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Marine Spatial PlanningBluebridge
The Marine Spatial Planning team was part of a
successful Horizon 2020 bid called BlueBRIDGE, which
will develop web based analysis and reporting tools to
support improved management of fisheries, aquaculture
and the marine environment. GRID-Arendal will work
with a range of partners to develop a method to report
on how well marine protected areas represent a range
of environmental features including ecologically ones
such as seagrasses, mangroves, coral reefs and undersea
mountains, or seamounts. GRID-Arendal will also be
involved in developing a tool to examine the interactions
between mangroves and aquaculture sites.
Story Maps The marine spatial planning group also launched a new communication method for GRID-Arendal called story maps, which allows projects to be highlighted through interactive story-based maps. A story map on the spread of sargassum seaweed in West Africa was prepared in response to a request from the Abidjan ConventionThe marine environment supports a wide range of human uses and activities including fisheries and
aquaculture, shipping, mineral resources, energy, tourism, recreation and cultural heritage. There
is increasing competition for access to these resources to support both livelihoods and economic
development, resulting in conflict and negative effects on the marine environment. Marine spatial
planning is a science-based process that brings together stakeholders (including users and managers)
to build an understanding of these human uses, resource distribution and natural values. It develops
scenarios for resource use that minimise conflict and improve sustainability.
Secretariat to support a Regional Expert Group Meeting
on Sargassum, held in Sierra Leone in November.
Sargassumhas beenwashingup onbeaches inWest Africa
due to changes in seasonal currents creating a significant
problem for coastal habitats and coastal tourism. Other
story maps published in 2015 cover ecosystem services of
the Okavango River basin, blue carbon ecosystems and
seamount morphology.
The Coastal Ecosystem Mapping and Media Viability Project is an Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) led initiative in partnership with GRID-Arendal and the environmental consultancy group Five Oceans Environmental Services. The project is also supported by the Sharjaah Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA), Dubai Municipality, and the GEF Blue Forests Project.The project uses drones to measure mangrove forest
volume to accurately predict their biomass and carbon
sequestration capabilities. Drones are the new survey
Drone view of Hove, Arendal,
Norway. Photo: Rob Barnes