To support the comprehensive ocean planning and ecosystem-based management approaches, high quality and high resoluation spatial data is needed. 

The first phase of NAM ERA compiled data on marine ecosystems, habitats and species in the Northwest Atlantic. This project synthesized diverse spatial data, designed to meet the needs of a variety of users, including supporting decisions about conservation and resource use. Over 1,200 data files, from over 100 sources, were compiled for this assessment. Every effort was made to understand, and account for, the idiosyncrasies of each dataset, and to respect the value of each source.