InTheBite

  • Home
  • News
    • All News
    • Featured Stories
    • General News
    • Captain of the Year
    • Tournament Results
    • First Builds
    • Splash Reports
    • Old Salts Rule
    • Tackle Tips
    • Dock Talk
    • Crew Records
    • Conservation
  • Tournaments
    • Calendar
    • Captain of the Year
  • Shop
    • All Products
    • Subscriptions
    • Back Issues
    • Shirts
    • Hats & Visors
    • Miscellaneous
    • Release Rulers
  • Classifieds
  • Job Board
  • Contact
    • Contact InTheBite
    • InTheBite Media Kit
  • Log in

New Ocean Tool For Gulf Fisherman

June 12, 2015 By InTheBite Editor

11.18.13 AM

New Tools Aiding Storm Prediction, Increasing Navigational Safety in the Gulf Hurricane season has arrived. Are you prepared?

Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida may be more prepared than ever, thanks to some new tools that are enhancing the capabilities that provide the foundation of the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS).

These tools — GPS Continually Operating Reference Systems (CORS) and Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®) — are being put into place through local, state and federal partnerships and are providing better and more accurate information about the Gulf that will help with storm prediction and aid in ship navigation.

* New coastal ocean observing tools in the Gulf of Mexico will help with ship navigation.

The new CORS stations are being funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Geodetic Survey and put into place through the newly formed Gulf Coast Spatial Reference Consortium, a partnership among the Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Louisiana State University’s Center for Geoinformatics, the University of Southern Mississippi’s Mississippi Spatial Reference Center and the Alabama Department of Transportation. The consortium provides Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data consisting of carrier phase and code range measurements in support of three dimensional positioning, meteorology, space weather and geophysical applications along the Gulf of Mexico.

CORS, which are being added at or near NOAA tide gauges in each Gulf state, provide location data at centimeter-level accuracy. Improved accuracy is necessary for coastal mapping, surveying and restoration, for flood protection and to aid the development of better coastal models for hurricanes and flooding. The tools can also help resource managers better identify long-term trends in sea level rise and the sinking of coastal lands (called coastal subsidence).

* Historical and projected coastal Louisiana land loss changes near Port Fourchon, which services 90 percent of the Gulf’s deepwater oil and gas industry and provides more than 20 percent of the U.S.’ daily energy supply, and the ports of South Louisiana and New Orleans, two of the nation’s top five ports by tonnage.
(Image Credit: Barras et al., 2004).

“We are excited to be part of this project to provide the latest geospatial data with information from tide gauges, sea level observations, land elevation reference points and 3D positioning,” said Dr. Gary Jeffress, Director of CBI. “This system will help local and regional leaders plan for improved resilience to any impacts of sea level rise or subsidence and coastal storm surge flooding. The project will assist development of long-term strategies to address coastal change impacts along the northern Gulf of Mexico.”

When the upgrades are fully implemented, CORS stations will cover some 16,000 miles of shorelines, bays and estuaries. So far, four stations in Florida and five in Texas have been installed; six additional CORS stations will be installed in Florida, Alabama and Louisiana this year, with remaining stations installed in 2016. Several of these stations are being added near busy U.S. ports and population centers in the Gulf of Mexico.

NOAA also recently installed PORTS® in two locations in Louisiana. PORTS® is an integrated system of oceanographic and meteorological sensors that provides mariners with accurate and reliable real-time information about environmental conditions in seaports, including water levels, currents, water density and meteorology. The installation of two new PORTS® systems in Louisiana brings the total PORTS® operating in the Gulf to nine.

The new Louisiana PORTS® were installed by NOAA at Port Fourchon, which services 90 percent of the Gulf’s deepwater oil and gas industry and provides more than 20 percent of the U.S.’ daily energy supply, and Morgan City/Atchafalaya Bay, a newly established foreign trade port.

* This is how the new PORTS data appears on the GCOOS data portal, online at http://data.gcoos.org/

“Real-time knowledge of the currents, water levels, winds and density of the water can increase the amount of cargo moved through a port and harbor and enable mariners to safely use available channel depths,” said Rich Edwing, NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) director. “Even one additional foot of draft can substantially increase the profit of a shipment.”

Information from these and other sensing instruments in the Gulf of Mexico are provided in real time and near-real time through the GCOOS Regional Association’s free and publicly accessible data portal, online at http://data.gcoos.org/.

“As a region with rapidly growing communities along low-lying coastal areas and an infrastructure that is critical to our nation’s energy security, improving and enhancing our coastal observing systems are vital to our nation’s interests,” said Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick, Executive Director of the GCOOS-RA. “More than 14 million people call the Gulf Coast home. The Gulf is also a vital economic driver for the regional and the U.S. economies, providing jobs for 20 million people and generating $234 billion annually.

“Better predictive capabilities for storms and flooding is of utmost importance to protecting lives, commerce and our nation’s energy supply.”

Enhancing navigation is also important, Kirkpatrick said, when you stop to consider that the Gulf has 14 of the top 20 U.S. ports by tonnage and that in 2012, when Hurricane Isaac forced the closure of a single port, the Port of New Orleans, for four days, it resulted in the estimated loss of more than $400 million and had a ripple effect on the global supply chain.

GCOOS is a nonprofit organization that has a federal charter to develop a network of business leaders, marine scientists, resource managers, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholder groups that combine their data to provide timely information about our oceans — similar to the information gathered by the National Weather Service to develop weather forecasts. It is one of 11 regional networks collecting data transmitted from satellites, ships, buoys, underwater gliders and other technologies that monitor the earth’s oceans and atmospheric conditions.

In the coming months, legislation will be introduced in Congress that re-authorizes the Integrated Coastal Ocean Observation System (ICOOS) Act, the umbrella legislation for the nation’s regional associations, including GCOOS.

“The safety and security of our coastal regions is a non-partisan issue and we urge all Gulf Coast residents to tell your legislators how important having a strong coastal observing system is to you and ask that they vote in favor of reauthorization of the ICOOS Act. The time to reauthorize is now, not when a hurricane is threatening the safety of our families and communities,” Kirkpatrick said.

About GCOOS-RA
The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System Regional Association is a 501(c)3 organization responsible for developing a network of business leaders, marine scientists, resource managers, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholder groups that combine their data to provide timely information about our oceans – similar to the information gathered by the National Weather Service to develop weather forecasts. Visit us online at gcoos.org.

GCOOS, which includes members from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, seeks to establish a sustained observing system for the Gulf of Mexico to provide observations and products needed by users in this region for:

•    Detecting and predicting climate variability and consequences,
•    Preserving and restoring healthy marine ecosystems,
•    Ensuring human health,
•    Managing resources,
•    Facilitating safe and efficient marine transportation,
•    Enhancing national security, and
•    Predicting and mitigating against coastal hazards.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Do you have any comments or questions for us? We’d love to hear from you.

    Filed Under: Featured Stories

    Recent News

    yacht rescued by coast guard

    Coast Guard assists fishing vessel 80 miles off Key West

    MIAMI, US Coast Guard, District 7 — Coast Guard rescue crews assisted the 40-foot fishing vessel Santa Maria, Thursday, Jan. 14, after the crew launched two flares signaling their distress approximately 80 miles southwest of Key West.  A nearby go … [Read More...]

    operation sailfish winning teams

    Cabana, Canyon Lady, Showtime/Remix: Weekend Tournament Winners

    … [Read More...]

    showing sportfishing boats returning to Palm Beach Inlet

    Palm Beach Inlet Boat Gallery

      January 16, 2021—Check out the gallery of some of the finest sportfishing fishing teams returning to Palm Beach inlet. Most of the vessels are competing in the Operation Sailfish tournament. Scroll to the bottom for a new video showcasing the … [Read More...]

    captain in boat tower

    Life After Being the “Big Skipper”

    By Captain Scott “Fraz” Murie What is life like after being the “Big Skipper?” What do captains do when they want to quit traveling and spending many months each year away from home? Well, I have observed that many captains who have been at the … [Read More...]

    jumping billfish

    Know the Limitations of your Boat and Crew

    By Peter B. Wright Most amateur anglers and crews would be much better off not using dredges or multiple teasers, even though many of the top professional teams pull them most of the time. Teams that consistently win tournaments almost always have … [Read More...]

    Leave a Reply

    Connect With InTheBite

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Sign Up for the InTheBite Newsletter


    Be the first to hear about the latest Sportfishing News, Products, and Services!

    Subscribe to InTheBite Magazine Today!

    InTheBite Magazine Current Cover

    Our latest issue is hitting the docks now! Be sure to subscribe to the hottest bluewater mag on the market. Purchase or Subscribe »

    Upcoming Tournaments

    Tue 19

    Los Sueños Ladies Only Billfish Tournament

    January 18 - January 19
    Tue 19

    Islamorada Fishing Club’s Sailfish Tournament

    January 19 - January 21
    Wed 20

    Los Suenos Signature Billfish Series, Leg 1

    January 20 - January 23
    Wed 20

    58th Annual Buccaneer Cup

    January 20 - January 23
    Fri 22

    31st Annual Cheeca Lodge & Spa Presidential Sailfish Tournament

    January 22 - January 24

    View More…

    News

    • Coast Guard assists fishing vessel 80 miles off Key West

      Coast Guard assists fishing vessel 80 miles off Key West

      MIAMI, US Coast Guard, District 7 — Coast Guard rescue crews assisted the 40-foot fishing vessel Santa Maria, Thursday, Jan. 14, after the crew launched two flares signaling their distress approximately 80 miles southwest of Key West.  A nearby good Samaritan saw the flares and reported to Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders the Santa Maria crew's distress. The good Samaritan... [Read More...]

    • Cabana, Canyon Lady, Showtime/Remix: Weekend Tournament Winners

      Cabana, Canyon Lady, Showtime/Remix: Weekend Tournament Winners

      Annual Gold Cup Team Fishing Tournament First Place: Canyon Lady, Capt. Bill Davis Second Place: Ditch Digger, Capt. Jon Brooks Third Place: Miss Texas, Capt. Matt Bierley Operation Sailfish – 1st leg of “Quest for the Crest” Sailfish Series First Place: Showtime/Remix, Capt. Nick Carullo Second Place: TEAM HMY, Capt. Trey Claus Third Place: Goin' Raptor, Capt. Paul Sabayrac Pelagic... [Read More...]

    • Miss Texas Wins Silver Sailfish Derby, Waterman Wins Pelican Yacht Club Invitational

      Miss Texas Wins Silver Sailfish Derby, Waterman Wins Pelican Yacht Club Invitational

      Silver Sailfish Derby  First Place Most Releases Overall: Miss Texas Second Place: Priceless Third Place: Doing It All/Hardway Fourth Place: Gator One Top Individual Angler: Mike Simko with 9 releases Top Meat Fish: George Moss, Lunático, with a 32.8 lb kingfish Top Lady Angler: Carly Desmond, DaySea  Pelican Yacht Club Invitational First Place: Waterman, Capt. Kevin Paul Second Place: Dakeri,... [Read More...]

    • Canceled Plans, More Time Brought New Wave of Boaters, Anglers in 2020, Study Finds

      Canceled Plans, More Time Brought New Wave of Boaters, Anglers in 2020, Study Finds

      Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 16, 2020—With COVID-19 transforming Americans' recreational habits, a new study from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) has found that millions of new or returning participants have taken up fishing & boating. Particular increases were seen among nontraditional participants, signaling the activities' increasing appeal among new audiences. Titled Who's On Board: Keeping New Anglers & Boaters Hooked,... [Read More...]

    • Captain Chris Sheeder Passes Away After Battle with Cancer

      Captain Chris Sheeder Passes Away After Battle with Cancer

      January 7, 2021—It's with a heavy heart that we announce well-known Hawaii Captain Chris Sheeder has passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to a public Facebook post from his brother. Sheeder's love for the water began at the young age of 11 when he took his first offshore trip out of Kona. This eventually led him to... [Read More...]

    Captain of the Year Cup Standings

    Captain of the Year Cup Standings Logo

    View the current standings for InTheBite's Captain of the Year Cup... Leaderboard »

    Search InTheBite

    Copyright © 2021 InTheBite, LLC · All Rights Reserved.

    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.