A Geographic Information
System (GIS) is a valuable tool for fisheries science
and management. As with any tool, though, one has to
understand when and where GIS is the right tool for
the job, and how the quality of the raw materials (spatial
data) the tool is applied to affects the final work
product. With this knowledge, spatial data and GIS
can be properly applied to fishery science and management,
and this usefulness will increase as ecosystem approaches
to management demand a more spatially explicit treatment
of the physical and biological components of ecosystems
and their interactions.
The goals of the GIS program within the Office of
Science and Technology are to:
- Promote better science through the proper
use of GIS tools and spatial data
- Provide GIS analysis, project consulting and
support, and development of cartographic products
- Transfer GIS technology to other NMFS offices
and fishery management agencies through training
and
outreach
- Represent NMFS science and management concerns
on the NOAA GIS Committee
- Coordinate NMFS-wide GIS activities with
other HQ offices, the regional offices,
and science
centers
Current Projects
Training The Office of Science and Technology offers the
official two-day ESRI course “Introduction
to ArcGIS” at least twice a year in Silver
Spring, Maryland. Courses are generally open to all
NOAA employees. S&T also offers a third day of
hands-on applications specific to fisheries work.
If you are interested in taking this course, please
contact Tim Haverland.
Research Topics
- Measurements on maps
- Spatial resolution of fishery harvest information
Data Sources
Metadata Standards
Metadata Tools
|