Introduction to the Study of

In the terrestrial environment, it is the cadastre and initiatives such as the creation of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) that are facilitating greater decision making in areas of sustainable development. The ability of such tools and initiatives to facilitate effective decision-making and spatial data access mechanisms within the marine environment has given rise to research into a marine cadastre. Such a cadastre aims to define, visualise and realise legally defined maritime boundaries and the rights, restrictions and responsibilities attached to them.- 1