The initial stage of this project was to 
determine the feasibility of detecting and quantifying 
Kelp beds through digital processing of aircraft and -- 
LANDSAT MSS data. The study demonstrated that both types 
of data are efective for mapping Kelp beds. Nevertheless, 
considering converage and spatial resolution, it was - - 
decided that LANDSAT data would be used for large area - 
mapping and that the aircraft dota wou'd be uscd to mect 
more localized and/or more specific information require- 
ments. ; 
This paper deals with the technical aspects 
of mapping the distribution and areal extentof Kelp beds - 
along an 800 Kms strip of the western Baja California -- 
Coast, and with the development of an operational metho-- 
dology for updating Kelp resource inventories. 
Presently, this Ministry is studying the 
feasibility of installing à Kelp processing facility - 
for the extraction of algin and it's derivatives. Con 
currently, an increase in the demand for raw Kelp from 
chemical industries outside of Mexico is expected - 
throughout this decade. 
To date, there are no available maps or 
other sources of information on the distribution and 
abundance of Kelp resources which could be used for - 
making a decision on establishing a processing indus- 
try, or for observing and recording the impact of - 
harvesting and natural environmental fluctuations on 
the distribution and areal extent of Kelp beds. 
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