The Northwest Atlantic Marine Ecoregional Assessment covers the area from the Bay of Fundy south to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina and the coastal shoreline out to the outer continental shelf. The goals in conducting the Assessment are to 1) compile a transparent, distributable baseline of scientific information, and 2) develop a status report and blueprint for conservation of the region’s marine biodiversity – from sea turtles to sturgeon, eelgrass to oysters, right whales to flounder.

The assessment includes two phases. Phase One is designed to provide a baseline of scientific information to serve as a resource for marine decision makers and managers with a wide range of interests. Based on this information, Phase Two will include production of a narrative report describing the priority places and strategies the Conservancy recommends for conservation action within the Northwest Atlantic Marine region. An in-depth report on Assessment findings will also be released when the project is completed in the summer of 2009. The products of Phase One will support ecosystem-based management, marine spatial planning, regional ocean governance, fisheries management, coastal adaptation to climate change, and identification of priority areas for restoration. This means not only mapping areas of high biodiversity or areas important for species’ feeding, nesting, and spawning, but also compiling data about human uses, such as shipping lanes, energy infrastructure, fishing effort, and locations of shoreline armoring, among others. Specifically, products will include a geospatial database and tools to allow easy access to the data. Many of these products will be available online for public use.