NOAA has made updates to the National Marine Ecosystem Status website, including the 2022 Status of U.S. Marine and Great Lakes Ecosystems, which shows changes across many key indicators including sea surface temperature, marine species distribution, coastal economies, and more. This is also the first time NOAA has adopted an agency-wide indicator to measure marine heatwaves. The website provides a starting point for people to explore the status of U.S. marine ecosystems, the Great Lakes, and the nation.
Below is data on the Southeast Region:
Spanning the area from North Carolina to Florida, the Southeast contains over 18,000 miles of coastline. With extensive riverine, estuarine, marsh, barrier island, mangrove, and coral reef systems, the Southeast has the largest wetland acreage and coral reef track in the contiguous United States, and one of the world’s largest shallow water coral reef ecosystems.
A diversity of life is supported in this region, including 18 protected marine species. The Southeast region provides the only known calving grounds for the highly endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. Bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, diverse coral, sawfish, Bryde’s whales, manta rays, and shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon also reside in this region.
The Gulf Stream is an important influence on biological, chemical, and physical characteristics of the region. Natural hazards include thunderstorms and tornadoes; floods and debris flows; drought and wildfires; winter storms; ground subsidence; coastal erosion; and hurricanes. Coastal hazards are major concerns, since over one-third of the population resides in coastal counties and over 4 million people live in flood hazard areas.
This region contributes more than 10% of the total U.S. economy, with coastal recreation, tourism, recreation, transportation, and shipping being major contributors to the regional economy. Home to one of the largest concentrations of saltwater recreational fishing in America, the Southeastern United States generates more than $15 billion annually for more than 4.5 million fishermen. The region has over 35 ports and terminals that service cargo and passenger ships, including some of the country’s largest and fastest growing container ports.
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