POL involved in digital mapping project to support marine protected area planning

POL is involved in a project to develop digital mapping / spatial information layers that will help identify Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in UK waters

ABP Marine Environmental Research (ABPmer) has been awarded a major contract to develop digital mapping / spatial information layers that will help identify Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in UK waters. The draft UK Marine Bill and equivalent provisions in Scotland provide for the identification, designation and management of a network of MCZs (and equivalent Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Scottish territorial waters) to protect nationally rare/threatened and representative habitats and species and features of geological and geomorphological importance.

The two year project, funded by DEFRA (Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs), Scottish Government, Department of Environment (Northern Ireland), Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Natural England (NE) and Countryside Council for Wales will ensure that the decision making process uses the best scientific data available.

More information about the project can be found on the ABP Marine website.

The Proudman Oceanographic (POL) scientific research focuses on oceanography encompassing global sea-levels and geodesy, numerical modelling of continental shelf seas and coastal sediment processes. This research alongside activities of surveying, monitoring, data management and forecasting provides strategic support for the wider mission of the Natural Environment Research Council.

As a public funded body it is part of our remit to inform the public of the science and research undertaken at the laboratory. Attending events like the 'Ocean Awareness Weekend' at the Blue Planet Aquarium offers the opportunity for our scientists to meet members of the public and present the laboratory's work.

The Natural Environment Research Council is one of the UK's eight Research Councils. It uses a budget of about £ 350m a year to fund and carry out impartial scientific research in the sciences of the environment. NERC trains the next generation of independent environmental scientists. It is addressing some of the key questions facing mankind, such as global warming, renewable energy and sustainable economic development.