Protecting Corals, Saving Ships

This Quarterly Summary includes highlights of all activities in FY 2006. This was a pivotal year in which a great deal of work was accomplished in pulling together the basic building blocks on which this project is based. The following is a list of the primary accomplishments of the past fiscal year:

1.    The geographic coordinates of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuaries (FKNMS) regulated areas were compared with published data and verified for accuracy. Validation of the geographic positions (for areas or zone limits) is crucial since they must match exactly with both the ENC and the Marine Information Object (MIO) data layers. Approximately 15 ENCs are needed to cover the FKNMS area and over half are completed. The remaining ENCs will be completed by November 2006. ENC coverage of the entire area is important in order to fully demonstrate the full benefits of using the supplemental MIO layers.

2.    A compilation of the various International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) S-57 objects, feature attributes and attribute values, required to produce a Coral Reef/Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) MIO layer was completed and forwarded to relevant international standards committees and working groups for review. This includes both regulatory and biological aspects.

3.    In order to facilitate MIO development and implementation, several software manufacturers and ENC data producers were contacted. In general, a willingness to implement these MIOs has been indicated, provided that the MIO Product Specification is agreed to by IHO.

4.    Three (3) electronic charting system (ECS) software licenses have been obtained for a demonstration test bed. Included in this procurement is the necessary software development to implement Coral Reef/MPA MIOs into the ECS. A number of vessels have already been contacted for demonstrations, including a NOAA vessel, a Coast Guard cutter, a FKNMS Enforcement vessel, and a Cruise Lines ship.

5.    The final version of the US Functional Classification System was received from the NOAA MPA Center in July 2006. The functional characteristics contained in this document provide important information about Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and will serve as a key component of the IHO S-57 data making up the Coral Reef/MPA Marine Information Object (MIO) layer. In order to gain international acceptance for using this classification system, it is essential that the MPA Functional Classification system be regarded as complementary to the IUCN Habitat Classification approach-not as a replacement. However, due to budget constraints, the MPA Center was unable to develop the necessary documentation to demonstrate the linkages between these two Classification Systems. Nevertheless, our plans are to continue developing the necessary technical specifications, and maintain close working relationships with other countries that have expressed an interest in using a similar approach (e.g., Australia, Belize, Cuba, and Mexico).

6.    Using the Functional Classification System, MIO data was mapped to the International IHO S-57 objects, feature attributes and attribute values required to produce a Coral Reef/MPA MIO layer and forwarded to relevant international standards committees for consideration.

7.    International acceptance by IMO and IHO for including Coral Reef MIOs and other MPAs on nautical charts, used by maritime vessels in order to ensure both navigation safety and marine environmental protection was initiated.

8.    A “Protecting Corals, Saving Ships” web site was released. This site contains most of the project description summaries, plans, accomplishments and other documents. The web site address is: http://savingcoralandships.noaa.gov.