15.4 Conclusions and Recommendations
Remote sensing data and data products can be invaluable tools for addressing coral
reef research and management questions. However, research and management
needs will best be met by choosing imagery and data products that best suit the
scale of the question and capacity of the users. Given that cost is often a limiting
factor for monitoring and assessment programs, managers should make use of the
increasing amounts of freely available data products and tools (Table 15.3). In
addition, development of collaborative agreements between research and management organizations can often be extremely useful for tailoring research to the
needs of coral reef managers, and for training staff and managers in how to use and
interpret the data. Finally, new techniques and tools developed to produce environmental information should be clearly documented and communicated within
the management organization to ensure that the knowledge will continue to be
applied and improved by new staff and staff staying in longer term roles.
Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank A. Knudby and R. Weeks for providing
figures and the contributors to the University of Queensland’s marine spatial remote sensing
toolkit, which is referenced throughout the text. C. Roelfsema acknowledges the support of staff
at the University of the South Pacific and Navakavu community members for participation in the
Fiji study on end-user map evaluation.
Suggested Reading
Andréfouët S (2008) Coral reef habitat mapping using remote sensing: a user vs producer
perspective. Implications for research, management and capacity building. J Spat Sci
53:113–129
Phinn SR (1998) A framework for selecting appropriate remotely sensed data dimensions for
environmental monitoring and management. Int J Remote Sens 19:3457–3463
Phinn S, Roelfsema C, Stumpf RP (2010) Remote sensing: discerning the promise from the
reality. In: Dennison WC (ed) Integrating and applying science: a handbook for effective
coastal ecosystem assessment. IAN Press, Cambridge
References
Adams VM, Mills M, Jupiter SD, Pressey RL (2011) Improving social acceptability of marine
protected area networks: a method for estimating opportunity costs to multiple gear types in
both fished and currently unfinished areas. Biol Conserv 144:350–361
Andréfouët S (2008) Coral reef habitat mapping using remote sensing: a user vs producer
perspective. Implications for research, management and capacity building. J Spat Sci
53:113–129
Andréfouët S, Payri C (2000) Scaling-up carbon and carbonate metabolism of coral reefs using
in situ data and remote sensing. Coral Reefs 19:259–269
Andréfouët S, Riegel S (2004) Remote sensing: a key tool for interdisciplinary assessment of
coral reef processes. Coral Reefs 23:1–4
15 Science and Management
423
Remote sensing data and data products can be invaluable tools for addressing coral
reef research and management questions. However, research and management
needs will best be met by choosing imagery and data products that best suit the
scale of the question and capacity of the users. Given that cost is often a limiting
factor for monitoring and assessment programs, managers should make use of the
increasing amounts of freely available data products and tools (Table 15.3). In
addition, development of collaborative agreements between research and management organizations can often be extremely useful for tailoring research to the
needs of coral reef managers, and for training staff and managers in how to use and
interpret the data. Finally, new techniques and tools developed to produce environmental information should be clearly documented and communicated within
the management organization to ensure that the knowledge will continue to be
applied and improved by new staff and staff staying in longer term roles.
Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank A. Knudby and R. Weeks for providing
figures and the contributors to the University of Queensland’s marine spatial remote sensing
toolkit, which is referenced throughout the text. C. Roelfsema acknowledges the support of staff
at the University of the South Pacific and Navakavu community members for participation in the
Fiji study on end-user map evaluation.
Suggested Reading
Andréfouët S (2008) Coral reef habitat mapping using remote sensing: a user vs producer
perspective. Implications for research, management and capacity building. J Spat Sci
53:113–129
Phinn SR (1998) A framework for selecting appropriate remotely sensed data dimensions for
environmental monitoring and management. Int J Remote Sens 19:3457–3463
Phinn S, Roelfsema C, Stumpf RP (2010) Remote sensing: discerning the promise from the
reality. In: Dennison WC (ed) Integrating and applying science: a handbook for effective
coastal ecosystem assessment. IAN Press, Cambridge
References
Adams VM, Mills M, Jupiter SD, Pressey RL (2011) Improving social acceptability of marine
protected area networks: a method for estimating opportunity costs to multiple gear types in
both fished and currently unfinished areas. Biol Conserv 144:350–361
Andréfouët S (2008) Coral reef habitat mapping using remote sensing: a user vs producer
perspective. Implications for research, management and capacity building. J Spat Sci
53:113–129
Andréfouët S, Payri C (2000) Scaling-up carbon and carbonate metabolism of coral reefs using
in situ data and remote sensing. Coral Reefs 19:259–269
Andréfouët S, Riegel S (2004) Remote sensing: a key tool for interdisciplinary assessment of
coral reef processes. Coral Reefs 23:1–4
15 Science and Management
423