Marine Protected Area (MPA) placement optimization tool

As part of their life history, many marine animals produce millions of eggs and larvae that drift in the ocean for days, weeks or even months until they settle in shallow coastal habitats. Settlement habitats range from being close to home, to sometimes being 10s-100s of kilometres away from spawning locations. The complete process from spawning and dispersal to settlement often referred to as connectivity. Larval dispersal constitutes the basis of the future replenishment and genetic makeup of local populations of marine animals, making connectivity a key factor to consider in the design of marine protected areas (MPAs) or networks of marine reserves.