CPAWS NL Special Marine Areas Data Hub: A Comprehensive Source of Data and Information on Newfoundland and Labrador's Coastal and Marine Ecosystems

June 8, 2023 St. John’s, NL – As part of World Oceans Day, we are happy to share our Special Marine Areas Data Hub, an innovative initiative aimed at facilitating open data sharing and information dissemination pertaining to the coastal and marine ecosystems of Newfoundland and Labrador! As an extension of our Special Marine Areas Guide, this database serves to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, enabling marine spatial planning, conservation efforts, and public education.

At the core of the Special Marine Areas Data Hub lies an Interactive Map, boasting a large array of over 1000 layers, curated for exploration. This user-friendly mapping tool allows users to easily visualize spatial data, toggle layers, and superimpose datasets to identify interactions within the marine environment. In addition, users will be able to access species at risk profiles and search through an expanding database containing a wealth of marine data specific to Newfoundland and Labrador. This extensive collection encompasses contributions from organizations such as Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), and Memorial University (MUN), ensuring a comprehensive and reliable information resource.

“Data is imperative to marine conservation as it offers detailed insight into biodiversity, habitat loss, and climate change impacts, allowing for evidence-based decision making and prioritizing strategies for endangered species and habitats. Making this information easily accessible to the public allows everyone to engage in these processes and drives informed discussions about environmental policy and action, enhancing our collective ability to protect the blue planet,” states Mikaila Bickford, Ocean Conservation Manager CPAWS NL. “Our goal with the Data Hub project was to showcase NL’s incredible ocean biodiversity and create a library of accessible and engaging data, information, and media. By creating a tool that anyone can use to learn, we hope to give citizens the tools to effectively interact with and protect their local coastal and ocean environments.”

We invite those interested to visit the Special Marine Areas Data Hub at datahub.cpawsnl.org. Visitors can gain valuable insights, facilitate evidence-based decision-making, and actively contribute to the preservation and sustainable management of our precious coastal and marine ecosystems.

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