Description: Created as part of a 2012 BOEM study on OCS renewable energy space-use conflicts, this data contains the commercial and recreational fishing locations off the Pacific coast of Washington, Oregon and California. The purpose of the study was to begin to identify potential space-use conflicts between OCS renewable energy development and other uses of the ocean environment and recommend measures that BOEM can implement in order to promote avoidance or mitigation of such conflicts, thereby facilitating responsible and efficient development of OCS renewable energy resources. The ethnographic data was created by engaging individuals and small groups in one on one guided discussions, and making handwritten shapes on paper maps to depict fishing locations. These commercial and recreational fishing locations have since been condensed into a single layer.
Name: West Coast Rockfish Conservation Areas, 2015
Display Field: AREANAME
Type: Feature Layer
Geometry Type: esriGeometryPolygon
Description: These data delineate Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCA) off the West Coast of the United States for 2015. There are three types of areas closures depicted in this layer: Commercial Trawl Non-Groundfish, Commercial Trawl Groundfish, and Commercial Non-Trawl Groundfish. These areas represent closures to commercial fishing for non-groundfish with trawl gear, closed to commercial fishing for groundfish with trawl gear, or areas are closed to commercial fishing for groundfish with non-trawl gear, respectively. Closures may vary seasonally. Boundaries are lines that connect a series of coordinates that approximate particular depth contours. North/south boundaries are designated by specific lines of latitude. Keep in mind that Rockfish Management Areas are fairly dynamic and may change as often as 5 times per year.
Copyright Text: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
Name: West Coast Recreational Fishing Closures, 2015
Display Field: AREANAME
Type: Feature Layer
Geometry Type: esriGeometryPolygon
Description: These data delineate state and federally managed ocean areas off the West Coast of the United States that are closed to or have restrictions on recreational fishing for fish and invertebrates as of June 2015. These areas include marine protected areas, marine reserves, essential fish habitat conservation areas, and other types of conservation areas. Closures and restrictions may be year-round or seasonal. The data do not include all spatially explicit fishing regulations. The focus of these data is on fishing closures and restrictions that generally persist through time, and do not include many fishing management measures that are used to open and close areas dynamically to manage species, harvests, and seasons. Some areas where access is prohibited or restricted are included because these act as “de-facto" closures or restrictions to fishing.
Copyright Text: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
Name: West Coast Commercial Fishing Closures, 2015
Display Field: AREANAME
Type: Feature Layer
Geometry Type: esriGeometryPolygon
Description: These data delineate state and federally managed ocean areas off the West Coast of the United States that are closed to or have restrictions on commercial fishing for fish and invertebrates as of June 2015. These areas include marine protected areas, marine reserves, essential fish habitat conservation areas, and other types of conservation areas. Closures and restrictions may be year-round or seasonal. The data do not include all spatially explicit fishing regulations. The focus of these data is on fishing closures and restrictions that generally persist through time, and do not include many fishing management measures that are used to open and close areas dynamically to manage species, harvests, and seasons. Some areas where access is prohibited or restricted are included because these act as “de-facto" closures or restrictions to fishing.
Copyright Text: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)