Establishment of Marine Protected Areas to Reduce Watercraft Impacts in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey

Abstract

ABSTRACT Lathrop, R.G.; Bognar, J.; Buenaventura, E.; Ciappi, M.; Green, E., and Belton, T.J., 2017. Establishment of marine protected areas to reduce watercraft impacts in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey. In: Buchanan, G.A.; Belton, T.J., and Paudel, B. (eds.), A Comprehensive Assessment of Barnegat Bay–Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. To help address the adverse effects associated with motorized boating activities in the Barnegat Bay National Estuary, New Jersey, a network of marine protected areas was identified to receive special consideration and management. Officially designated in spring 2012, the boundaries for these ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) were based on best professional judgment and a geographic information system–based assessment using extant maps of habitat natural features, including shellfish beds, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), presence of endangered species, and proximity to bird nesting areas. The need for and the subsequent effectiveness of ESA designation in managing the adverse...