ABPmer to define national marine survey programme priorities

ABP Marine Environmental Research (ABPmer), a leading provider of specialist marine expertise to government and its agencies, has been commissioned by Defra to identify Defra’s marine seabed survey priorities.

Sustainable management of the marine environment is greatly facilitated by accurate maps. Maps also help to make decision-making transparent and aid stakeholder engagement by allowing policy makers, managers, regulators and the general public to understand the extent to which human activities occur around e.g. sensitive biological features.

Large databases of spatially referenced information, including human activities and biotic and abiotic features, already exist. However, it is not currently clear to what extent Defra’s short to long term policy requirements are met by this data and future proposed surveys.

During the project, which is being led by Cefas, ABPmer will review existing and future marine policy to identify priorities for habitat mapping, as well as catalogue current and proposed marine survey activity in the UK to identify where gaps exist are and make recommendations on future strategic marine survey planning.

Claire Brown, Head of GIS and Data at ABPmer, explained “Effective policy is supported by accurate data.  ABPmer has been assisting Defra in several marine policy areas, including the marine strategy framework directive, marine protected areas and marine spatial planning all of which require habitat mapping.   By identifying seabed survey priorities that meet the needs of existing and future marine policy, Defra can affect a strategic survey programme to safeguard our seas.”

Enquiries:
Claire Brown, Head  of GIS and Data, ABPmer
cbrown@abpmer.co.uk    02380 711840

Ed Mcmanus, Environment and Ecosystems Division, CEFAS
edmund.mcmanus@cefas.co.uk