shinyplanr in the Weddell Sea
We led the development of an interactive spatial planning App to support real-time stakeholder engagement across 27 CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) member states in the Weddell Sea (1.57 million km²). The process informed a proposal—tabled by Norway—to protect 628,000 km² (40%) as a marine protected area.
This initiative represents the most rapidly developed network of marine protected areas in the CCAMLR region to have received support from the CCAMLR Scientific Committee. Although it has not yet been formally adopted due to ongoing geopolitical challenges, there is hope that it will advance once international relations improve. In the meantime, the transparent and participatory planning tool we developed continues to inform and influence the design of protected areas throughout the region.
During this process we worked closely with our partners - The Norwegian Polar Institute - to tailor the app to their needs. The App used data from The WSMPA Phase 2 Atlas that was the result of an international collaborative effort. During the process we led virtual stakeholder workshops (during COVID) to guide scientists and policy makers through the App to better understand the spatial planning process.
This was the original! The work we undertook on this initial App for the Weddell Sea kick-started the development of our highly customisable and relocatable shinyplanr app that is deployed today in regions in the Indo-Pacific, including Kosrae.
Explore the App
You can explore the Weddell Sea Phase 2 App here or check out the screenshots below.
CBCS Presentation
In August 2023, Dr Jason Everett discussed stakeholder engagement using the Weddell Sea Phase 2 app to the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science at The University of Queensland.