A Biogeographic Assessment of Seabirds, Deep Sea Corals and Ocean Habitats of the New York Bight- Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 1 introduces the report and includes a summary of offshore spatial planning and a description of the study area. The report examines the spatial distribution of: seabirds, bathymetry, surficial sediments, deep sea corals, and dynamic oceanographic habitats. All data and assessments in this report represent a synthesis of existing information rather than a new data collection effort. The study boundaries extend from the southern shores of Long Island to the edge of the continental shelf and from Nantucket Shoals to the shores of New Jersey. Both state and federal waters are included.