Outer Continental Shelf
Location: Atlantic Ocean, offshore of Cape Hatteras
Total Size: 30+ square miles
Map
Site Description: This site is unique in that it is the open ocean of the
Atlantic. The Outer Continental shelf site includes an area with water
depth of 50-500 fathoms on the western
boundary of Gulf Stream, offshore of Cape Hatteras. This is a site where two
major Atlantic currents mix forming a very rich marine environment. Large mats of Sargassum form surface reefs and concentrate rare and endangered seabirds, marine
mammals, marine turtles and fish. The site is important commercial and sport fishing area,
as well as an important
commercial bird watching area.
Habitats: open ocean, Sargassum along frontal boundaries
Land Use: commercial and recreational fishing, ship traffic,
Primary Threats: oil/natural gas exploration, Sargassum harvest, overfishing, commercial longlining
Protection Status: The site is currently afforded no protection.
Conservation Issues: Oil companies hold
offshore leases in the area of peak concentrations of seabirds. Past attempts to
obtain permits for oil and natural gas exploration have met great public
opposition and have not yet been attempted.
Birds: This site has the greatest diversity of seabirds and marine mammals in the southeastern United States. For tropical species, the site probably has the greatest density of seabirds in the southeastern United States. Birds and other marine life concentrate here because of upwellings and currents. Productivity is high.
Key Bird Species
|
Criteria |
Season |
Number |
||
| 4c |
Northern Fulmar |
Oct.-July |
227 |
|
| 4c |
Black-capped Petrel |
all |
30-250 |
|
| 4c |
Bermuda Petrel |
Apr. & Dec. |
1 |
|
| 4c |
European Pterodroma mollis |
May-June |
1 |
|
| 4c |
Herald Petrel |
May-Sept. |
1 |
|
| 4c |
Cory's Shearwater |
Mar.-Nov. |
1000-5000 |
|
| 4c |
Greater Shearwater |
Apr.-Nov. |
1000-3000 |
|
| 4c |
Sooty Shearwater |
Mar.-June |
20-233 |
|
| 4c |
Manx Shearwater |
Mar.-June Oct.-Dec. |
42 |
|
| 4a | Audubon's Shearwater |
Apr.-Nov. |
1000-2285 |
|
| 4c |
Bridled Tern |
Apr.-Dec. |
20-45 |
|
| 4c |
Wilson's Storm Petrel |
Apr.-Oct. |
200-1912 |
|
| 4c |
Band-rumped storm Petrel |
May-Aug. |
50-76 |
|
| 4a | Leach's Storm Petrel |
May-June Sept.-Nov. |
80-100 |
|
| 4a | Pomarine Jaeger |
Apr.-Dec. |
30-40 |
|
| 4a | Long-tailed Jaeger | Apr.-Dec. | 1-4 | |
| 4a | Great Skua | Dec.-Feb. | 1-2 | |
| 4a | South Polar Skua | May-June | 1-3 | |
| 4a |
Common Loon |
W |
1000+ |
|
| 4a | Black-legged Kittiwake | Oct.-Apr. | 20-600+ | |
| 4a | Razorbill | Dec-Feb | 50-831 | |
| 4a | Atlantic Puffin | Dec-Feb | 2-52 | |
| 4a | Red Phalarope | Dec-Feb | 10-240 | |
B=Breeding FM=Fall Migration
SM=Spring Migration W=Winter
Sources:
Lee, David S., NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Lee, David S. and Mary C. Socci. 1989. Potential effects of oil spills
on seabirds and selected other oceanic vertebrates off the North Carolina
coast. Occasional Papers of the North Carolina Biological Survey, North
Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC. 1989-1. 64 pp.
Lee, David S. 1995. Marine birds off the coast of North
Carolina. The Chat 59(4):113-171.
Patteson, Brian, www.patteson.com