Geographical Area
Regional scale: The entire Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Iceland will undergo a comprehensive evaluation to map and monitor biodiversity and invasive species, and to identify representative areas for the protection of biodiversity. Covering 758.000 km2, this marine area features diverse topographies such as canyons, ridges, moraines, iceberg scars, and hydrothermal vents. Coastal shelves are dynamically influenced by oceanic inputs, with decadal variations in cold and warm fronts leading to a significant diversity of habitats and species.
Local scale: At Skjálfandi Bay (66°05′N 17°33′W, northeast Iceland), marine spatial planning will be informed by public participatory mapping and by a detailed description of biodiversity using eDNA. The region primarily focuses on fisheries and whale-watching tourism, with the latter growing significantly over the past few decades, becoming a vital economic, social, and cultural element for the Bay. Additionally, a fish processing plant is situated in Húsavík, along the shores of Skjálfandi Bay. Skjálfandi Bay serves as a nesting area for several seabird species, including Atlantic puffins, Arctic terns, and guillemots. A major salmon river flows into the Bay, partially protected under the Ramsar Convention.
