12-18-2015
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is proud to announce the availability of a new report and associated maps and data on human uses of the ocean offshore Washington, Oregon, and Hawai'i.
The report, The Pacific Regional Ocean Uses Atlas (PROUA): Data and Tools for Understanding Ocean Space Use in Washington, Oregon and Hawai'i, is the result of a three year collaboration between BOEM and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that documents where coastal communities use the ocean along the Pacific Northwest and around the main Hawaiian islands. A participatory mapping approach was used to capture community experts’ spatial and contextual knowledge on the full range of typical ocean activities, including industrial/military, commercial fishing, and recreational activities.
PROUA mapping focused primarily on the Outer Continental Shelf (from 3 to 200 nautical miles offshore). Through partnerships with the Washington State Department of Ecology and Department of Natural Resources and the State of Hawai'i Office of Planning, the report also maps uses in state waters (0-3 nautical miles) offshore Washington and the main Hawaiian islands.
The PROUA is one of many steps in understanding ocean uses. BOEM will use the PROUA to inform analyses of any offshore renewable energy development projects that may be proposed within the bureau’s jurisdiction and identify at least a minimum number of ocean use communities that must be engaged further. Additional ocean use information, along with site-specific community engagement, information gathering, thorough analyses and public comment will be a part of the decision making process for any proposed renewable energy project.
The PROUA report and map books can be found on BOEM’s website at http://www.boem.gov/Pacific-Completed-Studies/. Downloadable PROUA data, web mapping services, and metadata are available via NOAA’s Digital Coast (search for “PROUA”). Summary use layers can be viewed on the Marine Cadastre National Viewer.
If you would like more information about these important efforts, please contact me via the information provided below.
John D. Romero
BOEM Office of Public Affairs
(805) 384-6324