Acoustic Telemetry, Cape Hatteras, and ocean Migratory Corridors: Defining Critical Habitats
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1
East Carolina University, Department of Biology, United States
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2
East Carolina University, United States
North Carolina continental shelf waters are being targeted for development for wind farms and for oil and gas exploration. The main site for the latter is only 38 miles from Cape Hatteras, a major topographic feature that changes the dynamics of near-shore large ocean currents including the Labrador Current and Gulf Stream. The Cape constricts shelf habitat and restricts the migratory corridors of highly migratory species. The Hatteras Acoustic Array just south of the Cape indicates that this area is heavily used by species of concern year-around. Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrhynchus migrate southward through Hatteras Bight in the fall and northward in the spring; some remain in the area throughout the winter months. Sandbar Sharks, Sand Tiger Sharks, and some Atlantic Sturgeon seem to migrate to Hatteras Bight and remain in the area throughout the winter, while other Atlantic sturgeon and White Sharks tend to migrate through Hatteras Bight on the way to other overwintering grounds. The period November through April seems to be the most critical period for these four species. Agencies need to expand the area of focus for these studies, as well as gather new information about resident species and marine mammals, before science-based environmental assessment can be made.
Acknowledgements
Primary funding by the N.C. General Assembly, FRG Program, through North Carolina Sea Grant, and by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Other support by N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, ASMFC, VEMCO, the Ocean Tagging Network (OTN), Liquid Robotics, Ryan Carlon, and Barbara Block. Thanks to the Atlantic Cooperative Telemetry (ACT) researchers: H. Brundage, D. Fox, C. Hager, B. Hoffman, J. Musick, P. Music, W. Post, T. Savoy, G. Skomal, and J. Smith.
Keywords:
acoustic telemetry,
Cape Hatteras,
Ocean migration,
critical habitat,
Oil and gas exploration,
Atlantic sturgeon,
sandbar shark,
Sand tiger shark,
White sharks,
spiny dogfish
Conference:
XV European Congress of Ichthyology, Porto, Portugal, 7 Sep - 11 Sep, 2015.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Life Cycles, Migration and Connectivity
Citation:
Rulifson
RA,
Cudney-Burch
JL,
Bangley
CW and
Dell'Apa
A
(2015). Acoustic Telemetry, Cape Hatteras, and ocean Migratory Corridors: Defining Critical Habitats.
Front. Mar. Sci.
Conference Abstract:
XV European Congress of Ichthyology.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fmars.2015.03.00060
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Received:
09 Nov 2015;
Published Online:
10 Nov 2015.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. Roger A Rulifson, East Carolina University, Department of Biology, Greenville, NORTH CAROLINA, 27858, United States, rulifsonr@ecu.edu