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N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources

NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Marine Fisheries - Shellfish Habitat Mapping

Marine Fisheries

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Saltmarsh

Saltmarsh habitat

Oyster rocks

Oyster rocks in the marsh

Tonging

Tonging for oysters

Measuring

Taking measurements

in the square
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Shellfish Habitat and Abundance Mapping Program

North Carolina has the largest and most productive estuarine system of any state on the eastern seaboard. Behind the state’s fragile strand of barrier islands, lie shallow sounds where the land and sea gradually merge to form estuaries and brackish wetlands that support large populations of fish, shrimp, crabs and shellfish. In order to promote shellfish production and protect vital shellfish habitat, the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) maps coastal waters to find concentrations of oysters, clams and scallops and locate areas that are well suited for growing shellfish. To date, the DMF has mapped over 95,000 acres of waters from the Cape Fear River to the Newport River, including South River and areas in Core and Roanoke sounds.

Information on concentrations of shellfish and locations of viable shellfish habitat are gathered by the program. Bottom type is delineated systematically using hydraulic tongs and sounding poles. The bottom can either be soft, firm or hard; vegetated or non-vegetated; and with or without shell. Shellfish densities are sampled in each bottom type using tongs, rakes and meter squares, and entered into DMF’s biological database. Habitat coverage is included in the state’s Geographical Information System. The two databases are integrated to produce resource maps of shellfish producing areas and potentially productive bottom.

 

Map

Here's the results. A finished habitat map.

 

N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries • 3441 Arendell Street • Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 726-7021 or 1-800-682-2632

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