Download AEBR 227 Biodiversity of Benthic Protection Areas and Seamount Closure Areas: a description of available benthic invertebrate data, and a preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of BPAs for biodiversity protection

This work compiles available benthic invertebrate records for Benthic Protection Areas and Seamount Closure Areas around New Zealand. Several BPAs are well-described, but most require more sampling to improve knowledge of the biodiversity that is protected. Spatial planning software “Zonation” is used with a variety of data sources to illustrate how such an approach could be used to evaluate BPA efficacy, and improve the effectiveness of future protection measures.