GENERAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The following are the Accomplishments for FY 2005:

•     Working closely with our partners – particularly the FKNMS Sanctuaries Advisory Council (SAC) -- initial stakeholder feedback was obtained to determine the type of biological and regulatory information on coral reef and related marine habitats that should be shown on electronic charts. Once determined, existing marine habitat (GIS data files) and established regulatory zones (areas) of the FKNMS were converted into a digital data format suitable for use with electronic charts.

•   An internal NOAA Technical Working Group (TWG) was established in January 2005 to begin development of data formats suitable for international standards adoption/implementation. The TWG determined that a new Marine Information Object (MIO) for a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) is needed that includes both biological (marine habitat) and regulatory components. This was proposed to the Harmonization Group on Marine Information Objects (HGMIO) at the meeting held at the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in Monaco in June 2005. In addition, a submission was made to the IHO Transfer Standard Maintenance Activity Development Working Group (TSMAD), proposing that new IHO S-57 objects for coral reef habitats and PSSAs be added to the IHO S-57 Object Catalog.

•   Also in June 2005, the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) was brought on board as an important stakeholder and end user of this product. The ICCL is very interested obtaining supplemental information on which to make informed navigational decisions. At their 2005 Annual Meeting, ICCL embraced the project since it has the potential to provide the essential information needed to avoid environmentally damaging incidents that could adversely impact the Cruise Industry. The ICCL endorsed the project and established an ICCL Working Group, consisting of an Operational, Technical, and Hydrographic representatives who met directly with our project team. ICCL also agreed to participate in the Testbed Phase of the project.

•   Another new and very important partner that was engaged is the NOAA Marine Protected Area (MPA) Center in Monterey, CA. They are working on a project to bring MPA information to the mariner via the U.S. Coast Pilot and other nautical publications. Joint project efforts include the development of a logical classification and coding system for MIO information that can be implemented and used worldwide. Several international and national classification schemes were evaluated including the World Conservation Union (IUCN), NOAA’s new MPA Classification System, and MPA classification systems currently used in Australia and Cuba. It appears that the NOAA MPA Classification System is most suitable for Coral Reef and PSSAs since it is based on functional criteria rather than descriptive names or programmatic designations.

Thus, a total of 6 meetings were conducted with both external partners and internal working groups. Two new new partners, the MPA Center, and the ICCL were engaged in the project. Coral Reef data of the FKNMS was converted into a format based on international standards for use with NOAA ENCs and shipboard systems. Soon, with the initiation of a plan to gain international acceptance via IMO and IHO for including Coral Reef MIOs and other MPAs on nautical charts (paper and electronic), used by maritime vessels, navigational safety and marine environmental protection will be enhanced.

The Following is a list of PRODUCTS AND OUTCOMES for FY 2005

1.  Prepared White Paper describing available data and how it can be utilized to protect coral to serve as a foundation for discussions at a stakeholder workshop.

2.  Identified priority environmental information/features for depiction/display on electronic nautical charts based on the outcome of workshop.

3.  Conducted workshop of stakeholders.

4.  Drafted technical formats and symbology for international acceptance/use.