This shapefile was polygonised from a raster dataset that represents land-cover and woody vegetation formation designations for the United States and British Virgin Islands centered around the year 2000. The United States and British Virgin Islands are composed of six major islands and over 40 small islands and cays. Located in the Caribbean's Leeward Island chain, the region is situated between the Caribbean Sea to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the north. The major islands in the U.S. territory include St Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John in the southern region, while the dominant islands in the British territory include Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Anegada to the north. The center of the island region (18 20'N, 64 40'W) is approximately 30 km east of Puerto Rico and has a combined area of approximately 50,000 ha consisting of subdued to rugged topography with elevation ranging from just below sea level in some wetlands and mangrove swamps to over 500 m on Tortola. Woody vegetation formations on the islands are subtropical and include drought deciduous xeric coastal forest and shrub with succulents, evergreen coastal shrubland, deciduous, evergreen and mixed forest and shrubland with succulents, semi-deciduous, and seasonal evergreen forests. Pasture and young leguminous secondary forest and forest shrub formations are present at lower elevations where natural and human caused disturbance including sheep and grazing has occurred.

Miesmuschelbänke im Niedersächsischen Wattenmeer 2007. Im Rahmen des Miesmuschel Managementplans wurden jährliche Kartierungen der eulitoralen Miesmuschelbänke im Niedersächsischen Wattenmeer durchgeführt. Die Erfassung erfolgte mittels stereoskopischer Auswertung von Luftbildern. Die Befliegungen fanden im Frühjahr bzw. Sommer flächendeckend statt. (Deutsch), Blue mussel beds in the Wadden Sea of Lower Saxony 2007. The intertidal blue mussel beds were determined yearly in the scope of the blue mussel management plan. Aerial surveys were carried out and aerial photographs were analysed by using a stereoscope to detect the mussel beds. (Englisch)

Miesmuschelbänke im Niedersächsischen Wattenmeer 2006. Im Rahmen des Miesmuschel Managementplans wurden jährliche Kartierungen der eulitoralen Miesmuschelbänke im Niedersächsischen Wattenmeer durchgeführt. Die Erfassung erfolgte mittels stereoskopischer Auswertung von Luftbildern. Die Befliegungen fanden im Frühjahr bzw. Sommer flächendeckend statt. (Deutsch), Blue mussel beds in the Wadden Sea of Lower Saxony 2006. The intertidal blue mussel beds were determined yearly in the scope of the blue mussel management plan. Aerial surveys were carried out and aerial photographs were analysed by using a stereoscope to detect the mussel beds. (Englisch)

Miesmuschelbänke im Niedersächsischen Wattenmeer 2005. Im Rahmen des Miesmuschel Managementplans wurden jährliche Kartierungen der eulitoralen Miesmuschelbänke im Niedersächsischen Wattenmeer durchgeführt. Die Erfassung erfolgte mittels stereoskopischer Auswertung von Luftbildern. Die Befliegungen fanden im Frühjahr bzw. Sommer flächendeckend statt. (Deutsch), Blue mussel beds in the Wadden Sea of Lower Saxony 2005. The intertidal blue mussel beds were determined yearly in the scope of the blue mussel management plan. Aerial surveys were carried out and aerial photographs were analysed by using a stereoscope to detect the mussel beds. (Englisch)

Miesmuschelbänke im Niedersächsischen Wattenmeer 2004. Im Rahmen des Miesmuschel Managementplans wurden jährliche Kartierungen der eulitoralen Miesmuschelbänke im Niedersächsischen Wattenmeer durchgeführt. Die Erfassung erfolgte mittels stereoskopischer Auswertung von Luftbildern. Die Befliegungen fanden im Frühjahr bzw. Sommer flächendeckend statt. (Deutsch), Blue mussel beds in the Wadden Sea of Lower Saxony 2004. The intertidal blue mussel beds were determined yearly in the scope of the blue mussel management plan. Aerial surveys were carried out and aerial photographs were analysed by using a stereoscope to detect the mussel beds. (Englisch)

FAO Major Fishing Areas for Statistical Purposes are arbitrary areas, the boundaries of which were determined in consultation with international fishery agencies on various considerations, including (i) the boundary of natural regions and the natural divisions of oceans and seas; (ii) the boundaries of adjacent statistical fisheries bodies already established in inter-governmental conventions and treaties; (iii) existing national practices; (iv) national boundaries; (v) the longitude and latitude grid system; (vi) the distribution of the aquatic fauna; and (vii) the distribution of the resources and the environmental conditions within an area. The rationale of the FAO Major Fishing Areas has been that the areas should, as far as possible, coincide with the areas of competence of other fishery commissions when existing. This system facilitates comparison of data, and improves the possibilities of cooperation in statistical matters in general.