Marine Mapping Tool

The ocean is a busy place. Whether we are shipping materials, catching fish or generating clean energy, we can use the ocean while also protecting and restoring nature. But first, we need to understand what marine life, such as fish and birds, uses the same parts of the ocean that we use and what places are important to these animals’ health and survival. The Nature Conservancy’s Marine Mapping Tool makes it easy to review publicly available information about Atlantic Ocean habitats and species, so decisions we make can be supported by the best science and data available.

There are two versions of the tool; one for the Northeast Atlantic (from Maine to North Carolina), and one for the Southeast (from North Carolina to Florida). Both versions tell us about the plant and animal species that may be present in the ocean, but each version is different because the needs for each region are different. 

The Northeast Marine Mapping Tool has been updated to better answer questions that tool users have about critical habitats that species rely on and the vulnerability of certain species and habitats.

These new features are important because the most effective conservation actions require not only understanding what species are present in a location and how abundant they are, but also what habitats and other features are important to them, including back on the coast. The data is organized in a way that allows conservation decisions to be made by looking at the marine ecosystem more holistically. The hope is that consistent use of the tool will support actions that improve outcomes for nature.