Mapping, Assessment, and Removal of Derelict Fishing Gear (DFG) from Stetson Bank, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
Gulf Coast; 2008
Background | Partners | Benefits of the Project | Map and Photos | 1-pager
*Check out sanctuary staff activities as they blog about dive operations near Stetson Bank, July 20-25, 2009.
Background
Shrimp trawl nets, boat anchors, twisted metal and fishing line scatter the surface of Stetson Bank, a mid-shelf bank in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Comprised of a main feature and a deep 'outer ring' of claystone outcroppings atop a salt dome formation, Stetson Bank provides an 'island' of productive, shallow habitat for the growth of coral and sponge communities which, in turn, are home to an array of invertebrates, bony fishes, sharks and turtles. The main feature of Stetson Bank is protected within the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS), while the deep 'outer ring' lies within a Habitat of Particular Concern (a Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council designation).
Recreational and commercial fishing, diving, boating, and other activities occur at and around Stetson Bank. Marine debris from these activities has been reported by divers and opportunistically documented through ROV habitat characterization surveys. Throughout the summer of 2008, marine debris surveys and mapping will be conducted and debris will be assessed for its impact on the biological community of Stetson Bank. If feasible, priority debris items will be removed by divers, under the guidance of sanctuary staff.
As a whole, this project contributes to ongoing research on the impacts and occurrence of marine debris within the FGBNMS and other hard-bottom habitats in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. More specifically, the removal of marine debris and derelict fishing gear will enhance the protection and restoration of the siltstone reef habitat of Stetson Bank.
Partners
- NOAA Diving Program
- National Undersea Research Center/University of North Carolina at Wilmington
- Spree Expeditions, Inc.
Benefits of the Project
- Assessment of the impacts and sources of marine debris in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
- Decreased vulnerability and increased protection of sanctuary resources, including the substrate and fauna of Stetson Bank.
- Increased safety of divers, fishermen and sanctuary personnel.
- Increased public awareness of the cause and effects of marine debris in deepwater habitats.
- Development of a marine debris prevention, monitoring, and response plan.
Map and Photos
Completed ROV tracks (red lines) and known locations of significant marine debris (+) on and around Stetson Bank. Significant amounts of derelict fishing gear and other marine debris (e.g., an engine block, trawl nets, long-line, and monofilament fishing line) are scattered along the claystone outcroppings of Stetson, over a 2.18 km2 area. Current FGBNMS (yellow box) and HAPC boundaries (blue box) are shown. Bathymetry provided by Jim Gardner/USGS; map created by DeBose/FGBNMS.
This net is representative of the many pieces of derelict fishing gear found on the crest (70-90’ depth) and in the deep waters (162-188’ depth) of Stetson Bank. Photo courtesy of FGBNMS.
Monofilament line is reported regularly by scuba divers visiting Stetson Bank. Photo courtesy of FGBNMS.
1-pager
Download the 1-pager handout (pdf 373KB) on this project here.
This program is funded through NOAA's Ocean Service, Office of Response & Restoration, Marine Debris Program.
