[{"id": 2463, "name": "Artificial Reefs", "type": "layer", "metadata": "/static/data_manager/metadata/html/ArtificialReefs_2026Jan_Update.html", "source": "https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/protect-water-and-land/land-and-water-stories/", "data_download": "/static/data_manager/data-download/Zip_Files/Fishing/ArtificialReefs2026JanUpdate.zip", "kml": null, "description": "These are polygon locations of Mid-Atlantic artificial reefs. They were compiled from various sources, including digital data received and/or publicly available from state agencies and lat/long coordinates of reef corners found on public web sites. These polygons represent general areas where artificial reef material has been placed; generally the entirety of the polygon is not all artificial reef.\r\n
\t \r\nData updated, January 2026, by the MARCO Portal:
\r\nGIS data and metadata were updated using the latest available data as of December 2025. All available GIS data published by state agencies in the MARCO 5-state area (NY, NJ, DE, MD, VA) were reviewed. EDITS: 1) New York: 4 new artificial reefs were added: Huntington/Oyster Bay Reef, Port Jefferson/Mount Sinai Reef, Mattituck Reef, Sixteen Fathom Reef; 9 artificial reef delineations in the Portal data were revised using NY's data: Smithtown Reef, Shinnecock Reef, Moriches Reef, Yellowbar Reef, Kismet Reef, Fire Island Reef, Hempstead Reef, McAllister Grounds, Rockaway Reef. Data source: NYS Department of Environmental Artificial Reef Program (NYSDEC); 2) Virginia: 2 new reef areas were added: Newport News Middle Ground Reef, East Ocean View Reef. Data source: Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC).\r\n
\r\nOriginal 2010 data and 2019 Artificial Reefs update: Compiled by The Nature Conservancy
\r\nFebruary 2023 and January 2026 Artificial Reefs data updates: MARCO Ocean Data Portal Read More", "minzoom": null, "maxzoom": null}, {"id": 271, "name": "Commercial Fishing - VMS", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "radio", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": "http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ole/about/our_programs/vessel_monitoring.html", "data_download": null, "kml": "", "description": "These data broadly characterize commercial fishing vessel activity in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic based on Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data. The relative amount of vessel activity is indicated qualitatively from high (red) to low (blue). The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) describes VMS as a satellite system \"primarily used to monitor the location and movement of commercial fishing vessels in the U.S.\u201d See the Data Catalog entries for individual VMS map layers for more information. Read More"}, {"id": 313, "name": "Commercial Fishing - VTR", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "radio", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": "/static/data_manager/metadata/html/CASMetadata.html", "source": "http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/", "data_download": null, "kml": "", "description": "Commercial Fishing - VTR (also referred to as Communities at Sea) maps link fishing communities to specific resource areas in the ocean. They are developed by linking Federal Vessel Trip Report (VTR) data to vessel permit data. VTRs include trip date, number of crew on board, species and quantities caught, and trip locations, while the permit data includes a vessel's \"principal port\" as well as other variables describing the vessel itself (e.g. length, horsepower, and age). By linking the two, fishing communities can be categorized based on port and fishing gear group combinations as a function of port of origin or major gear type used on the vessel. For example, fishermen from Newport News, VA and Montauk, NY who fish using dredge gear can be grouped and mapped as two separate communities. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThis set of maps was created by using trip location point data as input to create density polygons representing visitation frequency (\"fisherdays\"). The VTR maps show total labor including crew time and the time spent in transit to and from fishing locations. They do not show other variables such as ex-vessel value or number of pounds landed. The results can be interpreted as maps of \"community presence.\" All data were aggregated to the \"community\" level, none of the resultant maps represent a fishing area (i.e. \"hot spot\") of any individual fisherman or fishing vessel.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDraft maps were reviewed and refined in consultation with diverse fishermen in several ports in each Mid-Atlantic state. The following considerations and caveats guided and emerged from these conversations:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- \r\n\r\nThese maps represent the locations and intensity of fishing during recent years (2011-2014). If these maps are considered during planning or permitting decision making processes it\u2019s critical to recognize that additional important fishing areas may not be represented as locations frequently shift due to several factors including market dynamics, regulatory changes and rotational fishing strategies. \r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n- \r\n\r\nThese maps only show fishing conducted by vessels holding federal fishing permits. The maps do show a portion of state licensed activity because many state licensed vessels engaged in ocean fishing also hold federal permits and therefore submit VTRs. State licensed fishing activity includes whelks (\u201cconch\u201d), striped bass, black sea bass and lobster.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n- \r\n\r\nMaps showing areas for fixed gear (pots, traps, gillnets) fishing activity will tend to be more accurate than maps showing fishing using mobile (trawls, dredges) fishing gear, and maps showing single day trips will tend to be more accurate than maps showing multi-data trips. This is because of the nature of the fishing activity and record keeping regulations; fishermen are only required to report one geographic position (point location) per trip on VTRs unless switching to a new gear type or moving into a new statistical area.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n- \r\n\r\nThese maps can be supplemented with maps based on Vessel Monitoring System data (available for select federally managed fisheries). Overlay comparison of these VTR based maps with VMS based maps reveals substantial agreement between the two and the VMS maps provide additional useful precision for some fisheries.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n- \r\n\r\nFisheries and fisheries data are complex and there are many options for mapping fishing activity, each with strengths and weaknesses. These maps are intended as a starting to point to help target and guide direct engagement and consultation with specific affected fishing communities during diverse ocean planning, permitting and management decision making processes.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n- \r\n\r\nFor some types of decision making (e.g. detailed construction plans for energy infrastructure) much finer scale information and data than can be obtained using either VTR or VMS data will be needed, ideally provided by fishermen.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n
Read More"}, {"id": 3940, "name": "Fathom Lines", "type": "layer", "metadata": "/static/data_manager/metadata/html/depth_lines.htm", "source": "http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/bathymetry/relief.html", "data_download": "/static/data_manager/data-download/Zip_Files/Fishing/fathom_depth_lines.zip", "kml": null, "description": "Depth contours at 20, 50, and 100 fathoms provided primarily for general reference. The depths selected are those that may be familiar to fisherman and others who navigate offshore waters. Read More", "minzoom": null, "maxzoom": null}, {"id": 55, "name": "Recreational Fishing", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "radio", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": "/static/data_manager/metadata/html/CASMetadata.html", "source": "http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/", "data_download": null, "kml": "", "description": "These maps represent visitation frequency locations of federally-permitted party/charter vessels. They were developed by linking Federal Vessel Trip Report (VTR) data to vessel permit data. VTR data include trip date, number of crew on board, and trip locations, while the permit data includes a vessel's \"principal port\" as well as other variables describing the vessel itself (e.g. length, horsepower, and age).\r\n
\r\nMaps were created by using trip location point data as input to create density polygons representing visitation frequency (\"fisherdays\"). The results can be interpreted as maps of \"community presence.\" All data were aggregated to the \"community\" level, none of the resultant maps represent a \"hot spot\" of any individual party/charter vessel. Querying the map display at any single location will identify the various port communities that have recorded a significant level of activity at that location.\r\n
\r\nUsers may also click on a port to learn how many total trips, trips as percentage of the regional total, total fisherdays, and fisherdays as percentage of regional total were recorded for that location. Read More"}, {"id": 4872, "name": "Management Areas: American Lobster", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "checkbox", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": null, "data_download": null, "kml": "", "description": " Read More"}, {"id": 4873, "name": "Management Areas: Atlantic Herring", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "checkbox", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": null, "data_download": null, "kml": "", "description": " Read More"}, {"id": 4867, "name": "Management Areas: Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "checkbox", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": null, "data_download": null, "kml": "", "description": " Read More"}, {"id": 4868, "name": "Management Areas: Atlantic Sea Scallop", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "checkbox", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": null, "data_download": null, "kml": "", "description": " Read More"}, {"id": 4869, "name": "Management Areas: Atlantic Spiny Dogfish", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "checkbox", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": null, "data_download": null, "kml": "", "description": " Read More"}, {"id": 4878, "name": "Management Areas: Expired Management Areas", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "checkbox", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": null, "data_download": null, "kml": "", "description": " Read More"}, {"id": 4877, "name": "Management Areas: Habitat Conservation", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "checkbox", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": null, "data_download": null, "kml": "", "description": " Read More"}, {"id": 4874, "name": "Management Areas: Monkfish and Skate", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "checkbox", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": null, "data_download": null, "kml": "", "description": " Read More"}, {"id": 4875, "name": "Management Areas: Northeast Multispecies (groundfish)", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "checkbox", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": null, "data_download": null, "kml": "", "description": " Read More"}, {"id": 5197, "name": "Management Areas: Northeast Multispecies (small mesh)", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "checkbox", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": null, "data_download": null, "kml": "", "description": " Read More"}, {"id": 292, "name": "Management Areas: Other", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "checkbox", "is_dynamic": false, "url": "", "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": "http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/educational_resources/gis/", "data_download": null, "kml": "", "description": "These layers reflect current fishery management areas published by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Greater Atlantic Regional Fishery Office (GARFO). Read More"}, {"id": 4876, "name": "Management Areas: Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "checkbox", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": null, "data_download": null, "kml": "", "description": " Read More"}, {"id": 5515, "name": "NOAA NEFSC Fishing Footprints: Gear Type Landings 2011-2020", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "checkbox", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/northeast-fisheries-science-center", "data_download": "https://northeastoceandata.org/data-download/?#CommercialFishing", "kml": "", "description": "NOAA\u2019s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) developed a collection of commercial fishing activity maps called Fishing Footprints. These data summarize the spatial extent of fishing activity by combining Vessel Trip Report (VTR) and dealer report data and modeling the probability of a vessel\u2019s fishing location using observer data. Data provided comply with data confidentiality requirements under the Magnuson-Stevens Act through aggregation. The data was summarized to show fishing activity in terms of pounds of fish landed (\u201clandings\u201d) or value (\u201crevenue\u201d) by Fishery Management Plan (FMP), species, fishing gear type, and time periods. Data was summarized on a 500 x 500 meter grid, showing activity within each grid cell. For more information on the Fishing Footprints methodology, please see DePiper G.S. 2014. Statistically assessing the precision of self-reported VTR fishing locations. NOAA technical memorandum NMFS-NE-229 and Benjamin S, Lee MY, DePiper G. 2018. Visualizing fishing data as rasters. NEFSC Ref Doc 18-12; 24 p.
Here revenue and landings have been summarized for two time periods 2011-2015 and 2016-2020 for both FMP and gear type. The values represent annual averages over each 5 year period. The data shown here has been filtered from the original data. Areas where revenue was less than $25 was excluded from both the revenue and corresponding landings data. Additionally, some of the \u201cother\u201d gear types with very little fishing activity were excluded from this set of data. Data are grouped into categories for time period, gear type/FMP, and revenue/landings.
It is important to note that these public datasets have suppressed certain information due to confidentiality concerns and are meant to present general patterns of commercial fishing activity. To obtain the most accurate estimates of fishing activity, particularly in the case of offshore wind development, please see the region\u2019s socioeconomic impacts page or contact NMFS.GAR.Data.Requests@noaa.gov.
To view these and other fishing data related to offshore wind planning and leasing, please visit this web page: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/data/socioeconomic-impacts-atlantic-offshore-wind-development Read More"}, {"id": 5516, "name": "NOAA NEFSC Fishing Footprints: FMP Landings 2011-2020", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "checkbox", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/northeast-fisheries-science-center", "data_download": "https://northeastoceandata.org/data-download/?#CommercialFishing", "kml": "", "description": "NOAA\u2019s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) developed a collection of commercial fishing activity maps called Fishing Footprints. These data summarize the spatial extent of fishing activity by combining Vessel Trip Report (VTR) and dealer report data and modeling the probability of a vessel\u2019s fishing location using observer data. Data provided comply with data confidentiality requirements under the Magnuson-Stevens Act through aggregation. The data was summarized to show fishing activity in terms of pounds of fish landed (\u201clandings\u201d) or value (\u201crevenue\u201d) by Fishery Management Plan (FMP), species, fishing gear type, and time periods. Data was summarized on a 500 x 500 meter grid, showing activity within each grid cell. For more information on the Fishing Footprints methodology, please see DePiper G.S. 2014. Statistically assessing the precision of self-reported VTR fishing locations. NOAA technical memorandum NMFS-NE-229 and Benjamin S, Lee MY, DePiper G. 2018. Visualizing fishing data as rasters. NEFSC Ref Doc 18-12; 24 p.
Here revenue and landings have been summarized for two time periods 2011-2015 and 2016-2020 for both FMP and gear type. The values represent annual averages over each 5 year period. The data shown here has been filtered from the original data. Areas where revenue was less than $25 was excluded from both the revenue and corresponding landings data. Additionally, some of the \u201cother\u201d gear types with very little fishing activity were excluded from this set of data. Data are grouped into categories for time period, gear type/FMP, and revenue/landings.
It is important to note that these public datasets have suppressed certain information due to confidentiality concerns and are meant to present general patterns of commercial fishing activity. To obtain the most accurate estimates of fishing activity, particularly in the case of offshore wind development, please see the region\u2019s socioeconomic impacts page or contact NMFS.GAR.Data.Requests@noaa.gov.
To view these and other fishing data related to offshore wind planning and leasing, please visit this web page: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/data/socioeconomic-impacts-atlantic-offshore-wind-development Read More"}, {"id": 5517, "name": "NOAA NEFSC Fishing Footprints: Gear Type Revenue 2011-2020", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "checkbox", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/northeast-fisheries-science-center", "data_download": "https://northeastoceandata.org/data-download/?#CommercialFishing", "kml": "", "description": "NOAA\u2019s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) developed a collection of commercial fishing activity maps called Fishing Footprints. These data summarize the spatial extent of fishing activity by combining Vessel Trip Report (VTR) and dealer report data and modeling the probability of a vessel\u2019s fishing location using observer data. Data provided comply with data confidentiality requirements under the Magnuson-Stevens Act through aggregation. The data was summarized to show fishing activity in terms of pounds of fish landed (\u201clandings\u201d) or value (\u201crevenue\u201d) by Fishery Management Plan (FMP), species, fishing gear type, and time periods. Data was summarized on a 500 x 500 meter grid, showing activity within each grid cell. For more information on the Fishing Footprints methodology, please see DePiper G.S. 2014. Statistically assessing the precision of self-reported VTR fishing locations. NOAA technical memorandum NMFS-NE-229 and Benjamin S, Lee MY, DePiper G. 2018. Visualizing fishing data as rasters. NEFSC Ref Doc 18-12; 24 p.
Here revenue and landings have been summarized for two time periods 2011-2015 and 2016-2020 for both FMP and gear type. The values represent annual averages over each 5 year period. The data shown here has been filtered from the original data. Areas where revenue was less than $25 was excluded from both the revenue and corresponding landings data. Additionally, some of the \u201cother\u201d gear types with very little fishing activity were excluded from this set of data. Data are grouped into categories for time period, gear type/FMP, and revenue/landings.
It is important to note that these public datasets have suppressed certain information due to confidentiality concerns and are meant to present general patterns of commercial fishing activity. To obtain the most accurate estimates of fishing activity, particularly in the case of offshore wind development, please see the region\u2019s socioeconomic impacts page or contact NMFS.GAR.Data.Requests@noaa.gov.
To view these and other fishing data related to offshore wind planning and leasing, please visit this web page: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/data/socioeconomic-impacts-atlantic-offshore-wind-development Read More"}, {"id": 5518, "name": "NOAA NEFSC Fishing Footprints: FMP Revenue 2011-2020", "type": "theme", "theme_type": "checkbox", "is_dynamic": false, "url": null, "placeholder_text": null, "default_keyword": null, "metadata": null, "source": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/northeast-fisheries-science-center", "data_download": "https://northeastoceandata.org/data-download/?#CommercialFishing", "kml": "", "description": "NOAA\u2019s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) developed a collection of commercial fishing activity maps called Fishing Footprints. These data summarize the spatial extent of fishing activity by combining Vessel Trip Report (VTR) and dealer report data and modeling the probability of a vessel\u2019s fishing location using observer data. Data provided comply with data confidentiality requirements under the Magnuson-Stevens Act through aggregation. The data was summarized to show fishing activity in terms of pounds of fish landed (\u201clandings\u201d) or value (\u201crevenue\u201d) by Fishery Management Plan (FMP), species, fishing gear type, and time periods. Data was summarized on a 500 x 500 meter grid, showing activity within each grid cell. For more information on the Fishing Footprints methodology, please see DePiper G.S. 2014. Statistically assessing the precision of self-reported VTR fishing locations. NOAA technical memorandum NMFS-NE-229 and Benjamin S, Lee MY, DePiper G. 2018. Visualizing fishing data as rasters. NEFSC Ref Doc 18-12; 24 p.
Here revenue and landings have been summarized for two time periods 2011-2015 and 2016-2020 for both FMP and gear type. The values represent annual averages over each 5 year period. The data shown here has been filtered from the original data. Areas where revenue was less than $25 was excluded from both the revenue and corresponding landings data. Additionally, some of the \u201cother\u201d gear types with very little fishing activity were excluded from this set of data. Data are grouped into categories for time period, gear type/FMP, and revenue/landings.
It is important to note that these public datasets have suppressed certain information due to confidentiality concerns and are meant to present general patterns of commercial fishing activity. To obtain the most accurate estimates of fishing activity, particularly in the case of offshore wind development, please see the region\u2019s socioeconomic impacts page or contact NMFS.GAR.Data.Requests@noaa.gov.
To view these and other fishing data related to offshore wind planning and leasing, please visit this web page: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/data/socioeconomic-impacts-atlantic-offshore-wind-development Read More"}]