Containing the world’s third largest barrier reef, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) hosts many research entities every year that collect a staggering amount of data, much of which are mapping products. The sanctuary is faced with multiple decisions regarding zoning, fishery ecosystem management requirements, and effective protection of ESA species. Unfortunately, existing habitat maps do not extend beyond the 20 m depth contour, ignoring a significant portion of the coral reefs in the FKNMS, particularly vast portions of the Tortugas Ecological Reserves. The main objectives of this project were to compile, assess, and transition existing data into an accessible map interface to inform management decisions while preparing the sanctuary for future issues. This data collection is an inventory of seafloor mapping data from hydrographic multibeam sonar surveys from 2004-2018 and georeferenced benthic photographs and video clips with limited accompanying data from 2007-2019, all collected in and around the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

v 2.20220204

Containing the world’s third largest barrier reef, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) hosts many research entities every year that collect a staggering amount of data, much of which are mapping products. The sanctuary is faced with multiple decisions regarding zoning, fishery ecosystem management requirements, and effective protection of ESA species. Unfortunately, existing habitat maps do not extend beyond the 20 m depth contour, ignoring a significant portion of the coral reefs in the FKNMS, particularly vast portions of the Tortugas Ecological Reserves. The main objectives of this project were to compile, assess, and transition existing data into an accessible map interface to inform management decisions while preparing the sanctuary for future issues. This data collection is an inventory of seafloor mapping data from hydrographic multibeam sonar surveys from 2004-2018 and georeferenced benthic photographs and video clips with limited accompanying data from 2007-2019, all collected in and around the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

v 2.20220204