Like Google Earth? Check out 'Google Ocean'

slfisher 0 307 Views

If you like the Google Earth mapping application, there's now an application that works with it and provides information on "Marine Protected Areas" on the Earth.

Installing the application shows all the various marine protected areas (MPAs); clicking on them provides some information, including a link to .

Depending on the MPA, users may be able to see photos and video as well.

Around 4,500 spots scattered around the world's oceans have been designated as marine protected areas, which means activities such as commercial or recreational fishing are restricted or banned to protect dwindling stocks of fish and other marine species, according to Google, which developed the software along with the World Commission on Protected Areas and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a grouping of more than 1,000 government and nongovernment organizations and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries.

The application was demonstrated at at IUCN conference earlier this month.

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— useful find. For readers who land on this thread years later: if the original “ocean” layer is missing or you want fresher boundaries, the practical route is to import current MPA/KML data into Google Earth (desktop or web) and treat the Ocean layer as just one of several possible overlays. The steps below focus on what works in current Google Earth builds and where to look for authoritative MPA files.

Open or import KML/KMZ: on desktop use Google Earth Pro (File → Open or drag-and-drop the KMZ) so you keep full KML feature support and can save to My Places; on the web app use Projects → New project → Import KML (you may need to enable KML import in Settings). The web version is convenient for quick views, but large or advanced KML features (3D models, time-based tours, complex overlays) often work only in the desktop client. ()

Where to get up-to-date MPA data: the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA / Protected Planet) is the primary global source of protected-area boundaries and metadata; it is regularly updated and distributed under terms that restrict redistribution and require attribution, so check the license before reposting or repackaging the data. For programmatic access and analysis, WDPA layers are also available through platforms like Google Earth Engine. (protectedplanet.net)

Quick troubleshooting and tips: if an overlay fails to show, try opening the file in Earth Pro first (smaller test files help); package images/media inside a KMZ so media links are local; upload KML/KMZ to Google Drive to import on mobile; split very large polygon sets into tiles to avoid rendering limits. Always verify any MPA attributes with the authoritative manager (national agency or the WDPA record) before acting on legal or operational details. (google.com)

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