This layer provides the boundaries of significant marine environmental assets which have been identified on the basis of their environmental value (at statewide, bioregional or local significance scale) for marine biodiversity and/or marine ecological processes.  Victoria's marine protected areas, including the Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries, are not included in this leayer unless they fall within the boundaries of larger identified asset areas.

Separate expert workshops were held to identify these marine environmental assets in each of the following marine regions: Port Phillip Bay, Western Port, Western Victoria and Gippsland.  The relative environmental significance of each asset identified was also rated by experts using the following categories: statewide, bioregional or local.  Within each category, assets whose value relates primarily to use by birds that are not exclusively marine were rated separately to those whose value relates to exclusively marine species or ecological processes.  These significance ratings were assessed separately for each region but the comparability of asset ratings across regions was then reviewed.

This supersedes the earlier ASSET_MARINE layer.

Blue Whale feeding/ Bonney upweling and Blue Whale Distribution asset areas were also identified through the above process, but have not been included in the layer because they encompass the majority of Victorian waters.

This layer provides the boundaries of significant marine environmental assets which have been identified on the basis of their environmental value (at statewide, bioregional or local significance scale) for marine biodiversity and/or marine ecological processes.  Victoria's marine protected areas, including the Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries, are not included in this leayer unless they fall within the boundaries of larger identified asset areas.

Separate expert workshops were held to identify these marine environmental assets in each of the following marine regions: Port Phillip Bay, Western Port, Western Victoria and Gippsland.  The relative environmental significance of each asset identified was also rated by experts using the following categories: statewide, bioregional or local.  Within each category, assets whose value relates primarily to use by birds that are not exclusively marine were rated separately to those whose value relates to exclusively marine species or ecological processes.  These significance ratings were assessed separately for each region but the comparability of asset ratings across regions was then reviewed.

This supersedes the earlier ASSET_MARINE layer.

Blue Whale feeding/ Bonney upweling and Blue Whale Distribution asset areas were also identified through the above process, but have not been included in the layer because they encompass the majority of Victorian waters.

To achieve targeted outcomes in an effective and efficient way, the asset-based approach to priority setting provides a structured process to identify areas for priority attention.

The dataset is derived from GPS coordinates, coast25 and the parcel layers. 
The Marine National Park and Marine Sanctuary boundaries supersede all other management boundaries and extend to the High Water Mark(HWM) except where specified in the certified plans.

Determination: Deductive

Logically consistent dataset.

Dataset Source: This dataset differs from the original ASSET_MARINE dataset in the following ways:
- Landward boundaries of polygons adjusted to match existing Vicmap 25k coastline.
- Polygons accidentally clipped by earlier removal of blue whale area polygon fixed.
- Abbreviated site names in attributes updated to full site name.
- Boundary of Surf Coast Hooded Plover habitat at Black Rock area fixed.
- Assets defined by more than one adjacent polygon or with polygon slivers merged into a single polygon.
- Assets totally within an existing Marine Protected Area removed from layer.

Dataset Originality: Primary & Derived

                            
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