Maritime-related industries and activities are on the rise, posing significant threats to vulnerable species and ecosystem services. Identifying and quantifying all potential risk pathways on ecosystems is imperative to safeguarding the sustainable use and protection of the marine environment.
The Feature Activity Sensitivity Tool (FeAST) is a free online tool that generates a first-pass environmental risk assessment to evaluate a wide range of activities and associated impacts in marine and coastal areas. Released in 2023 by Victoria’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), FeAST is now available on CoastKit, Victoria’s online marine and coastal data portal.
FeAST assists proponents, the public, and decision-makers to preliminarily screen environmental risks of proposed projects by synthesising desktop-based information. The tool quickly generates a standardised report outlining potential impacts of selected activities on habitats within the project's footprint and identifies priority features, key environmental values, and nearby activities.
FeAST promotes robust, evidence-based decision making and has a diverse range of applications supporting development planning, approval processes and identification of mitigation measures. By providing a user-friendly, cost-effective and streamlined desk-based assessment tool, evaluating the impact of human activities in marine and coastal environments is available and accessible for all.