102
S. Fletcher
The Role of GIS in EEZ Management
GIS have traditionally been considered as terrestrial applications. However, increasing
applications are being developed relating to coastal and marine environments, yet the
potential for GIS to be used for large scale marine resource management is somewhat
under-explored. The key characteristics of GIS of data storage, manipulation, analysis
and display suggest that GIS is able to facilitate effective EEZ management by
providing:
information in a timely manner
information tailored to needs
a cost effective storage medium for data
a national resource and repository of data relating to coastal and marine areas
a means of identifying of data gaps
rationalisation of data collection and research
The complexity and dynamic nature of the marine environment requires a
system which is able to model processes reflecting that complexity. Therefore, to
manage the datasets relating to the EEZ ultimately requires a system which adopts the
analytical capacity of a GIS and the real time modelling capability of a marine
dynamic model.
In the US, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
has sought to create a GIS suitable for coastal and ocean governance out to the edge of
the EEZ in the southeast US. The initiative stems from a realisation that US ocean
management policies tend to be fragmented and often conflicting, which results in
"contentious decision making that often fails to address impacts on ocean resources"
(Fowler and Gore, 1997). NOAA considers 3 datasets as fundamental to ocean
management:
accurate shoreline position
bathymetry
maritime boundaries
These core datasets can then be combined with datasets relating to physical resources,
living resources, historic/cultural resources, economic resources, and foreign materials
as appropriate to the issue being examined. Through identifying data requirements for
decision making, GIS can feed into the wider process of data gathering and assist in
prioritising data needs.
Using GIS to manage data relating to EEZ resources is likely to promote the
establishment of partnerships, networking and joint working through the need for
sectoral, sub-national and international bodies to co-operate in data collection,
management and interpretation. The use of GIS also serves to identify conflict and
focus resources on specific coastal and ocean issues which may have previously been
S. Fletcher
The Role of GIS in EEZ Management
GIS have traditionally been considered as terrestrial applications. However, increasing
applications are being developed relating to coastal and marine environments, yet the
potential for GIS to be used for large scale marine resource management is somewhat
under-explored. The key characteristics of GIS of data storage, manipulation, analysis
and display suggest that GIS is able to facilitate effective EEZ management by
providing:
information in a timely manner
information tailored to needs
a cost effective storage medium for data
a national resource and repository of data relating to coastal and marine areas
a means of identifying of data gaps
rationalisation of data collection and research
The complexity and dynamic nature of the marine environment requires a
system which is able to model processes reflecting that complexity. Therefore, to
manage the datasets relating to the EEZ ultimately requires a system which adopts the
analytical capacity of a GIS and the real time modelling capability of a marine
dynamic model.
In the US, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
has sought to create a GIS suitable for coastal and ocean governance out to the edge of
the EEZ in the southeast US. The initiative stems from a realisation that US ocean
management policies tend to be fragmented and often conflicting, which results in
"contentious decision making that often fails to address impacts on ocean resources"
(Fowler and Gore, 1997). NOAA considers 3 datasets as fundamental to ocean
management:
accurate shoreline position
bathymetry
maritime boundaries
These core datasets can then be combined with datasets relating to physical resources,
living resources, historic/cultural resources, economic resources, and foreign materials
as appropriate to the issue being examined. Through identifying data requirements for
decision making, GIS can feed into the wider process of data gathering and assist in
prioritising data needs.
Using GIS to manage data relating to EEZ resources is likely to promote the
establishment of partnerships, networking and joint working through the need for
sectoral, sub-national and international bodies to co-operate in data collection,
management and interpretation. The use of GIS also serves to identify conflict and
focus resources on specific coastal and ocean issues which may have previously been