Publication Abstract

Marine resource atlases: implications for policy makers and planners

J.W. Ramster

Marine resources atlases provide a means of bringing together, in a convenient form for reference and planning purposes, the multiple uses of a sea area. Digital versions-Geographic-Information Systems (GIS)-are now the rule rather than the exception and span the wide spectra of both users' needs and technical development respectively. The current situation in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, North America, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN and within the Private Consultancy area are described in turn and then the key question of whether or not decision-makers per se should manipulate data within a GIS-context is discussed. It is suggested that technical advances over the next 3-5 years will make such a development inevitable and that this must be taken account of by marine resource atlas-makers.

Reference:

J.W. Ramster, 1994. Marine resource atlases: implications for policy makers and planners. Underwater Technology, 19(4): 12-19.