As human pressures on natural systems escalate, understanding and predicting the distribution biodiversity, now and into the future, has become increasingly important for managing marine systems. Biological data are usually sparse and patchy, yet managers need comprehensive information at broad spatial scales to make important decisions such as prioritising areas for conservation (e.g. Marine Protected Areas), managing the impacts of activities such as fishing and deep-sea mining, and developing response plans to climate change.

Our three speakers will discuss the new age of open data, ocean observations, cutting-edge spatial and statistical analysis tools, their application to quantifying and mapping marine biodiversity and their implications for future ocean management.

Speakers: Dr Vanessa Lucieer, Dr Nicole Hill, Professor Craig Johnson