Treasures of the Deep — Deep Water Corals of the South Atlantic and Oculina Bank: A Local Resource Workshop for Teachers

On Saturday, September 17, 2005, at Dixie Crossroads Seafood Restaurant in Titusville, Florida, twenty–one secondary school educators from three counties along the central eastern coast of Florida participated in a one–day workshop entitled “Treasures of the Deep — Deep Water Corals of the South Atlantic and Oculina Bank: A Local Resource Workshop for Teachers”. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), along with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI), presented information about deep water coral ecosystems, the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern (OHAPC), research and monitoring efforts, and educational materials for classroom use. Additionally, workshop participants provided input on various deepwater coral outreach and education activities, including the Port Day on October 12, 2005 following the research expedition to the Oculina Bank. Participants received new curriculum and educational resources, conducted activities related to oceanographic exploration, and gained further understanding of the importance of this unique deepwater habitat.

Lesson plans pertinent to Oculina coral:

• Cool Corals
• Extreme Environment
• Mapping the Bank visit the Council’s IMS for GIS layers, video and imagery of the Oculina Bank

• Offshore buoy data
• Satellite images from NOAA CoastWatch — water temperature
• OHAPC regulations
• OHAPC evaluation plan
• OHAPC boundaries
• Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data — not currently on-line (contact Lt. Richard Chesler, NOAA)
• NOAA Fisheries Landings Data — Commercial and Recreational
• On-line Geographic Information systems — SAFMC Online Mapping System
• Quarterly Report of Law Enforcement Activity in the Oculina Bank