The ShoreZone Coastal Dataset as a Research Tool

1. The ShoreZone Coastal Dataset as a Research Tool John Harper, Coastal & Ocean Resources Inc. Jodi Harney, “ Neil Borecky, “ Mary Morris, Archipelago Marine Research Ltd. Susan Saupe, Cook Inlet RCAC Mandy Lindeberg, NOAA.NMFS, Auke Bay Lab K Koski, The Nature Conservancy

2. Acknowledgements Funding Partners: Alaska Department of Natural Resources Cook Inlet RCAC Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council National Park Service NOAA/NMFS Prince William Sound RCAC The Nature Conservancy

3. Research Highlights • BC province-wide dataset • 37,000 km of ShoreZone • Queen Charlotte Islands Herring Spawn • 27 years of herring spawn data • 4,660 km of ShoreZone • Sitka Sound Sand Lance Spawn Model

4. 173 second Introduction to ShoreZone Mapping Method

5. Flight-path (Prince of Wales Is) • lowest tides of the year • shoreline videography and photos

6. 688 690 687 689

7. Upper Beachface Cobble-pebble over sand Beach Berm Pebble over sand Lower Beachface Boulder-cobble-pebble over sand Low-tide Terrace Sand-mud

8. dune grass rockweed eelgrass soft browns

10. Research Highlights • BC province-wide dataset • 37,000 km of ShoreZone • Queen Charlotte Islands Herring Spawn • 27 years of herring spawn data • 4,660 km of ShoreZone • Sitka Sound Sand Lance Spawn Model

11. Eelgrass Distribution (5,183 km; 16%) “old data”

14. Macrocystis Distribution (Giant Kelp) “old data”

15. Nereocystis Distribution (Bull Kelp) “old data”

16. Urchin Barren BioBand (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus) Areas of intensive urchin grazing, leaving only a white, calcareous algae Ground photo Gwaii Haanas National Park, 1992

17. Aerial view of Urchin Barren

18. Fisheries and Oceans Canada using kelp and urchin barren biobands to represent urchin habitat capability. Model complements fishers’ log-book data and DFO dive site data to establish catch quota. Urchin Barren Distribution Dan Leus, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Urchin Fishery Manager “Personally, I see the future of the [ShoreZone] database as being a bible for the shellfish group here. ” “old data”

19. Research Highlights • BC province-wide dataset • 37,000 km of ShoreZone • Queen Charlotte Islands Herring Spawn • 27 years of herring spawn data • 4,660 km of ShoreZone • Sitka Sound Sand Lance Spawn Model

20. Queen Charlotte Islands Herring – ShoreZone Analysis

21. Queen Charlotte Islands Herring Spawn Dataset • The Queen Charlotte Islands shoreline is 4,660 km in length • There are 7,895 mapped ShoreZone units • Fisheries & Oceans Canada has mapped spawn locations for 27 years (1970 to 1997)

22. Moresby Island Englefield Bay Herring spawn polygon data were snapped to Shore Units

23. Summary indicates a total of 753 km have had spawn in at least one year of the 27 year dataset. • Map shows a few significant locations where spawn was very frequent (16-21 yr of the 27 year data record).

24. Expanded view of Juan Perez Sound shows frequency of occurrence relative to Shore Units – 11 km of High Frequency Spawn Occurrence are shown.

25. Comparison of Island-wide Occurrence to High-Spawn Occurrence Occurrence of BioBands (island-wide) Where relative proportion of spawn locations are greater than island-wide occurrence, a spawning preference is indicated: Fucus Ulva Soft Brown algae Zostera Macrocystis

26. Research Highlights • BC province-wide dataset • 37,000 km of ShoreZone • Queen Charlotte Islands Herring Spawn • 27 years of herring spawn data • 4,660 km of ShoreZone • Sitka Sound Sand Lance Spawn Model

27. Sitka Sound Sand Lance Beach Spawning Model

31. ShoreZone Research ApplicationsSUMMARY • Three examples of using regional datasets for resource management: • Urchin fishery catch quotas • Herring spawn model • Sand Lance beach spawning model www.CoastAlaska.net