Full report - Conservation Gateway

Chapter 14 - Next StepsUsing the Data to supportMarine Spatial PlanningWe would like to emphasize that marine spatial planningis not a panacea for effectively addressing all marine conservationissues. For some species, spatial prioritizationmay not be a practical or realistic conservation approach,and many conservation challenges require new policydevelopment to develop solutions that are not explicitlyplace-based.Our long term goal is to ensure protection of representative,resilient, and redundant areas encompassing the fullrange of diversity within the regions at large scales whileallowing sustainable use of marine resources.Marine spatial planning, when informed by science, canprovide the foundation for marine ecosystem based managementto help meet goals for marine biodiversity conservationand sustainable marine resource use. The informationand spatial data contained in this assessment providesa solid initial foundation for examining the regionalimplications of local decisions, but additional customizationand refinement to enhance its utility for supportingmarine spatial planning processes is needed.Addressing Data GapsThe assessment team spent many months searching for,discovering, and analyzing diverse spatial data layers.Subsequently, we identified several large data gaps. Whilesubstantial progress can still be made in the absence ofthese data, filling these gaps will allow for a more comprehensiveand effective marine spatial planning process.There were several types of gaps identified: lack of accessto existing data, lack of adequate sampling density or geographicextent for existing data, lack of confidence in datadue to inadequate metadata and finally, instances wherecritical data has not yet been collected at all. The followingspecific data needs were highlighted:• Additional sediment sampling data to improveresolution in poorly sampled areas.• High resolution benthic mapping data (e.g.,acoustic surveys).• Spatial data on the distribution and abundance ofoysters, bay scallops, hard clams, and othershellfish.• Fishery-independent survey data on thedistribution and abundance of coastal and marinepelagic species (e.g., Atlantic menhaden, Atlanticherring, bluefin tuna, and sandbar shark).• Pelagic habitat models based on oceanographicfeatures and species distribution.• LiDAR survey data to support sea level riseadaptation planning in areas where currentcoverage is lacking.• Integration of nearshore trawl survey data withNMFS groundfish surveys (e.g., state trawlsurveys, Atlantic State Marine FisheriesCommission’s NEAMAP survey)• Data on seasonal migratory routes for whales,dolphins, large pelagic fish, sea turtles, sea birds,and shorebirds.• Human use data (e.g. higher resolution data onrecreational and commercial fishing, vessel traffic,coastal sand and gravel mining, and other coastaland marine resource uses).14-Northwest Atlantic Marine Ecoregional Assessment • Phase 1 Report