Terms of Reference for the work to be undertaken are:
• ToR1: Building on ongoing VME mapping activities being undertaken by SIOFA, to undertake classification of key biological, geological, and oceanographic data to provide a spatial framework for classifying the area’s marine environment into bioregions and, where possible, smaller spatial entities within bioregions, that make sense ecologically and are at a scale useful for regional planning.
• ToR2: As part of the bioregionalization work (ToR1), investigate and advise on the identification of representative protected areas within the SIOFA management area.
• ToR3: In support of ToR1, investigate and advise on the use of habitat suitability modelling in predicting benthic species diversity and distribution in the SIOFA management area, including assessing data availability for such modelling.
• ToR4: Investigate and advise on a holistic framework for assessing and preventing Significant Adverse Impacts (SAIs) on VMEs.
• ToR5: Identify and update existing and potential SAIs within the SIOFA management area, particularly those related to fishing activities.
