement dialog box.

Zoom

Change Basemap

View 

Legend

Measure
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2.2 Left Panel

Users will be guided through the tabs on the Left Panel as they select criteria to customize their report.

3 Generating Reports

3.1 SELECT Tab

1. Begin by clicking the BEGIN ASSESSMENT REPORT button on the SELECT Tab homepage. 

2. Pan and zoom the map until the desired area is centered in the Map Window. Click on a shoal to 

view its details.

3. Select the shoal by clicking on the table containing the Sediment Area ID and the OCS Study Area ID. 

An orange border will appear around the selected table. Then, select which season(s) will be 

included in the analysis. This will 

affect data visible in the results 

table and maps. Once the

selections are made, click the 

SELECT AREA button to advance 

to the RESULTS Tab. In this 

example Tiger Shoal and Winter 

have been selected.
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3.2 RESULTS Tab

1. The RESULTS Tab provides access to 6 data tables and a list of Best Management Practices. 

2. Each of the 6 result reports contains the subset of data from the stated source that intersects the 

selected shoal and season. For this example, by clicking on the VIEW button below the INTERSECT 

ALL EFH SPECIES heading, users can view all EFH Species that have the same spatial and/or temporal

extent as Tiger Shoal during the winter.
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3. Clicking on the CONTINUE button below the SELECT BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES heading brings 

up a list of Best Management Practices (BMP) and Mitigation Measures and their associated reasons 

for implementation. Users will check the box next to the BMP and Mitigations Measures that are 

relevant to their project. Each checked box will trigger the inclusion of associated pre-written text 

about the BMP or Mitigation Measure in the final report. The use of appropriate BMPs and/or 

Mitigation Measures in the EFH Assessment may avoid the need for Conservation 

Recommendations (CRs) from NMFS.

Users also have the option to compose their own BMP for inclusion in the report at the bottom of 

the page. Scroll down to access this section. Click the SAVE button when complete.
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3.3 MAPS Tab

The MAPS Tab allows users to view 5 pre-defined map products and select which, if any, will be included 

in their report.

1. Clicking on a map’s thumbnail image displays a preview of the map in the Map Window. When 

activated, an orange border will appear around the thumbnail.

2. To include a map in the final report, check the INCLUDE MAP box below the appropriate thumbnail.

3. Currently the Accretion Map and Dredge Exposure Map are still under development and will not 

yield any data for display.
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3.4 LAYERS Tab

The LAYERS Tab enables users to create their own cartographic products for inclusion in their final 

report. This functionality should be used when the preset maps available on the MAPS Tab do not meet 

all of the needs of the selected area of interest, or if additional information would be helpful in telling a 

more complete story.

The IDENTIFY button provides additional information on the features in the available layers.

1. Expand the Administrative and Planning dataset by clicking on the arrow next to the heading. Then, 

check the box next to Marine Minerals Offshore Study Areas.

2. Activate the tool by clicking on the IDENTIFY button.

3. Click on Tiger Shoal in the Map Window. Information on the shoal and the overlapping Marine 

Minerals Offshore Study Areas will appear in a Results window.

4. Metadata for each layer can be accessed by clicking on the metadta icon next to the layer name

when available. Some layers were provided by individual communication and do not contain 

complete FGDC metadata.

Users can create multiple maps for inclusion in the report, each showing one or more layers, with the 

use of the SAVE TO REPORT and CLEAR LAYERS buttons.
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5. Minimize the Identify Results by clicking on the down arrow in the top center of the window.

6. Turn on the Gulf of Mexico OCS Blocks with Significant Sediment Resources by checking the box next 

to the layer.

7. Click the SAVE TO REPORT button to export a map with the selected layers to the final report.

8. Click the CLEAR LAYERS button to deactivate all selected layers and return to a blank map.

9. Continue creating and exporting additional maps as desired in this fashion. A count of custom maps 

is noted on the SAVE TO REPORT button. Importantly, the user should keep a chronological record 

of the layers included in each custom map. Due to the variability of layer combinations a legend is 

not included in the exported map and the user will have to describe the map contents in the 

caption.
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NOTE: The more custom maps that are saved to the report the longer the final export of the report will 

take.

3.5 REPORT Tab

Additional formatting can be added on the REPORT Tab.

1. Type the appropriate information in the Input Proposed Project Name and Input Project Location

fields. The tool will automatically enter these values on the title page and at other predetermined 

locations in the final report.

2. Select the BOEM Office(s) and, as applicable, USACE District(s) involved in the project from the 

available lists. The tool will add the appropriate office addresses to the title page of the report based 

on these selections.

3. Click the EXPORT REPORT button to create the final report in .doc format.
shoalMATE User Manual

BOEM Marine Minerals 

Information System

Updated: February 3, 2020 26

4. The report will be populated with all the information selected on the previous tabs. However, there 

are some sections that will need to be populated manually after the report is created, such as the 

opening paragraph of the Introduction Section shown here.

5. Do a document search for brackets ( [ ] ) to ensure all manual portions of the report have been 

addressed.

6. Remove any default map captions that were not selected for inclusion in the report.

7. Appendix A of the report contains the varibles utilized in the species models associated with the 

region of the selected feature

8. Appendix B includes all custom maps. 
27

Appendix B: Example Report from ShoalMATE Reporting Tool

The following pages contain an example EFH assessment report from ShoalMATE. It is presented in 

original format to be consistent with the ShoalMATE reporting tool. 
Essential Fish Habitat 

Assessment for

Sand Dredging Test1

2019-12-19

Prepared by

45600 Woodland Rd

Sterling, VA 20166

USACE - Wilmington District

69 Darlington Ave

Wilmington, NC 28403
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Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations and Acronyms....................................................................................................2

I. Introduction.........................................................................................................................................3

II. Purpose ...............................................................................................................................................7

III. Proposed Project..............................................................................................................................7

IV. Identification of Managed Species ..............................................................................................14

V. Evaluation of Impacts on EFH Species.........................................................................................26

VI. Proposed Mitigation .......................................................................................................................38

VII. Conclusion and Agency Review...................................................................................................38

VIII. References ....................................................................................................................................40

Appendix A: Variables in Predictive Models ....................................................................................43

Appendix B: Custom Maps...................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

[Table of Contents may need to be updated after export and editing of this report.]
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List of Abbreviations and Acronyms

BOEM Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

cm centimeter(s)

CMECS Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard

cy cubic yards

EA Environmental Assessment

EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone

EFH Essential Fish Habitat

EIS Environmental Impact Statement

FMC Fisheries Management Council

FMP Fisheries Management Plan

ft foot/feet

GOM Gulf of Mexico

in inch(es)

km kilometer

m meter(s)

m3 cubic meters

mm millimeter(s)

MMP Marine Minerals Program

MSFCMA Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation & Management Act

NEPA National Environmental Policy Act

NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

ppt parts per thousand

TSS total suspended sediments

SS suspended sediments

unk unknown

USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
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I. Introduction

[The following information should be input manually:

• Description of why project is proposed/why they need sediment on the beach.

• Brief description of past projects, if any. This section is expanded on in Section 3.

• Who prepared this assessment and why (1 paragraph)

• Description of the physical location of the project and coastal features that it is most adjacent to.

This section is expanded on in Section 3.]

See Maps 1-3 for more information on the proposed borrow area and its surrounding environment

including bathymetry, bottom currents, and seafloor substrate.

Additional information regarding the proximity of the proposed project to features of interest not 

covered in this report can be obtained through BOEM and NOAA’s Ocean Reporting Tool (NOAA 2018b).

[If Maps 1-3 do not all exist, edit the above reference and the map headers below as applicable.]
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Map 1: Proposed Project Area
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Map 2: Bathymetry and Bottom Currents
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Map 3: Proposed Borrow Area and Surrounding Benthic Substrate
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II. Purpose

Provisions of the MSFCMA (16 USC 1801) require that EFH areas be identified for each species managed 

under a fishery management plan, and that all Federal agencies consult with the NMFS on all Federal 

actions that may adversely affect EFH. EFH is defined as “those waters and substrate necessary to fish 

for spawning, breeding, feeding or growth to maturity.” This EFH assessment is being prepared pursuant 

to Section 305(b)(2) of the MSFCMA and includes the following required parts: 1) identification of 

species of concern; 2) a description of the proposed action; 3) an analysis of the effects of the proposed 

action; 4) proposed mitigation; and 5) the Federal agency’s views regarding the effects of the proposed 

action. The purpose of this consultation process is to address specific federal actions that may adversely 

affect EFH, but do not have the potential to cause substantial adverse impact.

III. Proposed Project

[The following information should be input manually:

• How many cubic yards (cy) of sediment are to be removed. 

• Location of removal on the shoal/sediment resource. ‘Leeward’ vs. ‘windward’ side; cardinal 

direction; relation of removal location to other prominent features on the landscape.

• What equipment will be used. Type of dredge. Buoys/pump-out stations used? Pipelines for 

pump outs on shore used? Bulldozers and/or graders used on the shore?

• What type of sediment is going to be mined. CMECS description.

• When sediment is proposed to be mined. Months or season.

• If applicable, Alternative A

• If applicable, Alternative B

• If applicable, more Alternatives (C-Z)]

The selected borrow area, which has been allocated for sediment extraction for this project, is in the 

NGM ecoregion as defined by CMECS. This sediment feature ranges in depth from 3.0m (9.84ft) to 

approximately 10.0m (32.8ft). It is classified under CMECS as Geoform Coponent (GC) Origin None. The 

predominant CMECS classification for the material contained within this feature is Substrate Component 

(SC) Origin Geologic, SC Class Unconsolidated Mineral, SC Subclass Fine Unconsolidated. For additional 

CMECS variables that define this resource please see Table 1.
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Table 1: Classification and values associated with the proposed borrow area (modified from CMECS)

Attribute Value Unit Classification

Magnitude of Bottom Current -

June 0.0614551168677 m/s

Magnitude of Bottom Current -

July 0.0683867815434 m/s

Magnitude of Bottom Current -

August 0.0630514614566 m/s

Rugosity 1.0

Slope Range 0.0 - 0.5 Degrees

Substrate Descriptor unk

Surface Pattern

Orientation 272.2838978287 Degrees

Shelf Position unk

Accretion Status unk

Bathymetric Position Index (BPI) 1.04

Temporal Persistence unk

Disturbance Regime unk

Dissolved Oxygen Minimum 4.3911190033 mg/L

Temperature Range 15.6353683472 -

30.4577026367 Degrees C

Anthropogenic Impact unk

[More information about the resource, if available. Eg. Description of surrounding area, prevalent 

underwater features nearby, anthropogenic features nearby, results of video surveys, accretion studies,

or other types of studies potentially derived from studies provided in Table 2.] Additional information 

relevant to this sediment resource may be available from past studies (see Table 2 for further details).

[Any information on species known to use the resource, with focus on species that need 

the seafloor habitat(s) for one or more life stages. E.g. Number of species (fish, marine 

mammals, sea turtles).]
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Table 2: MMIS Studies overlapping the proposed borrow area

Study ID Report Link

OffshoreLA_LACOSS1983_4 Geophysics Log; LACOSS IV

GulfofMexico_NMFSSEFSC-483_NCompilation of Data Sets Relevant to the Identification of Essential Fish Habitat on the Gulf of 

Mexico Continental Shelf and for the Estimation of the Effects of Shrimp Trawling Gear on 

Habitat

TrinityTiger_CoopNo14-12-

0001-30387

Assessment of Sand Resources in the Trinity Shoal Area

Previous dredging in this area has occurred 0 times between 10000 and 0. Over that time, 0 cy (0.0 m3

)

of material has been removed for beach nourishment projects. See Table 3 for further information, 

including links to associated BOEM documents. Map 4 shows the amount of accretion that has occurred 

between the previous two dredge events. The raster was calculated by subtracting the pre-dredge 

survey from the most recent dredge event from the post-dredge survey of the second most recent 

event. The result is the change in elevation, in meters, between the two projects which may be used as 

an indicator of the recovery potential of the sediment resource after construction.

Sediment resources within a 3 km radius of the proposed project cover <area of sand resources in a 3

km radius>. Of that area, <area dredged> have previously been mined. This accounts for <x>% of the 

sediment resources within a 3 km radius of the proposed burrow area.

[If Map 4 does not exist, edit the text above.]
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Table 3: Past Dredging Projects- No Results Found Lease # Volume allocated (cy) Volume dredged (cy) Fiscal Year

BOEM 

Web Link

EAFONSIEISRODNEPA
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Map 4: Sediment Accretion in Proposed Borrow Area, <Fiscal Year - 2>-<Fiscal Year - 1>
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Map 5: Past Dredge Events in Proposed Borrow Area
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[Delete the Map headings above if not applicable.

Results of On-Site Inspection, if applicable.

Views of recognized experts on the habitat or species that may be affected, if applicable.]
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IV. Identification of Managed Species

Table 4: Essential Fish Habitat species and life stages that overlap the proposed borrow area. Information in this table was gathered from 

official EFH documentation when available or other well recognized studies of sand affinity (noted in the shoalMATE study report). X’s indicate 

that the proposed area matches the habitat criteria for the species/life stage combination to determine the possibility that a species/life stage 

with an overlapping EFH polygon may utilize the proposed area. The use of "unk" indicates that the habitat parameter was not defined for that 

species/lifestage combination in the documentation and is treated as a match to indicate that particular care should be taken in researching the 

impacts on these species. An "X" in the Water Column Zone field indicates the species is known to be demersal for some portion of that lifestage 

(as opposed to pelagic). The impact potential is a qualitative assessment based on the combination of results for the four parameters (defined in 

the shoalMATE study report).

Life StageSeasonTempWater Column ZoneSand AffinityDepth RangeImpact Potential

Atlantic Sharpnose 

Shark

Neonate/YOY All X X X X High

Atlantic Sharpnose 

Shark

Mating/Birthing Summer unk unk X unk High

Atlantic Sharpnose 

Shark

Juveniles All X X X X High

Atlantic Sharpnose 

Shark

Adults All X unk X X High

Banded Rudderfish Eggs All unk unk X X High

Blacktip Shark Neonate/YOY All X X X X High

Blacktip Shark Juveniles;Adults All X unk X X High

Bonnethead Shark Neonate/YOY Summer X unk X X High
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Life StageSeasonTempWater Column ZoneSand AffinityDepth RangeImpact Potential

Bonnethead Shark Juveniles SummerX unkXX High

Bonnethead Shark Adults SummerX unkXX High

Bull Shark Neonate/YOY AllXXXX High

Bull Shark Juveniles;Adults AllX unkXX High

Gag Juveniles SummerXXXX High

Gray Snapper Spawning Adults Summer unkXXX High

Gray Snapper Juveniles AllXXXX High

Gray Snapper Adults AllXXXX High

Gray Triggerfish Spawning Adults All unkXX unk High

Gray Triggerfish Juveniles All unkXXX High

Gray Triggerfish Eggs Summer unkXXX High

Gray Triggerfish Adults All unkXXX High

Lane Snapper Larvae SummerXXXX High

Lane Snapper Juveniles SummerXXXX High

Lane Snapper Adults AllX unkXX High

Red Drum Spawning Adults SummerX unkX unk High

Red Drum Larvae SummerXXX unk High

Red Drum Adults SummerX unkXX High
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Life StageSeasonTempWater Column ZoneSand AffinityDepth RangeImpact Potential

Red Grouper Juveniles AllXXXX High

Red Grouper Adults AllXXXX High

Red Snapper Adults SummerXXXX High

Spinner Shark Spawning Adults Summer unk unkX unk High

Spinner Shark Neonate/YOY AllX unkX unk High

Spinner Shark Juveniles AllX unkXX High

Spinner Shark Adults All unk unkXX High

Almaco Jack Spawning Adults Summer unk unk unk Low

Almaco Jack Juveniles SummerXXX Low

Almaco Jack Eggs Summer unk unk Low

Almaco Jack Adults Summer unkX Low

Black Grouper Larvae All unkX Low

Black Grouper Juveniles Summer unkXX Low

Black Grouper Eggs All unk Low

Black Grouper Adults AllXX Low

Blackfin Snapper Spawning Adults Summer unkX Low

Blackfin Snapper Larvae All unk unk Low

Blackfin Snapper Juveniles All unkXX Low
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Life StageSeasonTempWater Column ZoneSand AffinityDepth RangeImpact Potential

Blackfin Snapper Eggs Summer unk Low

Blackfin Snapper Adults Summer unkXX Low

Blueline Tilefish Spawning Adults Summer unk Low

Blueline Tilefish Larvae All unk Low

Blueline Tilefish Juveniles All unk unk Low

Blueline Tilefish Eggs All unk Low

Blueline Tilefish Adults AllXX Low

Brown Shrimp Sub

-adults Summer

XX Low

Brown Shrimp Spawning Adults Summer unkX Low

Brown Shrimp Late 

Postlarvae;Juveniles Summer

XX Low

Brown Shrimp

Larvae;Pre-

settlement 

Postlarvae

SummerXX Low

Brown Shrimp Adults SummerXX Low

Cobia Spawning Adults Summer unkX unk Low

Cobia Juveniles SummerXX Low

Cobia Adults SummerXX Low

Cubera Snapper Spawning Adults SummerXXX Low

Cubera Snapper Larvae All unk unkX Low
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Life StageSeasonTempWater Column ZoneSand AffinityDepth RangeImpact Potential

Cubera Snapper Juveniles AllXXX Low

Cubera Snapper Eggs Summer unkX Low

Cubera Snapper Adults All unk unkX Low

Gag Adults SummerXX Low

Goldface Tilefish Adults All unk unk unk Low

Goliath Grouper Spawning Adults Summer unkX Low

Goliath Grouper Larvae Summer unk Low

Goliath Grouper Juveniles Summer unkXX Low

Goliath Grouper Eggs Summer unk Low

Goliath Grouper Adults AllXXX Low

Gray Snapper Larvae SummerXXX Low

Greater Amberjack Larvae Summer unk unk Low

Greater Amberjack Juveniles Summer unkX unk Low

Greater Amberjack Adults Summer unkXX Low

Hogfish Spawning Adults Summer unkXX Low

Hogfish Larvae All unk unk Low

Hogfish Eggs Summer unk unk Low

Hogfish Adults SummerXXX Low
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Life StageSeasonTempWater Column ZoneSand AffinityDepth RangeImpact Potential

King Mackerel Spawning Adults SummerX unkX Low

King Mackerel Larvae SummerXX Low

King Mackerel Eggs Summer unkX Low

Lane Snapper Spawning Adults Summer unkXX Low

Lesser Amberjack Juveniles Summer unkX Low

Lesser Amberjack Adults Summer unkX Low

Mutton Snapper Spawning Adults Summer unkX Low

Mutton Snapper Larvae Summer unk unk Low

Mutton Snapper Juveniles Summer unkX unk Low

Mutton Snapper Eggs Summer unk unk Low

Mutton Snapper Adults Summer unkX unk Low

Pink Shrimp Sub

-adults Summer

XXX Low

Pink Shrimp Spawning Adults SummerXXX Low

Pink Shrimp Late 

Postlarvae;Juveniles Summer

XXX Low

Pink Shrimp

Larvae;Pre-

settlement 

Postlarvae

SummerXX Low

Pink Shrimp Fertilized Eggs SummerX unkX Low

Pink Shrimp Adults SummerXXX Low
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Life StageSeasonTempWater Column ZoneSand AffinityDepth RangeImpact Potential

Queen Snapper Spawning Adults Summer unk unk Low

Queen Snapper Juveniles All unk Low

Queen Snapper Eggs All unk Low

Queen Snapper Adults AllXX Low

Red Grouper Spawning Adults SummerXX Low

Red Grouper Larvae SummerX Low

Red Snapper Spawning Adults SummerXX Low

Red Snapper Larvae SummerXX Low

Red Snapper Juveniles SummerXXX Low

Red Snapper Eggs All unkX Low

Royal Red Shrimp Spawning Adults Summer unk unk Low

Royal Red Shrimp Larvae All unk unk Low

Royal Red Shrimp Juveniles All unk unk Low

Royal Red Shrimp Eggs Summer unk Low

Royal Red Shrimp Adults SummerX Low

Scamp Spawning Adults SummerXX Low

Scamp Juveniles All unkX Low

Scamp Adults AllXX Low
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Life StageSeasonTempWater Column ZoneSand AffinityDepth RangeImpact Potential

Silk Snapper Spawning Adults Summer unk unk Low

Silk Snapper Larvae Summer unk unk Low

Silk Snapper Juveniles Summer unk unk Low

Silk Snapper Eggs Summer unk unk Low

Silk Snapper Adults Summer unk Low

Snowy Grouper Spawning Adults Summer unkX Low

Snowy Grouper Larvae Summer unk Low

Snowy Grouper Juveniles AllXXX Low

Snowy Grouper Eggs All unk Low

Snowy Grouper Adults AllXX Low

Speckled Hind Spawning Adults Summer unkX Low

Speckled Hind Larvae All unk Low

Speckled Hind Juveniles All unk unk Low

Speckled Hind Eggs All unk Low

Speckled Hind Adults All unkX Low

Tilefish Spawning Adults Summer unkX Low

Tilefish Spawning Adults Summer unk unkX Low

Tilefish Larvae Summer unkX Low
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Life StageSeasonTempWater Column ZoneSand AffinityDepth RangeImpact Potential

Tilefish Juveniles All unkXX Low

Tilefish Eggs Summer unkX Low

Tilefish Adults AllXX Low

Vermilion Snapper Spawning Adults Summer unk unk unk Low

Vermilion Snapper Larvae Summer unk Low

Vermilion Snapper Juveniles All unkX Low

Vermilion Snapper Eggs All unk Low

Vermilion Snapper Adults SummerX Low

Warsaw Grouper Spawning Adults Summer unkX Low

Warsaw Grouper Larvae All unk Low

Warsaw Grouper Juveniles All unkX Low

Warsaw Grouper Eggs All unk Low

Warsaw Grouper Adults AllXX Low

Wenchman Spawning Adults Summer unkX Low

Wenchman Larvae Summer unk Low

Wenchman Juveniles All unk unk Low

Wenchman Eggs Summer unk Low

Wenchman Adults SummerX Low
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Life StageSeasonTempWater Column ZoneSand AffinityDepth RangeImpact Potential

White Shrimp Sub

-adults Summer

XXX Low

White Shrimp Spawning Adults Summer unk unkX Low

White Shrimp Late 

Postlarvae;Juveniles Summer

XX Low

White Shrimp

Larvae;Pre-

settlement 

Postlarvae

Summer unkX Low

White Shrimp Fertilized Eggs Summer unk unkX Low

White Shrimp Adults SummerXXX Low

Yellowedge Grouper Spawning Adults Summer unkX Low

Yellowedge Grouper Larvae Summer unk Low

Yellowedge Grouper Juveniles All unkXX Low

Yellowedge Grouper Eggs All unk Low

Yellowedge Grouper Adults AllXX Low

Yellowfin Grouper Spawning Adults Summer unkX Low

Yellowfin Grouper Larvae All unk unk Low

Yellowfin Grouper Juveniles All unkXX Low

Yellowfin Grouper Eggs All unk unk Low

Yellowfin Grouper Adults AllXXX Low

Yellowmouth Grouper Spawning Adults All unk unk Low
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Life StageSeasonTempWater Column ZoneSand AffinityDepth RangeImpact Potential

Yellowmouth Grouper Larvae All unk Low

Yellowmouth Grouper Juveniles All unk unk Low

Yellowmouth Grouper Eggs All unk Low

Yellowmouth Grouper Adults AllXX Low

Yellowtail Snapper Spawning Adults Summer unk unk unk Low

Yellowtail Snapper Larvae All unkX Low

Yellowtail Snapper Juveniles AllXXX Low

Yellowtail Snapper Eggs Summer unkX Low

Yellowtail Snapper Adults AllXXX Low

Banded Rudderfish Spawning Adults Summer unkXX Medium

Banded Rudderfish Larvae Summer unkXX Medium

Banded Rudderfish Juveniles Summer unkXX Medium

Banded Rudderfish Adults Summer unkXX Medium

Cobia Larvae SummerXXX Medium

Cobia Eggs SummerXX unk Medium

Gray Snapper Eggs Summer unkXX Medium

Gray Triggerfish Larvae All unkX unk Medium

King Mackerel Juveniles Summer unkXX Medium
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Life StageSeasonTempWater Column ZoneSand AffinityDepth RangeImpact Potential

King Mackerel Adults All X X X Medium

Lane Snapper Eggs Summer unk X X Medium

Red Drum Eggs Summer X X unk Medium

Spanish Mackerel Spawning Adults Summer X X X Medium

Spanish Mackerel Larvae Summer X X X Medium

Spanish Mackerel Juveniles Summer X X X Medium

Spanish Mackerel Eggs Summer unk X X Medium

Spanish Mackerel Adults All X X X Medium
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V. Evaluation of Impacts on EFH Species

Fish species’ presence within waters of the project impact area is highly variable, both spatially and 

temporally. Presence can vary for highly migratory species, among life stages, and seasonally. 

The short-term impacts of dredging on fish include entrainment, physiological or behavioral changes due 

to human-made sounds, loss of prey/food web effects, loss of bottom substrate, and effects due to

suspended and resuspended sediment plumes, sedimentation of the seafloor, and the potential release 

of contaminants (Kim et al. 2008; Suedel et al. 2008; Wenger et al. 2017). Hopper and cutterhead 

dredges use hydraulic suction fields to obtain and transport unconsolidated sediments from aquatic 

ecosystems. These actions may result in the entrainment of fish and shellfish, as defined as the direct 

uptake of organisms due to the hydraulic suction field generated by a draghead or cutterhead dredge 

(Reine et al. 1998).

Sounds from dredging operations are produced from vessels in transit to/from the dredging location, 

supporting vessels, and the dredging operation itself (see Reine et al. 2014a; Reine et al. 2014b; 

Robinson et al. 2012; Pickens and Taylor 2020). Underwater sounds emitted from dredging operations 

are of the amplitude to affect the behavior of fish at a considerable distance from the dredge operation 

(~400-1,200 m). However, the maximum sound levels emitted by dredge activities are restricted to

approximately 0-300 m from the source of the vessel. These sounds are not at a level that would result 

in mortality or severe injury. At the closest proximities, effects may include permanent or temporary 

hearing impairment. Expected behavioral changes where sound is above ambient conditions may 

include avoidance, masking of conspecific communication, masking of predator or prey detection, or 

other behavioral changes. Avoidance could have severe consequences if the particular area is critical for 

spawning, habitat is limited in the near vicinity, migratory corridors are blocked, or the area is important 

for other life history requirements (Pickens and Taylor 2020).

Regarding suspended sediments, the rotation of the cutterhead itself (for cutterhead dredges) produces 

substantial sediment resuspension in the lower part of the water column; plume concentrations at the 

surface of the water column may be half of the concentration at the bottom (Havis 1988). Overflow 

from hopper dredges can be extremely turbid in close proximity to the dredge, as fine-grained TSS may 

reach >750 mg/L (Havis 1988). Additionally, undesirable fine sediments may be discarded in the sorting 

and screening process (Michel et al. 2013; Sutton et al. 2009). Havis (1988) compared trailing suction 

hopper dredges (THSD) and cutterhead dredges, and showed TSS concentrations were much greater for 

TSHD (with overflowl allowed), particularly at greater depths. Potential responses of fish to SS are 

avoidance, changes in foraging and predation rates, physiological stress, reduced growth, physical 

damage, and mortality of adults, juveniles, larvae, or eggs (Kjelland et al. 2015; Wilber and Clarke 2001).

Fish eggs and larvae are particularly susceptible to sedimentation and SS; this may be because of their 

lack of mobility, relatively high oxygen demand, and/or anatomy (Appleby and Scarratt 1989; Wilber and 

Clarke 2001). The reaction distance of adult fish in response to planktonic prey are directly and 

negatively related to turbidity (Utne-Palm 2002; Wilber and Clarke 2001). Negative impacts to fish 

habitat may also include sedimentation of hard bottom or damage/mortality of corals from 

sedimentation or SS (Erftemeijer et al. 2012; Linderman and Snyder 1999; Pickens and Taylor 2020).
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Long-term impacts to fish from offshore dredging operations include loss of physical habitat and 

suspended/resuspended sediment plumes. Although most studies measure turbidity over hours to a few 

days following dredging, Fisher (2015) showed turbidity fluxes over 1 1⁄2 years after dredging; turbidity 

fluxes were not observed >2 km from the initial dredge site. Overall, the pattern has emerged that 

extremely high turbidity occurs for a relatively short duration (10-15 minutes) during and immediately 

following dredging. The area most affected by high TSS and sedimentation is generally 300-600 m from 

the dredge site, but some effects are expected to 3 km. Under certain oceanographic conditions, 

sediments plumes may extend up to 20 km from the dredge site. Recommendations for best practices 

for dredging near corals, and coral reefs, are further provided by PIANC (2010). All species listed in Table 

4 may have long-term impacts due to dredging operations.

Some species/life stages classified as ‘low’ in the ‘Impact Potential’ column in Table 4 may lack a depth 

of information regarding the environmental conditions at which they have been observed and/or they 

lack information on their temporal presence within the proposed borrow area as specified in Fisheries 

Management Plans. Further review of the existing body of scientific literature may reveal information 

which can be used to fill in these knowledge gaps. Another important note regarding this report is that 

distribution and/or abundance information specifically for important forage species for EFH species was 

not considered but may exist as part of species models or as part of the data that was used in the 

creation of EFH GIS shapes.

1 EFH Species with High Potential for Impacts

The species listed below are those with some combination of variables that indicate potential use of the 

proposed borrow area from Table 4. Details for each species include links to official EFH descriptions and 

relevant background information. Some species are lumped into groups for EFH purposes and therefore 

will have identical EFH descriptions.

1.1 Atlantic Sharpnose Shark

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

Neonate/YOY

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

Mating/Birthing

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

Juveniles

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

Adults

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917
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1.1.1 [Potential Project Impacts] 

[Insert further applicable information manually if available. Delete if this section is 

empty.]

1.2 Banded Rudderfish

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Eggs

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

1.2.1 [Potential Project Impacts] 

[Insert further applicable information manually if available. Delete if this section is 

empty.]

1.3 Blacktip Shark

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

Neonate/YOY

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

Juveniles;Adults

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

1.3.1 [Potential Project Impacts] 

[Insert further applicable information manually if available. Delete if this section is 

empty.]

1.4 Bonnethead Shark

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

Neonate/YOY

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

Juveniles

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917
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Adults

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

1.4.1 [Potential Project Impacts] 

[Insert further applicable information manually if available. Delete if this section is 

empty.]

1.5 Bull Shark

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

Neonate/YOY

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

Juveniles;Adults

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

1.5.1 [Potential Project Impacts] 

[Insert further applicable information manually if available. Delete if this section is 

empty.]

1.6 Gag

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Juveniles

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

1.6.1 [Potential Project Impacts] 

[Insert further applicable information manually if available. Delete if this section is 

empty.]

1.7 Gray Snapper

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Spawning Adults
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http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Juveniles

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Adults

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

1.7.1 [Potential Project Impacts] 

[Insert further applicable information manually if available. Delete if this section is 

empty.]

1.8 Gray Triggerfish

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Spawning Adults

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Juveniles

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Eggs

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Adults

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

1.8.1 [Potential Project Impacts] 

[Insert further applicable information manually if available. Delete if this section is 

empty.]
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1.9 Lane Snapper

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Larvae

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Juveniles

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Adults

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

1.9.1 [Potential Project Impacts] 

[Insert further applicable information manually if available. Delete if this section is 

empty.]

1.10 Red Drum

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Spawning Adults

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Larvae

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Adults

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

1.10.1 [Potential Project Impacts] 
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[Insert further applicable information manually if available. Delete if this section is 

empty.]

1.11 Red Grouper

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Juveniles

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Adults

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

1.11.1 [Potential Project Impacts] 

[Insert further applicable information manually if available. Delete if this section is 

empty.]

1.12 Red Snapper

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

Adults

http://gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-andB_Final_12-2016.pdf

1.12.1 [Potential Project Impacts] 

[Insert further applicable information manually if available. Delete if this section is 

empty.]

1.13 Spinner Shark

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

Spawning Adults

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

Neonate/YOY
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https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

Juveniles

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

Adults

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/69616917

1.13.1 [Potential Project Impacts] 

[Insert further applicable information manually if available. Delete if this section is 

empty.]

2 EFH Species with Medium Potential for Impacts

The species listed in Table 4 with a value of Medium in the 'Impact Potential' column have EFH GIS 

shapes which spatially overlap the project boundaries, have an observed affinity for sand/sediment 

resources (Rutecki, et al. 2014), and have observed depth, temporal, and temperature ranges which also 

overlap the project area. However, these species and life stages are observed to be within the water 

column, somewhere between a few feet above the seafloor and the surface. Due to their presence in 

the water column instead of bottom habitats, these species and life stages may experience fewer 

dredge-related impacts than demersal species.

1.1 [Potential Project Impacts]

[Insert further applicable information manually if available. Delete if this section is 

empty.]

3 EFH Species with Low Potential for Impacts

The species and life stages listed in Table 4 with a value of Low in the 'Impact Potential' column have 

EFH GIS shapes which spatially overlap the project boundaries, however, data from fishery management 

plans and scientific research (Rutecki, et al. 2014) indicate that it is unlikely that those species and life 

stages will be found within the project area. This determination was made due to one or more of the 

following factors: they have not been observed to have affinity for using sand/sediment resources 

(Rutecki, et al. 2014), they have not been observed within the depth range of the project, they have not 

been observed within the project area during the season and/or month of the project, or they have not 

been observed within the anticipated water temperature range of the project. Because these important 

characteristics do not overlap, these species have the lowest potential of those categorized to be 

impacted during dredging.

Another group of species with a value of Low in the 'Impact Potential' column of Table 4 are those that 
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are lacking information in fishery management plan documentation with regards to observed depth 

ranges, seasonality, temperature ranges, or whether the species or life stage is found in the water 

column or on, near, or within the seafloor substrate. A review of the existing body of scientific literature 

may reveal more data than what exists in the fishery management plans reviewed in preparation of this 

document.

1.1 [Potential Project Impacts]

[Insert further applicable information manually if available. Delete if this section is 

empty.]

4 Predicted Relative Abundance or Probability of Presence of Selected Species

Species distribution models are state-of-the-art statistical models that predict the distribution of species 

based on species-habitat relationships (Guisan and Zimmermann 2000; Robinson et al. 2011). 

Distribution models were developed based on fishery-independent survey data from 2003-2017 

combined with remote sensing data on oceanographic conditions, substrate, geography, and the 

surrounding ecosystems of wetlands and estuaries (see Pickens and Taylor 2020 for details). Prey 

species’ distributions were also included as predictor variables. Predictive models of shrimp and fish 

were assessed with independent validation data, and all models presented explained 30-45% of the 

deviance (equivalent to an r2 for count data) in validation data. Species distribution models predicting 

the probability of presence were >80% accurate as measured by Area Under the Curve (AUC) statistics;

this shows very good predictive ability (Manel et al. 2001). Data and results for shrimp and snapper 

species represent summer and fall seasons, while shark distribution models represent spring, summer, 

and fall seasons. We selected species to model based on their socio-economic value, use of shoals, data 

availability, representation of key trophic levels (e.g., prey and apex predators) and guilds (e.g., 

demersal, juveniles of species that use hard bottom habitats as adults). Species modeled include: brown 

shrimp (adults), pink shrimp (adults), white shrimp (adults), lane snapper (age-0 and 1), red snapper 

(age-0 and 1), Atlantic sharpnose shark (juveniles and adults), blacktip shark (juveniles and adults), and 

spinner shark (juveniles and adults). The relative abundance or probability of presence for the selected 

species that overlap with this area are listed in Tables 5a - 5b and further indicate the relative 

importance of the proposed area to the species compared to surrounding habitats. Appendix A lists the 

most influential variables that went into each model. Models represent the relative abundance or 

probability of presence for species’ life stages sampled in federal waters, and do not extend to state 

waters or estuaries.

Brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus), pink shrimp (Penaeus duorarum), and white shrimp (Penaeus 

setiferus):

All three shrimp species are demersal, depend on estuaries in early life stages, and inhabit offshore 

waters as adults. Brown-, pink-, and white shrimp have high economic value in the Gulf of Mexico. In 

2016, commercial fisheries landed were brown shrimp ($157 million), white shrimp ($206 million), and 

pink shrimp ($24.4 million) (NOAA NMFS Office of Science and Technology 2019). In particular, brown 
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shrimp have been documented as an integral part of the Gulf of Mexico food web, as they are described 

as prey of small pelagic fish, small demersal fish, flatfish, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, benthic 

feeding sharks, several snapper and grouper species, black drum, red drum, and others (Tarnecki et al. 

2016).

Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus):

Red snapper use shoals and sand/mud substrates as demersal juveniles before inhabiting natural and 

artificial reefs as adults (Gallaway et al. 2009). Red snapper are particularly important to commercial and 

recreational fisheries; in 2016, commercial landings totaled $26.5 million for the Gulf of Mexico (NOAA 

NMFS Office of Science and Technology 2019).

Lane snapper (Lutjanus synagris):

Lane snapper is a subtropical, reef-associated species that have a demersal juvenile stage welldocumented to inhabit shallow waters with sand/mud bottoms, including shoal habitats (Mikulas and 

Rooker 2008; Wells et al. 2009). Commercial landings of lane snapper are modest and occur primarily in 

Florida where landings totaled $86,219 in 2016 (NOAA NMFS Office of Science and Technology 2019). 

They are a regular recreational catch offshore of Florida as well.

Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus):

Blacktip shark is a large coastal shark species that primarily preys on teleost fishes (Cortés 1999) and is 

listed as ‘vulnerable’ globally by the IUCN (Burgess and Branstetter 2000). Blacktip sharks are one of 

most valuable sharks to commercial fisheries of the Atlantic Ocean (Castro 1996). In the western Gulf of 

Mexico (west of -88o longitude), 207 metric tons of blacktip shark were harvested in 2017, whereas 32 

metric tons were harvested in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. In the Gulf of Mexico, juvenile blacktip shark 

feed mostly on Clupeidae, particularly Gulf menhaden Brevoortia patronus, followed by croaker (Bethea 

et al. 2004).

Atlantic sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae):

Atlantic sharpnose shark are relatively small, demersal sharks that feed on crustaceans and teleost 

fishes (Cortés 1999). In the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic sharpnose are regularly caught in recreational and 

commercial fisheries.

Spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna):

Spinner shark is listed as 'near threatened' globally by the IUCN (Burgess 2009) and is a common target 

by commercial fisheries. Spinner shark primarily prey on teleost fishes (Cortés 1999), particularly Gulf 

menhaden Brevoortia patronus, which are an important prey species in the Gulf of Mexico (Geers et al. 

2016).
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Table 5a: Predicted relative abundance of selected EFH species in the project area and the surrounding 

marine environment. All items are all mean values. According to their lengths, the vast majority of sharks 

were juvenile and adults. There were a small fraction of young-of-the-year (0.002%-2% of individuals). 

Modeled shrimp species are also predominantly adults.

Species Age group(s) Season Unit

Within Shoal/ 

Borrow Area Within 20km

Within 

Species’

Geographic 

Range 

Within the 

Region

Atlantic 

sharpnose 

shark

All detected 

in surveys

Spring;Summer;Fall sharks/100 

hooks/hour

11.96 11.07 8.29

Brown 

shrimp

All detected 

in surveys

Summer individuals/km 

of trawl

77.96 50.51 77.42

Red snapper Year 0 Summer individuals/km 

of trawl

0.45 0.21 0.32

White 

shrimp

All detected 

in surveys

Summer individuals/km 

of trawl

11.31 9.02 2.46
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Table 5b: Probability of presence for selected EFH species in the project area and the surrounding marine 

environment. All items reported are mean values.

Species Age group(s) Season

Within Shoal/ 

Borrow Area Within 20km

Within Species’ 

Geographic 

Range within 

the Region

Lane snapper Year 1 All 0.02 0.01 0.31

Red snapper Year 1 All 0.03 0.07 0.16

Spinner shark All detected in 

surveys

Spring;Summer;Fall 0.42 0.73 0.13

Blacktip shark All detected in 

surveys

Spring;Summer;Fall 0.86 0.85 0.38

Lane snapper Year 0 Summer 0.07 0.05 0.23

Pink shrimp All detected in 

surveys

Summer;Fall 0.07 0.14 0.51

5 Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC)

Habitat Areas of Potential Concern (HAPC) are subsets of EFH that have been identified for special 

consideration during planning due to the rarity of the environment, stressors from development, 

importance to federally managed species, or vulnerability to anthropogenic degradation (BOEM; NOAA 

2018a). HAPCs that overlap the proposed area are listed in Table 6 and have been considered within this 

assessment.
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Table 6: List of HAPCs that overlap the project area.

No Results Found

Site Name Link

6 Forage Species for EFH Species

Certain forage species may be important indicators for the presence of EFH species However, these 

forage species themselves may not be listed as EFH. [If, after a manual review of source literature below 

and any additional literature, information is revealed which may be important to this assessment, fill in 

here. For example, are there a list of important forage species for an EFH species that ShoalMATE has 

indicated as having high impact potential for this project? Or, are there non-EFH listed forage species 

that are known to be in the area of the project and are important for a variety of EFH species?]

For further information on forage species for EFH, see Tarnecki et al. 2016.[Add any additional sources 

identified during manual review].

7 Areas Closed to Fishing

[The author of this report should also evaluate the are of interest for possible fishery closures. Fisheries 

may be closed by season, by gear type, by species, or by other metrics. Federal, state, and local closures 

should be included here.]

VI. Proposed Mitigation

Measures to minimize or avoid effects on EFH and managed species will be implemented based on 

consultation with federal agencies. Overarching measures to mitigate impacts are as follows: 1) 

implementation of best management and engineering practices, 2) completion of hydrographic surveys 

pre- and post- dredging; and 3) coordination with the NMFS to create a management plan to guide 

future replenishment so that mining of the sediment resource remains sustainable.

[Additional mitigations specific to this project not available in the tool.]

VII. Conclusion and Agency Review

The severity of the impact to EFH and supported species is dictated by: 1) the spatial extent of the 

impact and 2) the chronic or long-term nature of the impact. A review of international literature has 

shown heightened levels of turbidity regularly occur within 3 km (or 1.86 miles) of dredging sites; 

turbidity, as a direct result of dredging, often settles within minutes to hours, but long-term monitoring 

of dredge sites has also shown resuspension of sediments occurs up to 1 1⁄2 years after the dredging 

event (Pickens and Taylor 2020). Mortality of fish from turbidity is unlikely, but avoidance of the area by 

fish is a strong possibility (Pickens and Taylor 2020). Underwater sounds and fish entrainment are more 

local effects that occur over short time periods during the dredging event itself.

The areas that have been designated as EFH in the project area have been given this classification 

because they are believed to be “those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, 
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feeding, or growth to maturity” (16 U. S. C. 1802). HAPC, a separate designation within EFH, is based on 

one or more of the following considerations: 1) the importance of the ecological function, 2) extent to 

which the habitat is sensitive to human-induced degradation, 3) whether and to what extent 

development activities are stressing the habitat type, or 4) rarity of habitat type [50 CFR 600.815(a)(8)].

As discussed and evaluated in this assessment, offshore dredging, dredge transit, and placement along 

the shoreline are not expected to impact “those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, 

breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity” to any appreciable extent over a significantly large area or 

over any significant period of time. Impacts would be limited and short-term. From a finfish perspective, 

demersal species, early life stages (i.e., eggs, larvae), dormant life stages, spawning individuals, and 

habitats that are important for species’ migration are predicted to most impacted (Pickens and Taylor 

2020). Other pelagic species and life stages are predicted to be minimally impacted. Given the relatively 

small-size of the impacted area relative to the large geographic ranges of transitory fishes, the proposed 

activities are likely to have only minor impacts on the populations of finfish evaluated in this analysis.

Accordingly, it has been determined that the proposed project may have adverse effects on EFH for 

Federally managed species, but adverse effects on EFH species, due to construction, will largely be 

temporary and localized within the dredged footprints and beach nourishment areas in the surf zone. In 

conclusion, the project is not anticipated to significantly impact EFH species or habitat that may be in 

the project area.
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VIII. References

Appleby J, Scarratt DJ. Physical effects of suspended solids on marine and estuarine fish and shellfish 

with special reference to ocean dumping: A literature review. 1989.

Bethea DM, Buckel JA, Carlson JK. Foraging ecology of the early life stages of four sympatric shark 

species. Marine Ecology Progress Series 2004;268:245-264.

BOEM. Essential Fish Habitat. https://www.boem.gov/Essential-Fish-Habitat/. BOEM. Accessed 19 

October 2018.

Burgess GH, Branstetter S. 2000 Carcharhinus limbatus (Northwest Atlantic subpopulation). The IUCN 

Red List of Threatened Species 2000: e.T39373A10218026. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2000.RLTS.T39373A10218026.en

Castro JI. Biology of the blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, off the southeastern United States. 

Bulletin of Marine Science 1996;59(3):508-522.

Cortes E. Standardized diet compositions and trophic levels of sharks. ICES Journal of marine science 

1999;56(5):707-717.

Erftemeijer PL, Riegl B, Hoeksema BW, Todd PA. Environmental impacts of dredging and other sediment 

disturbances on corals: a review. Marine pollution bulletin 2012;64(9):1737-1765.

Fisher R, Stark C, Ridd P, Jones R. Spatial patterns in water quality changes during dredging in tropical 

environments. PloS one 2015;10(12):e0143309.

Gallaway BJ, Szedlmayer ST, Gazey WJ. A life history review for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico with an 

evaluation of the importance of offshore petroleum platforms and other artificial reefs. Reviews 

in Fisheries Science 2009;17(1):48-67.

GMFMC and NOAA. Final Report 5-Year Review of Essential Fish Habitat Requirements Including Review 

of Habitat Areas of Particular Concern and Adverse Effects of Fishing and Non-Fishing in the 

Fishery Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico. 2016. http://gulfcouncil.org/wpcontent/uploads/EFH-5-Year-Revew-plus-App-A-and-B_Final_12-2016.pdf

Guisan A, Zimmermann NE. Predictive habitat distribution models in ecology. Ecological modelling 

2000;135(2-3):147-186.

Havis RN. Environmental Effects of Dredging: Sediment Resuspension by Selected Dredges. ARMY 

ENGINEER WATERWAYS EXPERIMENT STATION VICKSBURG MS ENVIRONMENTAL LAB; 1988.

Kim TG, Grigalunas TA, Han K-N. The economic costs to fisheries because of marine sand mining in 

Ongjin Korea: Concepts, methods, and illustrative results. Ecological Economics 2008;65(3):498-

507.

Kjelland ME, Woodley CM, Swannack TM, Smith DL. A review of the potential effects of suspended 

sediment on fishes: potential dredging-related physiological, behavioral, and transgenerational 

implications. Environment Systems and Decisions 2015;35(3):334-350.
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Lindeman KC and Snyder DB. Nearshore hardbottom fishes of southeast Florida and effects of habitat 

burial caused by dredging. Fishery Bulletin 1999;97(3):508-525.

Manel S, Williams HC, Ormerod SJ. Evaluating presence-absence models in ecology: the need to account 

for prevalence. Journal of applied Ecology 2001;38(5):921-931.

Michel J, Bejarano AC, Peterson CH, Voss C. Review of biological and biophysical impacts from dredging 

and handling of offshore sand. Herndon, VA.: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean 

Energy Management, OCS Study BOEM 2013- 0119.; 2013 2013. 258 p.

Mikulas JJ, Rooker JR. Habitat use, growth, and mortality of post-settlement lane snapper (Lutjanus 

synagris) on natural banks in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Fisheries Research 2008;93(1-

2):77-84.

NOAA. Habitat Areas of Particular Concern with Essential Fish Habitat. NOAA. 

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Office of Science and Technology: Silver Spring, MD https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/commercialfisheries/commercial-landings/annual-landings/index (accessed 29 May 2019); 2019.

NOAA. Ocean Reporting Tool. NOAA, BOEM. https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/tools/ort.html. 2018b. 

Accessed 19 October 2018.

PIANC. Dredging and port construction around coral reefs. The World Association for Waterborne 

Transport Infrastructure (PIANC), Report 108; 2010. 75 p.

Quinn, J.F. and Nies, T.A. Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2 Final Environmental Impact 

Statement. Appendix B: EFH Supplementary Tables, Pry Species Information, and Spawning 

Information. New England Fishery Management Council. 2016. 45 p.

Reine KJ, Clarke DG, Engler RM. Entrainment by hydraulic dredges-A review of potential impacts. ARMY 

ENGINEER WATERWAYS EXPERIMENT STATION VICKSBURG MS ENVIRONMENTAL LAB; 1998.

Reine KJ, Clarke D, Dickerson C, Wikel G. Characterization of underwater sounds produced by trailing 

suction hopper dredges during sand mining and pump-out operations. ENGINEER RESEARCH 

AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER VICKSBURG MS ENVIRONMENTAL LAB; 2014a.

Reine KJ, Dickerson C, Brodges T. Characterization of underwater sounds produced by a hydraulic 

cutterhead dredge during maintenance dredging in the Stockton Deepwater Shipping Channel, 

California. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS VICKSBURG MS ENGINEER RESEARCH AND 

DEVELOPMENT CENTER; 2014b.

Robinson LM, Elith J, Hobday AJ, Pearson RG, Kendall BE, Possingham HP, Richardson AJ. Pushing the 

limits in marine species distribution modelling: lessons from the land present challenges and 

opportunities. Global Ecology and Biogeography 2011;20(6):789-802.
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Robinson SP, Theobald PD, Lepper PA, Hayman G, Humphrey VF, Wang L-S, Mumford S. Measurement of 

underwater noise arising from marine aggregate operations. The Effects of Noise on Aquatic 

Life: Springer; 2012. p 465-468

Suedel BC, Kim J, Clarke DG, Linkov I. A risk-informed decision framework for setting environmental 

windows for dredging projects. Science of the total environment 2008;403(1-3):1-11.

Sutton G, Boyd S, Augris C, Bonne W, Carlin D, Cato I, Cowling M, van Dalfsen J, Delpech J-P, Desprez M. 

Effects of extraction of marine sediments on the marine environment 1998-2004. International 

Council for the Exploration of the Sea; 2009.

Tarnecki, J.H., Wallace, A.A., Simons, J.D., Ainsworth, C.H. Progression of a Gulf of Mexico food web 

supporting Atlantis ecosystem model development. Fisheries Research 2016. 179, p. 237-250.

Utne-Palm AC. Visual feeding of fish in a turbid environment: physical and behavioural aspects. Marine 

and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology 2002;35(1-2):111-128.

Wells RJD, Harper JO, Rooker JR, Landry AM, Dellapenna TM. Fish assemblage structure on a drowned 

barrier island in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Hydrobiologia 2009;625(1):207-221.

Wenger AS, Harvey E, Wilson S, Rawson C, Newman SJ, Clarke D, Saunders BJ, Browne N, Travers MJ, 

McIlwain JL and others. A critical analysis of the direct effects of dredging on fish. Fish and 

Fisheries 2017;18(5):967-985.

Wilber DH, Clarke DG. Biological effects of suspended sediments: a review of suspended sediment 

impacts on fish and shellfish with relation to dredging activities in estuaries. North American 

Journal of Fisheries Management 2001;21(4):855-875.

[Additional information to be filled in manually based on the items cited in manually updated sections 

above.]

<Additional references from the tool output’s table of cited sources>

<Possible additional references input here via linking to Endnote document>
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Appendix A: Variables in Predictive Models

Variable Description

Bott temp Bottom temperature

Brown shrimp Prey species distribution modeled

Chlorophyll Concentration of chlorophyll in surface waters (mg m-3)

Chlorophyll sum Concentration of chlorophyll in the surface waters during summer (mg m-3)

Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) prey species distribution

Current-U sum Velocity of west to east currents

Dist to shoal Distance to shoal (km)

Dist to shore/shoreline Distance to shoreline (km)

Dist to artif reef Distance to artificial reef (km) (includes oil platforms/other artificial reefs)

Dist to Gulf Stream Distance to shoreline

Dist to reef Distance to natural reef

DOY Day of year

Nearby estuaries km2 of estuarine waters within 160 km of location

Grain size Sediment grain size (mm)

Hypoxia Probability of hypoxia

Mantis shrimp (species in Order Stomatopoda) prey species distribution

MLD Mixed layer depth (m)

Pink shrimp (Pandalus borealis) prey species distribution modeled

Salinity Minimum annual bottom salinity

Season Summer or Fall

Squid Prey species distribution

Survey time Time that the survey was conducted (00:00)

Temperature/Temp Bottom water temperatures (°C)

Wetlands/Nearby wetlands km2 of estuarine wetlands within 160 km of location
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GULF OF MEXICO MODELS

Shrimp Model Variables
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Snapper Model Variables

 
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Shark Model Variables
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