Blue Latitudes Foundation

• The Blue Latitudes Foundation focuses on integrating fisheries data into spatial planning tools to support marine conservation. Their project, FishLAT, ensures that decisions regarding oil platform decommissioning and offshore wind development are guided by the best environmental data.
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• Howell Conservation Fund’s (HCF) 2023-24 Catalytic Grant helped FishLAT expand its scope by gathering key ecological and fisheries data in California and developing an interactive online platform for stakeholders.
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• The project fosters data-driven decisions and public engagement to safeguard marine environments.

Making informed decisions about offshore energy development requires accurate fisheries data, especially in regions where oil platform removal and offshore wind farms are being developed. FishLAT aims to bridge the gap by providing easy access to this critical data.

Blue Latitudes Foundation is building and enhancing FishLAT to support conservation efforts. With HCF’s grant, they have:

1. Expanded FishLAT’s user base, securing partnerships with organizations like oil companies and nonprofits.
2. Developed a centralized database of over 50 data layers for California, essential for marine conservation efforts.
3. Engaged with key stakeholders through interviews with fisheries, conservation groups, and regulatory agencies.
4. Designed a user-friendly web portal on Figma to make the data accessible for decision-makers.

• New Users: FishLAT gained three key users in the Gulf of Mexico to support reefing and conservation efforts.
• Data Collection: Over 50 fisheries data layers have been collected and organized into a comprehensive database.
• Stakeholder Insights: The team completed 10 stakeholder interviews to ensure FishLAT addresses real-world needs and challenges.
• Web Portal: A visually intuitive portal was developed to help stakeholders make informed conservation and development decisions, improving access to vital fisheries data.