The report was published by the Waitt Institute, and was completed through the combined effort of several Bermudian industry experts along with support from the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme (BOPP).
The report looks at the physical status, economic context, and social influences on Bermuda's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It does not provide a comprehensive breakdown of all aspects of the EEZ, but instead establishes a baseline for further research and development into how to sustainably manage Bermuda's marine space and resources. It builds upon the Government of Bermuda's 2005 State of the Environment report.
Specifically, the report outlines the status, uses, threats, and governance of the EEZ's marine environment and underwater cultural resources. This information can help identify priorities for the island's future development and use of environmental resources and practices.
In 2010, the Government of Bermuda articulated a vision for Bermuda's marine environment in the report A Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Bermuda's Living Resources. It included a commitment to integrated planning for Bermuda's marine waters. This new report aims to provide context for current and future comprehensive marine planning processes, a topic discussed further in the report's final section. Marine spatial planning is a public participatory process that uses the best available information about the natural environment and human activities to direct how to plan for future use and conservation of ocean space.