Open meeting 2014 presentation - Annika Clements

Dr Annika Clements, AFBI Seabed Mapping Project Leader, described the necessity of accurately and completely assessing the seabed around Northern Ireland, including an assessment of the sensitivity of seabed habitats to development, mapping of the range of habitats and communities across the seafloor and ensuring adequate representation of habitats in Marine Protected Area.

Annika explained how AFBI’s work also supports the ecosystem management of fisheries through understanding how fish and shellfish species utilise habitats, both on the seabed and in the water column.