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Marine ecosystem mapping at the Prince Edward Islands
(2018-06-20) Lombard, Amanda; Bosman, Albe; Dopolo, Mbulelo; Fourie, Fred; Harries, Linda; Holness, Stephen; Makhado, Azwianewi; Meyer, Rory; Pistorius, Pierre; Reisinger, Ryan; Somhlaba, Sobahle; Swart, Sebastiaan; Smith, Melanie
The Prince Edward Islands are for the first time being included in South Africa’s National Biodiversity Assessment. We build on marine spatial planning work completed for the country’s first offshore Marine Protected Area, proclaimed at the islands in 2013. Habitat and biodiversity data for the surrounding marine ecosystems were updated and collated together with entirely new datasets to produce a marine ecosystem classification and habitat map. Extensive contributions from the research community, together with new data, have allowed identification of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, modelling of top predator forage areas, detailed mapping of kelp habitats and refined bathymetry and substrate classification for the island shelf. The approach and results of the classification are described. Under the National Biodiversity Assessment process, the updated spatial information is to be used to assess pressures and protection status of marine ecosystems within the island’s Exclusive Economic Zone.