Category: FIMRO

Tim Merrick @ Focal Plane Photo

Benthic habitat distribution within the Fair Isle Demonstration and Research Marine Protected Area Research Report

Marine environments face increasing threats from human activities, climate change, and habitat degradation. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have emerged as a conservation and management tool towards safeguarding the marine environment by preserving biodiversity, supporting ecological resilience, and promoting sustainable resource management. Research surrounding MPAs,such as the Fair Isle Demonstration and Research Marine Protected Area (DR MPA), plays a key role in understanding marine ecosystems and ensuring their resilience…

Find out more Benthic habitat distribution within the Fair Isle Demonstration and Research Marine Protected Area Research Report

Project Plan Fair Isle Demonstration and Research MPA community-led marine monitoring and citizen science programme pilot scheme

The ethos of the Fair Isle DR MPA is to incorporate community and wider stakeholder involvement at every level, from decision-making to citizen science projects. The vision for this project is the development and delivery of an island wide citizen science and marine monitoring programme entirely managed and coordinated by a local community group – the Fair Isle Marine Research Organisation (FIMRO), an initiative which does not currently exist in Scotland. Following implementation of the Fair Isle Demonstration and Research MPA (DR MPA), FIMRO have recognised the need and appetite for community involvement in data collection to inform the continued research and monitoring necessary to meet the objectives of the Fair Isle DR MPA. This project would offer the excellent opportunity to build the capacity of FIMRO to independently achieve these objectives through an island – wide community-led citizen science and marine monitoring programme expanding on current community participation in citizen science and engagement with the DR MPA as well as fostering further engagement with wider Shetland communities.

Find out more Project Plan Fair Isle Demonstration and Research MPA community-led marine monitoring and citizen science programme pilot scheme

Distribution modelling of the benthic habitats within the Fair Isle Demonstration and Research Marine Protected Area

Limited knowledge exists about the benthic habitats, identified as a research priority in the Fair Isle DR MPA Winter 2020/21 stakeholder consultation. This report focuses on modelling the potential benthic habitat composition within the Fair Isle DR MPA, with an emphasis on Priority Marine Features (PMFs). Utilising Distribution Models (DMs), this study aims to address this knowledge gap by analysing biotopes with environmental data, providing a baseline for future research, and marine management initiatives.

Find out more Distribution modelling of the benthic habitats within the Fair Isle Demonstration and Research Marine Protected Area

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