Alternative Text Description for Fin Whale Section 7 Consultation Area

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the Section 7 Consultation Area for fin whales in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean and northern Florida waters. The map shows a designated offshore zone where federal action agencies are recommended to conduct Endangered Species Act consultations due to the spatial and temporal occurrence of fin whales. This consultation area extends along the Atlantic coast from approximately South Carolina through northeastern Florida, representing critical habitat and areas where fin whale life stages and behaviors occur.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the southeastern Atlantic coastal region from South Carolina through northeastern Florida. Major cities visible along the coastline include Charleston and North Charleston in South Carolina, Savannah in Georgia, and Jacksonville, Palm Coast, Orlando, and Palm Bay in Florida. The map extends from the Coastal Plain region on the western edge eastward into the Atlantic Ocean waters. The consultation area is located entirely offshore in federal waters beyond the immediate coastline.

KEY INSIGHTS

The fin whale consultation area forms a distinct offshore corridor running roughly parallel to the southeastern Atlantic coastline. The zone extends from waters off the South Carolina coast southward to approximately the central Florida Atlantic coast. The consultation area is positioned well offshore, separated from the coastline by a substantial distance of open ocean waters. The zone maintains a relatively consistent east-west width as it extends along the north-south axis. This spatial pattern suggests that fin whale occurrence in this region is concentrated in specific offshore waters rather than near-coastal areas.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Fin Whale Section 7 Consultation Area

This layer represents the geographic zone where NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office recommends federal agencies conduct Section 7 consultations under the Endangered Species Act due to fin whale presence.

Fin Whale Consultation Area (crosshatch pattern on blue background)

Appearance:

The consultation area is displayed with a diagonal crosshatch pattern overlaying a light blue ocean background, creating a textured appearance that distinguishes it from surrounding waters.

Distribution:

The consultation area begins in offshore waters east of South Carolina and extends southward along the Atlantic coast to approximately central Florida. The zone is positioned entirely in offshore federal waters.

Notable locations:

The consultation area extends offshore from the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and northeastern Florida. The northern extent aligns roughly with waters east of Charleston, while the southern extent reaches approximately to the latitude of Palm Bay, Florida.

Spatial patterns:

The consultation area forms an elongated corridor oriented in a north-south direction, following the general orientation of the southeastern Atlantic coastline. The zone maintains relatively consistent boundaries and does not directly abut the coastline, indicating a buffer of nearshore waters between the coast and the consultation area. The western boundary of the zone runs roughly parallel to the coast throughout its extent.

Overlapping Patterns

No overlapping patterns with other thematic layers are present in this map. The consultation area is displayed as a single distinct zone against the base map.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents guidance for federal action agencies making determinations under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. The consultation area boundaries are based on the best available scientific and commercial information regarding fin whale occurrence in the Southeast Region. Due to data limitations and spatial resolution constraints, activities outside but in proximity to the displayed consultation area may still affect fin whales. Federal action agencies are encouraged to request technical assistance from NOAA Fisheries SERO to verify species presence or absence when making consultation determinations, particularly for projects in small tributaries, shallow nearshore areas, or locations at the margins of the mapped zone.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

This dataset is maintained by NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office (SERO) to provide guidance for federal action agencies conducting Section 7 consultations under the Endangered Species Act. The consultation areas are developed using the best available scientific and commercial information combined with professional judgment regarding listed species occurrence, life stages, behaviors, and critical habitat. The data source layer name is CA_NMFS_POLY_SEP24.

Definition Query:

The map displays only consultation areas for fin whales. The data was filtered using the criteria SPNAME = 'FIN WHALE' to show the specific consultation zone for this species.

Scale Information:

The map displays a regional view appropriate for understanding the general location and extent of the fin whale consultation area relative to the southeastern Atlantic coastline. The scale is suitable for regional planning and initial consultation determinations.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

This is version 2b of the consultation area data, with the dataset dated September 2024 (SEP24).

Limitations:

Due to data limitations and spatial resolution, the consultation areas may not capture very small waterways, shallow areas near marshes, or fine-scale coastal features. Activities outside the mapped consultation area but within proximity may still affect fin whales. Areas of extralimital occurrence (occasional presence outside the normal range) may not be included. Users with more recent information about fin whale occurrence are encouraged to contact NOAA Fisheries SERO at nmfs.ser.esa.consultations@noaa.gov for data updates.

Map Coverage:

The map extent covers the southeastern Atlantic Ocean from South Carolina through central Florida, including portions of the Coastal Plain and extending eastward into federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The NOAA Southeast Region's full jurisdiction includes states from North Carolina through Texas and portions of the midwestern United States, as well as waters of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of America, and U.S. Caribbean, though only the Atlantic coastal portion is displayed in this map view.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.