Prioritization 2: Deep-water Mapping (20 to 200m)

This 2023 study is a continuation of  2019 prioritization study  done by FCMaP in which two depth ranges were assessed: nearshore (0 to 20 m depth) and shelf (20 to 200m depth). The State of Florida has since been awarded $100 million in general revenue funds to capture statewide bathymetric lidar. The  Florida Seafloor Mapping Initiative  (FSMI) is designed with a focus on nearshore (0 to 20m depth) areas and mapping will begin later this summer/fall of 2023. During the  FCMaP 2022 Annual Summit  the community determined a further analysis of the deeper water areas (20 to 200m) and resulting products should be conducted as stakeholder needs for surveys and products may have shifted in response to storms, planned use and funding. In response to this action item the FCMaP Prioritization 2: Deep-water study was conducted to: 1) determine the implementation of systematic mapping of deeper waters around Florida and 2) understand the full scope of the community’s need for deep-water data. The FCMaP worked in conjunction with NOAA's  Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping (IOCM) Program  to conduct the new spatial prioritization exercise. On June 20, 2023 FCMaP and IOCM held a  virtual webinar  to review  2019 prioritization  efforts, discuss current mapping efforts, and provide instructions on how to use the prioritization tool ( FCMaP Prioritization 2: Deep-water (20-200m) Prioritization Tool - Background and Guidance for Participating  ). Accounts were created for stakeholders to access the online platform to participate in the prioritization. It was requested that FCMaP be provided one representative (POC) from each agency, lab, group etc. to participate on behalf of their organization.

Preliminary results of the FCMaP Prioritization 2: Deep-water (20 to 200m) were discussed at the FCMaP Mid-Year Forum (Sept 14, 2023, virtual) data will be published for public use on this page until then please view the recorded meeting below.

A web-based, participatory GIS tool was developed by NOAA and modified for Florida's needs by the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWC-FWRI). The tool was created to collect input from stakeholders from overnment, private, academic, and other non-government sectors. Rather than the coin method used in the 2019 prioritization, Prioritization 2 used high, medium, low ranking and participants could select as many grid cells as they wished

Participants were also asked why they need seafloor data or what they use the data for and what products they would like to have for the area.

This effort would not have been possible without the assistance of many NOAA, Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO), and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision staff who contributed substantially.