Eunomia’s cost benefit analysis (CBA) of seabed mapping in the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), conducted for the UK Hydographic Office (UKHO), demonstrates the potential value of seabed mapping across multiple sectors, including offshore energy, shipping, telecommunications, fishing and aquaculture, marine defence, and environmental conservation. The analysis found that every £1 spent on seabed mapping could generate £86 in benefits to the UK’s marine economy.
The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) commissioned this study of seabed mapping within the EEZ to support the improvement of data in terms of quality, access, and coverage – and ultimately enhance maritime decision making and the safe passage of seagoing vessels. The study aimed to define the cost benefit relationship of seabed mapping to the UK economy and provide a template for similar studies in other nations where UKHO is the Primary Charting Authority.
Eunomia conducted a literature review, interviewed key stakeholders across different sectors, and used economic modelling to quantify the return on investment from seabed mapping. The CBA found that the overall cost-benefit ratio for seabed mapping is 86:1, with an annual investment of £103 million yielding benefits worth £8,901 million. The findings highlight how investment in seabed mapping can produce substantial economic and environmental benefits that help realise the full potential of the marine environment.
The report is also available on the UKHO website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-report-published-highlighting-the-value-of-seabed-mapping
