Ocean space is increasingly in demand by a range of interest groups seeking the exploitation of both livingand non-living marine resources. As conflicts over marine resources become more apparent, it is clear thatthe use of ocean resources requires informed management. In order to achieve sustainable ocean areamanagement, an appropriate ocean data set is required. At present, marine data collection is undertaken bya diverse group of sectoral interests, often with little inter-sectoral compatibility. This results ininformation inappropriate for management as it cannot usefully be combined. Instead, a more integratedsystem of data collection will enable widespread marine data use. This will allow management decisions tobe made on the best information available in order to facilitate the most effective use of ocean space andresources.

This paper identifies existing weaknesses in marine data collection and suggests a new inclusive approachthat is integrated into the wider context of ocean resource management. Geographic Information Systems(GIS) provide for the efficient and effective use of data and are advocated for ocean data management in thebroadest sense. This imposes a requirement to re-assess the philosophy of data collection in the contextof ocean area management. GIS therefore represents a significant opportunity for informed decision makingin the management of ocean space. It is suggested that GIS may be considered as a new paradigm in marinescience, and as such represents a new contextual methodology for the collection and management of marinedata. The paper advocates non-restrictive data collection as an appropriate mechanism to deliver an oceanarea GIS. This would facilitate effective and sustainable ocean area management.

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