Nature Conservation MPAs: How socio-economic data

will be used

Ecological data workshop

Pete Chaniotis

Joint Nature Conservation Committee

What do we mean by ‘socio-economic’ data?

• Information pertaining to:

– The physical presence of activities currently taking place in the marine environment

– The economic value of these activities – Social uses and value of our seas– Areas of interest for sector development in the

future

At what points can activities data be used in the selection of Nature

Conservation MPAs?

• The search location contains features considered to be least damaged/more natural, rather than those heavily modified by human activity (Stage 2d)

• Activities data as a proxy for identifying search features which are of better ‘quality’

What activities data do we already have to identify areas which might be considered as least

damaged/more natural?

Defra data layers

contract

SoSS Atlas

JNCC verification

work

Distribution of key features

Distribution of activities

Areas considered LDMN

Least damaged/more natural data workshop

• June 2011

• The role of activities data and socio-economic interests in the selection of MPAs

• Overview of work to verify existing/collate additional activities data to feed into the process

• Discussion of activities data and identification of gaps

Wider role of socio-economic information

• Discussing the ability to manage features as part of a Nature Conservation MPA

• Informing choices between locations of similar ecological value

• Economic value of activities to produce Impact Assessments

• Public consultation

marineconservation@scotland.gsi.gov.uk - Scottish watersmpa@snh.gov.uk - Territorial watersscottishmpas@jncc.gov.uk - Offshore waters