Alternative Text Description for Loggerhead Sea Turtle Consultation Area

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the Section 7 Consultation Area for Loggerhead Sea Turtle in the Southeast United States. The map shows marine areas where NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office recommends Federal agencies conduct Endangered Species Act consultations due to the presence of loggerhead sea turtles. The hatched pattern indicates ocean and coastal waters where this species' life stages, behaviors, or critical habitat occur, primarily surrounding Florida and extending into adjacent marine regions.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the southeastern United States and adjacent marine waters, extending from Alabama and Georgia in the north through the entire Florida peninsula and into the Gulf of America to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Major cities labeled include Birmingham and Montgomery in Alabama, Atlanta in Georgia, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami in Florida, and Nassau in The Bahamas. The map extends southward to show portions of Cuba, including Havana and Cancún near the Yucatan Channel. The Atlantic Coastal Plain and broader Coastal Plain regions are visible in the northern portions of the mapped area.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Loggerhead Sea Turtle Consultation Area surrounds the entire Florida coastline, forming a continuous marine zone that extends from nearshore waters into offshore areas. The consultation area encompasses all waters of the Gulf of America adjacent to Florida's western coast, the Florida Keys, and Atlantic waters along Florida's eastern coast. The pattern extends northward along the Atlantic coast to approximately Jacksonville and westward into the northern Gulf of America past the Florida Panhandle. The consultation area forms a broad band around the peninsula, indicating that loggerhead sea turtles utilize extensive marine habitats throughout Florida's coastal and offshore waters.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Loggerhead Sea Turtle Consultation Area

This layer represents marine areas where Federal agencies should conduct Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultations due to loggerhead sea turtle presence.

Marine Consultation Zone (green crosshatch pattern on light blue)

Appearance:

Light green crosshatch diagonal pattern overlaying light blue ocean waters, with a darker green outline delineating the boundaries.

Distribution:

The consultation area completely surrounds the Florida peninsula, covering marine waters in both the Gulf of America to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The zone extends continuously around the southern tip of Florida through the Florida Keys.

Notable locations:

The consultation area encompasses waters adjacent to all major Florida coastal cities including Jacksonville, Orlando (inland reference), Tampa, Miami, and the Keys. The zone extends westward along the northern Gulf of America coast past Tallahassee and eastward along the Atlantic coast. Waters surrounding the southern Florida peninsula and extending toward The Bahamas are included.

Spatial patterns:

The consultation area forms a continuous coastal and offshore band with variable width, generally extending farther offshore in the Gulf of America and southern Florida waters compared to narrower bands along portions of the Atlantic coast. The pattern follows the natural coastline contours, including bays, estuaries, and the complex geography of the Florida Keys. The zone's breadth suggests loggerhead sea turtles utilize both nearshore and offshore marine habitats throughout their range in Florida waters.

Overlapping Patterns

The consultation area boundary closely follows Florida's coastline, indicating the zone begins in nearshore waters and extends into offshore marine environments. The landmass of Florida itself remains unshaded, emphasizing that this consultation area applies specifically to marine and coastal waters rather than terrestrial areas.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map is intended as guidance for Federal action agencies when considering Section 7 consultations under the Endangered Species Act. The consultation areas represent locations where NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office recommends consultations based on spatial and temporal occurrence of listed species. These areas are within the species range but may not include all areas of extralimital occurrence. Due to data limitations, consultation areas may lack spatial resolution to capture very small tributaries, shallow marsh areas, or other fine-scale coastal features. Activities outside the depicted consultation area but within proximity may still affect loggerhead sea turtles. Federal action agencies are encouraged to request technical assistance from NOAA Fisheries to verify species presence or absence when making consultation determinations.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

This dataset was developed by NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office using the best available scientific and commercial information and professional judgment. The data provides guidance for Federal action agencies in consideration of Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Users with more recent information not reflected in the data are encouraged to contact NMFS at nmfs.ser.esa.consultations@noaa.gov. Data source layer: CA_NMFS_POLY_SEP24

Definition Query:

The map displays data filtered by species name, specifically showing areas where SPNAME equals 'LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE'. This represents one thematic layer extracted from a broader dataset containing consultation areas for multiple species.

Scale Information:

The map shows a regional-scale view appropriate for understanding the general extent of consultation areas across Florida and adjacent waters. This scale is suitable for planning and consultation determination purposes but may not capture fine-scale features in small waterways or shallow coastal areas.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

This is version 2b of the dataset, with a layer date of September 2024 (SEP24).

Limitations:

Consultation areas may lack spatial resolution to capture action areas in very small tributaries, shallow areas near marshes, or other fine-scale coastal features. The areas depicted may not include all locations of extralimital occurrence outside the typical species range. The NOAA Southeast Region jurisdiction includes states NC, SC, GA, FL, MS, AL, LA, TX, NM, OK, KS, NE, IA, MO, AR, TN, and KY, plus waters of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in the Atlantic Ocean from the NC/VA border through Florida, the Gulf of America, and the U.S. Caribbean.

Map Coverage:

The map extent covers the southeastern United States from Alabama and Georgia southward through Florida, extending into marine waters of the Gulf of America and Atlantic Ocean. Portions of Cuba, The Bahamas, and the Yucatan Channel are shown for geographic context.

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