Mapping Barnstable Harbor from the Bottom Up

Friends of Barnstable Harbor invites you to join us in safeguarding our beautiful, bountiful and time-honored Barnstable Harbor

Side Scan Sonar Image
Acoustic Side-scan Sonar Image

Here are the Interim Reports for the Benthic Habitat Mapping Project:

December 2020 Interim Report BHMDownload
December 2019 Interim Report BHMDownload

Scientific-based data is one of the best tools we can use to provide this protection for generations to come

Our Seafloor & Habitat Mapping and the Finfish-Shellfish Study (FF-SFS) will give us a physical and biological “snapshot in time”.  This snapshot will provide invaluable data for the protection, preservation, and planning for the evolution of the harbor.  The Center for Coastal Studies will perform both projects.  The Seafloor & Habitat Mapping, will be overseen by coastal geologist Mark Borrelli, and the FF-SFS will be executed by marine fisheries researcher Owen Nichols.  Our Seafloor & Habitat Mapping will join Benthic Habitat Mapping projects already completed by the Center for Coastal Studies for Provincetown, Truro, and Wellfleet Harbors, and will contribute essential information for the entire Cape Cod Bay ecosystem and coastal food chain.

Seafloor & Habitat Mapping

Seafloor & Habitat Mapping combines state of the art side-scan sonar imagery and GPS coordinates with benthic/seafloor grab sampling. These 2-gallon samples of sediment and macro invertebrate species are identified, sorted, and counted. This combination of data produces a detailed snapshot of the harbor’s sea floor.  The results will provide the blueprint for informing harbor management decisions. Such decisions include:  dredging, sediment management and mooring field and aquaculture expansion.  It will also supply essential data for use as a baseline reference in the event of a major storm or pollution event.

Side Scan Sonar Imagery
Left: Sonar image of shellfish beds. White arrows highlight individual quahog shells. Center: Tidal flat at low tide. Right: Movement of chains attached to mooring blocks cleared an area of eelgrass.

Friends of Barnstable Harbor will map the entire harbor insuring that we have a comprehensive understanding of the complete harbor ecosystem.  Data will include detailed imagery and location of eelgrass beds, natural shellfish beds, and marine debris, as well as sediment types and macro-invertebrate counts.

Benthic Habitat Mapping Macro Invertebrates

The last time Barnstable Harbor was mapped was in the 1930’s utilizing a lead-line and a benchmark survey from Mussel Point.  Our Habitat Mapping will conform to current Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standards (CMECS).  We believe that our project will attract more scientists to conduct studies in our harbor, thus begetting further research and data.