MMO publishes marine evidence reports

The four new commissioning reports are part of the organisation’s effort to find and fill gaps in knowledge that marine planner, regulators and users currently face.

Patricia Almada-Villela, head of evidence, data and knowledge management, MMO, told Maritime Journal: “The reports provide specific benefits to marine planning by providing an understanding of the implications of marine plans on issues such as seabed habitats and marine recreational activity areas. The fisheries report includes detailed information about English fisheries such as distribution, landings and biological aspects. This gives us an idea of the wider picture when making marine plans.

She added: “We use the socio-economic data report to consider the social and economic aspects of marine planning. This helps us to pursue the MMOs approach towards the sustainable development of the marine economy. We hope that making the evidence available will add to the information already used by marine regulators, industries and stakeholders to inform future marine planning decisions”.

The reports review fisheries resource and activity in England, social and economic data on marine industries and coastal communities, marine recreational activities and seabed habitat mapping.

The information collected will be used to form marine plans and to ensure all marine users are fully accounted for as the MMO develops future plans for English seas.

Further reports will be published in December.