The Analysis and Use of Evidence Award Shortlist

Scotland's Marine Atlas Steering Group

Scotland’s Marine Atlas (www.scotland.gov.uk/marineatlas) is an innovative publication which, for the first time, brings together and maps a huge range of information about Scotland’s seas. The contents ranges from temperature, salinity and ocean acidification to habitats and species, from the value of fish landed to biotoxin monitoring and potential sites for marine renewables. The information is presented in a colourful and easily accessible way, with signposts to further information, and centres around maps to provide a spatial dimension

The Atlas imaginatively and innovatively fulfils a statutory requirement introduced by the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 to provide an evidence base for marine planning. The spatial representation of wide-ranging data underpins Scotland’s approach to the emerging discipline of marine planning, which is key to providing integrated management of the marine environment and the many activities which take place within it.

The Atlas, and underlying data, also serves to inform and educate the general public about Scotland’s seas. In addition, Education Packs were created with complementary themed posters and an accompanying DVD that were circulated to all Scotland’s schools. The information is also available online and a web-based GIS version is now under development to provide interactive maps and downloadable data sets.

The Atlas team has now been invited to attend the next meeting of the International Coastal Atlas Network to share the experience of developing this management tool.