Isanypart of Connecticut's coast considered open ocean?
Jul. 20—Juliana Barrett, an ecologist at UConn's Connecticut Sea Grant Program, said that she is unsure what delineates Long Island Sound from Fishers Island Sound and Fishers Island Sound from the Atlantic Ocean, and that nautical charts did not show any boundaries for the different bodies of water.
However, Jim O'Donell, a UConn Professor of Marine Sciences and Director of CIRCA, said that although the geographic boundaries are a bit arbitrary, technically what makes it open ocean or not is the salinity of the water.
Ocean water is usually defined by the salinity, or concentration of dissolved salt, in the water, and O'Donnell said that ocean water is typically between 34 and 36 ppt (parts per thousand). The water that borders Connecticut is less than 32 ppt, O'Donnell said, meaning it's classified as coastal or estuary waters. A sound is defined by National Geographic as body of water that is larger than a bay and partially surrounded by land.
Here are the two sounds that make up Connecticut's eastern coastline.
Long Island Sound
The Long Island sound is considered an estuary, as it is a place where the Atlantic ocean mixes with fresh water from rivers. Estuaries like Long Island Sound are crucial to the aquatic ecosystem as they are the "nurseries of the sea," meaning they are popular spots for animal reproduction. According to the Long Island Sound Study, it is a breeding ground for over 50 aquatic species.
Some aquatic life in the sound includes blue crabs, hermit crabs, sea stars, sea robins, striped bass, lobster, harbor seals and more. In June, dolphins were spotted swimming in the sound off the coast of Connecticut. A spokesperson from the Maritime Aquarium told Hearst Connecticut that this could be a sign of the area's improving health.
The geographic makeup of the sound includes 600 miles of coastline, and it is measured at 18 trillion gallons of water, per the Long Island Sound Study. The average depth is 63 feet and the area of the entire sound stretches 1,194 square miles.
It is estimated that more than 120 species of fish live in the sound and an additional 21 tropical species of sea animals come to the sound on a seasonal basis, according to the Long Island Sound Study.
Fishers Island Sound
Fishers Island Sound includes estuary waters that extend between Connecticut and Fishers Island. Although Fishers Island is geographically closer to Connecticut, it belongs to Southold, New York. For years, there were disputes over whether Connecticut or New York had rights to the island, but the conflict was resolved in 1879 after officials from both states determined the island belonged to New York.
NOAA describes the area as "treacherous" for boaters as it is home to many shoals (sandbanks), lobster trap buoys and boulder patches that "rise abruptly from deep water."
According to Long Island Sound Study, Fishers Island Sound is home to essential eelgrass which serves as home to fish, shellfish and crustacean species, similar to what is found in the Long Island Sound.
The Long Island Sound Study reports that Fishers Island Sound is estimated to be 806 square miles.
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