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Executive summary

This review of national and selected international marine environment spatial frameworks and classification systems ws part of a wider Ministry for the Environment project to review different ecological classification systems and databases used for environmental management and reporting. The purpose of this review was to assist the Ministry with further developing and implementing the confirmed Environmental Performance Indicator (EPI) Programme indicators. For the purpose of the EPI Programme the "marine environment" includes the Exclusive Economic Zone as well as terrestrial and aquatic coastal environments.

This report reviewed the following New Zealand spatial frameworks and classification systems for the marine environment:

Bioregional/biogeographic spatial frameworks
- coastal and marine ecological areas of NZ (King et al, 1985
- New Zealand marine biogeographic regions (Knox)
- Department of Conservation marine habitat classification (in preparation)
Wetland classifications (using Ramsar Convention definition of wetland)
- UNEP GRID NZ wetland classification
- Ramsar wetland classification
- NZ wetland classification (Environmental Council)
Physical classifications for estuaries
- McClay estuary classification (1975)
- Hume & Herdendorf geomorphic classification of estuaries (1988)
- NIWA estuary classification (in preparation)
Local classifications for marine physical attributes and/or habitats/communities
- Auckland Regional Council marine habitat classification approaches

As New Zealand classification systems and spatial frameworks for the marine environment are less well developed compared to terrestrial and freshwater environments, part of the terms of reference for this report were to review a selection of international marine classification systems and spatial frameworks.

The international systems chosen for review were:

Bioregional/biogeographic spatial frameworks
- ANZECC interim marine and coastal regionalisation for Australia (1998)
- US Marine Sanctuary Programme Classification (1982)
- British Columbia Marine Ecological Classification at levels 1-3
Wetland classifications (using Ramsar Convention definition of wetland or similar)
- US Fish and Wildlife Service Wetland Classification (Cowardin et al, 1979)
- Victoria, Australia Wetland Classification (1996)
- California Marine System Classification
Physical Classifications for Estuaries
- Physical Classification of Australian Estuaries (Digby et al, 1999)
- Estuary Geomorphological Classification, Natal, South Africa. (Cooper et al, 1994)
Marine Geophysical Classifications
- Proposed marine environment classification for Canada (Roff & Taylor, 2000)
- British Columbia marine ecological classification at the ecounits level
Detailed Marine Habitat and Biological Community Classifications
- BioMar Biotope Classification (North East Atlantic)
- Caribbean Marine Habitat Classification (Mumby& Harborne, 1999)
- NOAA Benthic Habatat Classification for Puerto Rico & US Virgin Islands.