SEAFWA 2018

AUTHORS: Caitlin Young, NOAA RESTORE Science Program; Chris Simoniello, Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS); Julie Bosch, NOAA National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI)

ABSTRACT: Animal Telemetry provides a unique opportunity for researchers and managers to gather information on targeted species movement, habitat, nesting/spawning areas and food web use. In the Gulf of Mexico, current and past telemetry activities have provided valuable information for resource managers and decision makers at the State, Federal and local level. However, telemetry studies in the Gulf of Mexico suffer from a lack of coordination between researchers and across state lines. This lack of coordination impedes resource manager’s ability to manage species across state lines and hinders efforts to prioritize locations for future telemetry studies. In this interactive session, symposium organizers will provide a map of the Gulf of Mexico that identifies geographical areas of telemetry research along with what species are currently being tracked. Map data is drawn from past research efforts, available through public archives, as well as current research efforts. Participants will have the opportunity to review this inventory map and add to it. Finally, participants will use the inventory map to identify data gaps for species of concern in the Gulf of Mexico and set priorities for future telemetry data collection efforts.