On March 20, 2012, NOAA and New York's Department of State jointly announced the release of A BiogeographicAssessment of Seabirds, Deep Sea Corals and Ocean Habitats of the New York Bight. The 2-year study,led by scientists at NCCOS and New York's Department of State Ocean and Great Lakes Program, willadvance New York's management of its coastal waters and guide future development of offshore windenergy projects.
The report provides a detailed assessment of biodiversity and ecological processes ofmarine habitats, with particular attention to ecologically critical or sensitive species such as seabirds,deep sea corals, and sponge communities. The report will help coastal managers better understand theinteractions between renewable energy development and natural resources, and reduce uncertaintiesfor investors in renewable energy projects.
Additional partners for this study included the University ofAlaska, Biology and Wildlife Department; the University of Texas, Institute for Geophysics; NOAA andUniversity of New Hampshire Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping & Joint Hydrographic Center, TheNature Conservancy, Mid-Atlantic Marine Program; and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service.
NOAA science supports New York's offshore energy planning