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History
The Gray's Reef National Marine
Sanctuary (GRNMS) Management Plan developed in 1983,
outlined strategies for the effective management of the
areas resources. A stated goal of the plan is to promote and
coordinate research to enhance scientific understanding of
the sanctuary and improve management decision
making. A main objective to achieve this was implementing of
a resource studies plan based on existing knowledge of live
bottom ecosystems and evolving management issues. This plan
is outlined in the 1983 document and has provided the
outlined areas of research needs since implementing the
plan. Current Research and PlansIn recognition of the need and value of long term monitoring for sound management decision making and evaluating the effectiveness of these decisions, GRNMS began long term monitoring of fisheries resources in 1993. This is accomplished through the assistance of the Marine Assessment Monitoring and Prediction (MARMAP) program conducted by the South Carolina Marine Resources Research Institute. Survey's have been conducted annually since 1993. In 1995 Gray's Reef initiated a long term monitoring assessment of its natural resources. The monitoring program encompasses the following resources and topics of concern determined to be of significant importance to GRNMS during the planning of the designation and subsequent establishment of the management and research studies plan; Fish populations, benthic invertebrates, oceanographic conditions, sediment transport and visitor use. 32 permanent reference points were established and marked with numbered goat ear tags mounted on 1m stainless steel rods. The study site has a 250 meter extent in water depth of about 60 feet. Assessments began as two comprehensive sampling efforts are studied seasonally and will provide a picture of seasonal changes in reef fish abundance measures. Additionally these survey's are supplemented with diver video assessments. This technique was developed by Dr. Richard O. Parker of the National Marine Fisheries Service in 1986 and is still in use today to monitor the status of reef fish in the sanctuary. To supplement these fishery monitoring efforts with long term monitoring of invertebrate populations by photo-quadrat and physical oceanographic conditions such as temperature started in 1995. May of 1997, data buoy 41008, from the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC), was placed within Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary boundaries (31*24'00"N, 80*52'30"W). The buoy records real time data including: speed and gust; air and sea temperature; and wave energy spectra from which significant wave height, dominant wave period, and average wave period are derived. Through the collection of this data GRNMS will be able to provide up to date reports on the status of the health of the sanctuaries resources to the public through education and outreach programs as well as to resource management agencies at both state and federal levels. Site characterization studies to map the bottom of the ocean, such as sidescan sonar and bathymetry have also been collected at Gray's Reef by the United States Geological Survey in 1994. Gray's Reef has also used Remotely Operated Vehicles to verify the sidescan data and have a visual record of all the areas within the sanctuary.
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