GL_Mackinac 2019 ESI: Fish Distribution and Sensitivity in the Great Lakes

Sensitive biological resource data for freshwater fish species in the Straits of Mackinac area. Vector polygons, lines, and points represent fish distribution, concentration areas, and spawning areas. These data characterize the marine and coastal environments by their sensitivity to spilled oil and were created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Use Cases

• Modeling oil spill sensitivity for fish habitats based on distribution polygons and lines.
• Analyzing seasonal fish abundance patterns based on associated species-specific data tables.
• Mapping spawning and concentration areas for conservation planning based on point and polygon data.

Strengths

• Data includes associated tables with species-specific abundance, seasonality, and life history information.
• Covers a defined study area including the Straits of Mackinac and portions of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
• Part of a larger Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) framework for characterizing coastal sensitivity.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the specific Great Lakes study area.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Likely gathered through biological surveys and spatial analysis for the Environmental Sensitivity Index.

Time Range

2019

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03 13 22:28:20.771088; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Great Lakes - Straits of Mackinac, including nearby portions of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, and adjacent lands and waters in northern Michigan.