Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
The Task
Selection of Nature Conservation MPAs
• Nature Conservation MPAs will contribute to the protection of biodiversity and geodiversity
• Nature Conservation MPAs will be developed through a scientific process with involvement of stakeholders
• Data on MPA search features will underpin the selection of Nature Conservation MPAs
• Areas containing multiple features (both biodiversity and geodiversity) will be given priority
How will this be achieved?
Application of MPA Selection Guidelines• Five stage process based on distribution of
important biodiversity and geodiversity features
MPA selection guidelines available online at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/marinescotland/mpaguidelines
FOC
US
OF
TOD
AY
Stage 1: presence of important features
Stage 2: prioritisation of areasStage 3: assessment of scale of areaStage 4: assessment of management &
Stage 5: contribution to the network
TOU
CH
ED U
PON
TO
DA
Y
Stage 1 of the MPA selection guidelines
Key questions we will try and answer today
• What do we need to know?
• What do we know already?
• What are the gaps in our knowledge?
• What is being done to fill these gaps?
• What happens next?
What do we need to know?
Stage 1 - Presence of MPA search features
• What are the features?
• Where are the features?
Stage 2 - Qualities of MPA search features
• Can areas that support multiple features (bio & geo) be identified using the geodatabase?
• What human activities are taking place within MPA regions that might affect MPA search features?
FOCUS OF TODAY
TOUCHED UPON IN THIS AFTERNOONS TALKS
What do we know already?
Physical data
Habitat & species data
Collectively we know quite a lot ….
………… BUTTHINGS ‘WE’ HAVE
KNOWN FOR A WHILE
What do we know already?
• MPA search features split across scientific disciplines
• Knowledge-base is variable geographically and across taxonomic groups
• Data management and access issues
• Existing data did not necessarily align neatly to the Scottish MPA search features
………… so
What do we know already?
Recent work to collate data for MPA work
• Defra-led datalayers project taken as starting point
• Subsequent SNH and JNCC research projects
Refined Defra geodiversity features & mapping
Added biodiversity features with a wider 3-pillar Scottish focus (PMFs)
Cleaned data & made more user-friendly
What do we know already?
The Defra-led data layers project was a great start
but it didn’t meet all our requirements ….
............. so we’ve tailored it to suit our needs
What do we know already?
What do we know already?
What do we know already?
What do we know already?
What do we know already?
What do we know already?
What do we know already?
What do we know already?
Areas of greatest interest from a Geodiversity perspective
What do we know already?Scottish MPA search feature & Priority Marine Feature maps
Atl
anti
c w
hit
e-si
ded
do
lph
inF
an m
uss
el A
trin
a fr
agili
s
Off
sho
re d
eep
sea
mu
ds
No
rway
po
ut
Tri
sop
teru
s es
mar
kii
© Crown Copyright - Defra - MB0102. © SNH. © JNCC. © MSS. © BGS. UK Limits provided by UKHO Law of the Sea Division. All rights reserved.Ordnance Survey Licence number SNH 100017908. 2011
What do we know already? …already being used for other purposes e.g. State of Scotland’s Seas
TID
E-S
WE
PT
AL
GA
L C
OM
MU
NIT
IES
OF
FS
HO
RE
DE
EP
SE
A M
UD
MIN
KE
WH
AL
E
What are the gaps in our knowledge?
• Geographic gaps in coverage of ecological data.
• A lot of the data on fragile seabed features are quite old and most records are limited in the areas they cover. Majority were not collected to define extent of features.
• Not yet using all known datasets for a number of key features. Additional work is needed to include these within geodatabase.
What is being done to fill the gaps?
On-going data projects
Analysis of data from recent non-MPA research cruises
Analysis of MSS archive datasets
Analysis of SAMS offshore still photography
Re-analysis of SEA data e.g. Faroe-Shetland sponge belt
What is being done to fill the gaps?
Engaging with other data holders / collectors
National stakeholder workshops• Specialists allocated to ‘themes’• Identification of datasets not
currently utilised • Completion of metadata forms for
relevant datasets• Prioritised data capture and
incorporation• Update on data use following
application of selection guidelines
Wider engagement• Promotional materials, press
releases, web pages• Meetings and presentations to
national organisations
What is being done to fill the gaps?
A programme of new biological survey work 2010 surveys completed
• SNH benthic priorities identified in Commissioned Report no. 381
• Contracted surveys - Sound of Canna, Ullapool Approaches and Clyde Sea
• Collaborative survey work with MSS & SEPA - Clyde Sea, Loch Sween Fair Isle & North IBTS
2011 survey planning underway• Making best use of existing Scottish
Government vessels• Scope currently under discussion but
will include work in offshore waters in the NW and outer Forth, within the Minch and off the NE coast of Scotland (Caithness and outer MF)
What is being done to fill the gaps?
Refining large-scale feature definitions & mapping Working with scientific community to better understand
large-scale MPA search features and the role MPAs could play in their conservation of
Functional role, processes, prey species & mobile predators
What happens next?
• Today is the start of wider discussions over data & the selection of Nature Conservation MPAs
• Any datasets identified through the workshop will be prioritised for inclusion in the geodatabase
• SNH and JNCC currently identifying significant gaps in coverage of existing protected areas through considering the potential contribution of N2K and other spatial measures
• SNH and JNCC work underway to collate information on human activities and to determine regional risk for MPA search features
• JNCC-led work underway to identify areas that are ‘least damaged/more natural’ - Workshop 2 in June 2011
What happens next?
• Using all data available by 1st July 2011 SNH and JNCC will identify broad search areas to address the MPA search feature conservation gaps - August 2011
• 1st national application of the MPA selection guidelines, to areas that are ‘least damaged/more natural’ before being applied more broadly - completed by Sept. ’11
• Follow-up workshop (no. 3) to discuss the results of the 1st application of the Guidelines in October ’11
• 2nd national application of the Guidelines and workshop (no. 4) by Oct. ’12
• Identification of most of the individual MPA proposals and the overall shape & composition of the network - Nov. ‘12
What happens next?
This afternoons session
• Consideration of available mapping by theme to identify data gaps - rotation between tables. Paper map and laptops with the data in a GIS. Capture of metadata
The draft geodatabase
• Currently version 0.1. Contains 98% of the data we have collated. Structural changes to be made following the workshop with Ver. 1 due in April.
• Longer-term ambition to be able to release the mapping but copyright restrictions to be navigated because a lot of these data are not ours.
[email protected] - Scottish [email protected] - Territorial [email protected] - Offshore waters
