Why do we need habitat maps?
-> Provide a fundamental information for spatial and strategic planning
-> Support sustainable use of seabed resources
-> To management of human activities to protect the marine
environment
-> Improve State of the Environment assessments, particularly by setting
the results from monitoring stations into a wider geographic context
-> Support the selection and optimal delineation of marine protected
areas
-> Increase our understanding of marine ecosystem functioning –
particularly its relationship to hydrography, water column, fish
communities and climate
-> Scientific research.