A team of federal personnel led by officials of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration s National Ocean Service is in the Virgin Islands gathering information to map the coral reefs, plants and aquatic life surrounding the islands.
The information will provide a database to determine the condition of the reefs, assess changes in the reefs and guide Planning and Natural Resources when its officials assess permit applications for underwater projects.
A NOAA aircraft will survey the shorelines, taking photographs using a hyper spectral sensor that locates reefs and other underwater habitats from the reflection of the sun on waves, according to the Daily News.
The surveillance of shorelines and offshore waters is being conducted to a depth of 66 feet, according to project manager Mark E. Monaco.
The program is a joint effort of the National Marine Fisheries Service, the
National Park Service, and the V.I. Planning and Natural Resources Department.
The project is mandated by the president s Executive Order 13089 that calls for mapping coral reefs.
