Finding Sanctuary's Interactive Map goes national
You may already have used Finding Sanctuary's interactive map online, but now a national version has been rolled out, to allow sea users across England to share their information with the Marine Conservation Zone project.
The map aims to give an insight into how the sea is being used, and to build upon what we know about existing marine species and habitats in our seas. Finding Sanctuary invites anyone who uses the sea in the south-west to contribute to this initiative, which will help to identify potential sites for Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). MCZs are a new type of Marine Protected Area (MPA) which will conserve nationally important marine species and habitats, and will become part of a network of MPAs that the UK is committed to establishing by 2012.
People can take part in two ways: either by uploading information about their marine activities, and the location of marine wildlife, notable habitats and geological features they have seen; or by just looking at the layers of data out of personal interest to discover more about their region’s sea.
All data will be analysed and will inform recommendations for potential MCZs as part of the work being delivered by Finding Sanctuary and the other regional projects.
Tom Hooper, project manager of Finding Sanctuary said: “We’ve been using a regional version of this interactive map in the south-west for just over a year now, and it is fantastic news that it is now being rolled out nationally across all of the MCZ projects. All of us involved with the MCZ Project want to ensure that these important decisions are based on the best data; not just from marine industries, but from individuals who use the sea. Together, with information from face-to-face interviews that all four regional MCZ projects have been conducting, it will help to build up a detailed picture of the ecological value and use of our seas.”
CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE INTERACTIVE MAP AND HAVE YOUR SAY.
For the full press release click on the link below.
