National Marine Protected Areas Center: GIS for Marine Protected Areas

GIS for Marine Protected Areas

In order to manage the complex issues affecting the nation's MPAs, managers often turn to technology for help in understanding and analyzing the resources and environments of their MPAs. MPA managers and scientists are increasingly using geographic information systems (GIS) to manage, map and analyze the resources under their jurisdiction.

A geographic information system is a computer system capable of capturing, storing, manipulating, analyzing and displaying data that describe the geography of a particular place. Often considered a mapping tool, a GIS offers a way to view, query, interpret, and visualize various sorts of spatial data to reveal geographic relationships, patterns, and trends. Maps, charts, and analytical reports can be derived from the data stored in a GIS as a means of documenting and explaining spatial patterns and relationships to assist in planning and decision-making processes.

The MPA Center uses GIS to manage information related to marine protected areas throughout the United States to help better understand the spatial patterns of MPAs, the resources they protect and the effectiveness of MPAs as a marine management tool. For more information on specific MPA Center GIS products and tools see the links below.

GIS Products & Tools

The MPA Inventory is a GIS database documenting the spatial boundaries for all MPAs in the United States. The Inventory also houses information about the purpose and management of each MPA, as well as conservation related attributes that define the level and scale of protection, fishing restrictions and conservation foci. The MPA Inventory is served online as a downloadable shapefile (specifically for GIS users), a tabular spreadsheet, and within an online mapping tool for visualization.

The DeFacto MPA Database is a GIS database documenting the spatial boundaries of all DeFacto MPAs in the U.S. This database focuses specifically on MPAs designated for purposes other than conservation and contains information regarding the type, management authority, size and activity restrictions for each MPA. The DeFacto MPA Database is summarized in the State of the Nation's DeFacto Marine Protected Area Report and is also served online as a downloadable shapefile.

The California Ocean Uses Atlas is a project designed to document the patterns of human uses of the ocean off the coast of California. GIS data for nearly 30 human uses of the ocean were gathered through a series of participatory mapping workshops convened with ocean use experts throughout the state. The results of this project include use maps, a downloadable GIS geodatabase, and an online mapping tool for data visualization.

Inventory of GIS-Based Decision-Support Tools for MPAs is a report focusing on GIS tools with the highest utility for MPA processes. Each tool summary includes a description of what the tool functions, the data and software needed to run it, and contact information. In addition, several tools are highlighted in greater detail, providing examples of how they have been used in MPA zoning and monitoring activities.

For more information, contact:
Mimi D'Iorio
GIS Database Manager
Mimi.Diorio@noaa.gov

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Error processing SSI file	GIS for Marine Protected Areas > Science & Stewardship > GIS In order to manage the complex issues affecting the nation's MPAs, managers often turn to technology for help in understanding and analyzing the resources and environments of their MPAs. MPA managers and scientists are increasingly using geographic information systems (GIS) to manage, map and analyze the resources under their jurisdiction. A geographic information system is a computer system capable of capturing, storing, manipulating, analyzing and displaying data that describe the geography of a particular place. Often considered a mapping tool, a GIS offers a way to view, query, interpret, and visualize various sorts of spatial data to reveal geographic relationships, patterns, and trends. Maps, charts, and analytical reports can be derived from the data stored in a GIS as a means of documenting and explaining spatial patterns and relationships to assist in planning and decision-making processes. The MPA Center uses GIS to manage information related to marine protected areas throughout the United States to help better understand the spatial patterns of MPAs, the resources they protect and the effectiveness of MPAs as a marine management tool. For more information on specific MPA Center GIS products and tools see the links below. GIS Products & Tools The MPA Inventory is a GIS database documenting the spatial boundaries for all MPAs in the United States. The Inventory also houses information about the purpose and management of each MPA, as well as conservation related attributes that define the level and scale of protection, fishing restrictions and conservation foci. The MPA Inventory is served online as a downloadable shapefile (specifically for GIS users), a tabular spreadsheet, and within an online mapping tool for visualization. The DeFacto MPA Database is a GIS database documenting the spatial boundaries of all DeFacto MPAs in the U.S. This database focuses specifically on MPAs designated for purposes other than conservation and contains information regarding the type, management authority, size and activity restrictions for each MPA. The DeFacto MPA Database is summarized in the State of the Nation's DeFacto Marine Protected Area Report and is also served online as a downloadable shapefile. The California Ocean Uses Atlas is a project designed to document the patterns of human uses of the ocean off the coast of California. GIS data for nearly 30 human uses of the ocean were gathered through a series of participatory mapping workshops convened with ocean use experts throughout the state. The results of this project include use maps, a downloadable GIS geodatabase, and an online mapping tool for data visualization. Inventory of GIS-Based Decision-Support Tools for MPAs is a report focusing on GIS tools with the highest utility for MPA processes. Each tool summary includes a description of what the tool functions, the data and software needed to run it, and contact information. In addition, several tools are highlighted in greater detail, providing examples of how they have been used in MPA zoning and monitoring activities. For more information, contact: Mimi D'Iorio GIS Database Manager Mimi.Diorio@noaa.gov