National Marine Protected Areas Center: The Marine Protected Areas Inventory

The Marine Protected Areas Inventory

> Data & Analysis > MPA Inventory

For Marine and Coastal Management Agencies: Invitation to QA/QC New MPA Inventory Data

Download U.S. MPA Data from the MPA Inventory (excel spreadsheet format (.xls)) Data are current as of March 2012.

View U.S. MPA Data Using Our Interactive MPA Mapping Tool

Download U.S. MPA GIS Spatial Data (shapefile [zip, 110MB] and ESRI geodatabase [zip, 49.9MB] with FGDC compliant metadata describing the data fields and classification attributes.) Data are current as of March 2012.

Access web mapping services

View maps and analytical products that have been derived from the MPA Inventory data. Additional background documents and related resources for the MPA Inventory include:

Definition and Classification System for MPAs in the U.S. (pdf, 443 kb)
Analysis of United States MPAs (pdf, 1.01 mb)
Spatial Analysis and Resource Characterization Tool (pdf, 1.25 mb)

About the Inventory

The Marine Protected Areas Inventory (MPA Inventory) is a comprehensive geospatial database designed to catalog and classify marine protected areas within U.S. waters. The Inventory contains information on over 1,700 sites and is the only such comprehensive dataset in the nation.

The MPA Inventory was developed with extensive input from state and federal MPA programs and drawn from other publically available data. The MPA Center is continually updating and verifying the Inventory data, so please contact us with any new site information, existing site clarifications or updated spatial boundary data.

MPA Inventory Applications

What can the MPA Inventory tell me? Download a quick guide on the MPA mapping tool for information on common questions the MPA Inventory and mapping tool can answer.

The database has various applications for marine management and conservation, but its primary purpose is to maintain baseline information on MPAs to the assist in the development of the National System of MPAs, as defined in Executive Order 13158. This information should not be used for regulatory purposes; please consult the Federal Register for the official record.

If you would like to propose the addition of an MPA to the MPA Inventory, please complete the form below and return to the MPA Inventory team.

MPA Inventory - New Site Form

Next Steps

The MPA Center is expanding the MPA Inventory to include site specific information on ecological and cultural resources as well as MPA management. These data are represented in 'Resource Groups' based loosely on the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification System (CMECS) to ensure comparability between diverse sites from a wide geography.

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About MPAs MPAs MPA Programs MPA Center Executive Order 13158 Get Involved National System Benefits Framework Nomination Process Identifying Conservation Gaps Public Participation List of National System Sites Cultural Heritage MPAs International MPA Effectiveness Gulf of Mexico MPA Network Data & Analysis MPA Inventory Ocean Uses De Facto MPAs Analysis of U.S. MPAs Maps Resources MPA Library Resources MPA Center Publications Education FAQs Multimedia News MPA Training Webinars Glossary Archives Science & Stewardship Ocean Uses Cultural Heritage MPAs Identifying Conservation Gaps GIS Navigating MPAs MPA Effectiveness Climate Change Impacts MPA Science Advisory Committee Meetings Membership Bios Structure Charter Products History

Data & Analysis MPA Inventory Ocean Uses De Facto MPAs Analysis of U.S. MPAs Maps	The Marine Protected Areas Inventory > Data & Analysis > MPA Inventory For Marine and Coastal Management Agencies: Invitation to QA/QC New MPA Inventory Data Download U.S. MPA Data from the MPA Inventory (excel spreadsheet format (.xls)) Data are current as of March 2012. View U.S. MPA Data Using Our Interactive MPA Mapping Tool Download U.S. MPA GIS Spatial Data (shapefile [zip, 110MB] and ESRI geodatabase [zip, 49.9MB] with FGDC compliant metadata describing the data fields and classification attributes.) Data are current as of March 2012. Access web mapping services View maps and analytical products that have been derived from the MPA Inventory data. Additional background documents and related resources for the MPA Inventory include: Definition and Classification System for MPAs in the U.S. (pdf, 443 kb) Analysis of United States MPAs (pdf, 1.01 mb) Spatial Analysis and Resource Characterization Tool (pdf, 1.25 mb) About the Inventory The Marine Protected Areas Inventory (MPA Inventory) is a comprehensive geospatial database designed to catalog and classify marine protected areas within U.S. waters. The Inventory contains information on over 1,700 sites and is the only such comprehensive dataset in the nation. The MPA Inventory was developed with extensive input from state and federal MPA programs and drawn from other publically available data. The MPA Center is continually updating and verifying the Inventory data, so please contact us with any new site information, existing site clarifications or updated spatial boundary data. MPA Inventory Applications What can the MPA Inventory tell me? Download a quick guide on the MPA mapping tool for information on common questions the MPA Inventory and mapping tool can answer. The database has various applications for marine management and conservation, but its primary purpose is to maintain baseline information on MPAs to the assist in the development of the National System of MPAs, as defined in Executive Order 13158. This information should not be used for regulatory purposes; please consult the Federal Register for the official record. If you would like to propose the addition of an MPA to the MPA Inventory, please complete the form below and return to the MPA Inventory team. MPA Inventory - New Site Form Next Steps The MPA Center is expanding the MPA Inventory to include site specific information on ecological and cultural resources as well as MPA management. These data are represented in 'Resource Groups' based loosely on the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification System (CMECS) to ensure comparability between diverse sites from a wide geography. MPA Inventory Expansion MPA Inventory Expansion Resource Groups Definitions

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