A series of maps recently published on the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal illustrates the shifts that have taken place over the last five decades by several commercially and recreationally important fish species living along the East Coast. Users can automatically animate or toggle through hundreds of maps representing fish distributions during the spring or fall seasons in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s or 2010s. The Portal also added a collection of maps projecting future shifts through the year 2100, based on data previously released by OceanAdapt.

Members of the public can learn more about the shifting species data and the Portal in a free webinar on Earth Day, April 22, from 11 a.m. to noon. Chris Bruce and Marta Ribera of The Nature Conservancy and Laura McKay of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean/Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program will discuss the analysis in further detail, demonstrate the maps and participate in a Q&A session. The session will be moderated by Karl Vilacoba of the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute. For planning purposes, please register to kvilacob@monmouth.edu.

Webinar link: https://monmouth.adobeconnect.com/earthday/