Mapping priority areas for conservation in our ocean waters.

The digitally mapped areas below were selected to sustain marine biological diversity and ecosystems. Each type of marine plant and animal has particular habitat requirements, defined by the conditions of the seawater, the sea floor and the other marine life upon which it depends.

These ocean conservation areas form a network that is designed to include a portion of each habitat type. A number of different networks con be designed to achieve conservation goals for each habitat. This flexibility means that a planning process can consider alternatives and incorporate new information including new scientific data and socioeconomic considerations in designing networks.

This map shows a network of 30 different priority areas for conservation in the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank and Scotian Shelf. CLF and World Wildlife Fund-Canada have presented these areas as an example of a network that would provide substantial conservation benefits to marine ecosystems in the region. With protection, these areas would allow complex food webs and ecosystems to thrive.

Below are descriptions of four of these priority areas for conservation.

Stellwagen Bank

This area including most all New Englands only National Mar Sanctury and one of only 13 in the nation: Stellwagen Bank. This is underwater sand bank is home to several species thar are seriously at risk, like the North Atlantic right whale. Many bottom-dwelling Adult and juvinile fish such as cod, yellowtail pounder, winter skate, Northern sandlance, redfish (pictured) and longhorn sculpin thrive within this area. Humpbuck whales and the bottlenose dolphin also frequently the area, drawing many visitors to the area to observe marine wildlife.

Grand...