Habitat mapping to support marine spatial planning

Habitat mapping to support marine spatial planning

Offshore seabed and habitat mapping is a priority for Belize and Dominica, especially in ecologically sensitive areas. With an increased tensioning between the different users of the marine space (e.g. fisheries, tourism, marine conservation), there is an urgent need for accurate habitat maps to help inform the marine spatial planning process. To support the Belizean and Dominican governments with their marine spatial planning, we will conduct a marine habitat mapping programme focussed on priority areas identified by local stakeholders. In Belize this will include the coral reefs, cays and coastal environments that are being investigated by the Impact of land-use changes on marine environments project, while the Dominican survey will include Macouba Bank. The habitat mapping approaches will apply the most efficient, objective and robust techniques currently available, and will make full use of the Containerised Autonomous Marine Environmental Laboratory being deployed in the region.

Belize; Dominica