Violence study of healthcare workers and systems in the Caribbean:ViSHWaS-Caribbean study

BACKGROUND Violence against healthcare workers(HCWs)in the Caribbean continues to prevail yet remains underreported.Our aim is to determine the cause,traits,and consequences of violence on HCWs in the Caribbean.AIM To determine the cause,traits,and consequences of violence on HCWs in the Caribbean.METHODS This research adopted an online cross-sectional survey approach,spanning over eight weeks(between June 6th and August 9th,2022).The survey was generated using Research Electronic Data Capture forms and followed a snowballing strategy to contact individuals using emails,social media,text messages,etc.Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the variables that influence violence,including gender,age,years of experience,institution type,and night shift frequency.RESULTS The survey was completed by 225 HCWs.Females comprised 61%.Over 51%of respondents belonged to the 21 to 35 age group.Dominica(n=61),Haiti(n=50),and Grenada(n=31)had the most responses.Most HCWs(49%)worked for government academic institutions,followed by community hospitals(23%).Medical students(32%),followed by attending physicians(22%),and others(16%)comprised the most common cadre of respondents.About 39%of the participants reported experiencing violence themselves,and 18%reported violence against colleague(s).Verbal violence(48%),emotional abuse(24%),and physical misconduct(14%)were the most common types of violence.Nearly 63%of respondents identified patients or their relatives as the most frequent aggressors.Univariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that female gender(OR=2.08;95%CI:1.16-3.76,P=0.014)and higher frequency of night shifts(OR=2.22;95%CI:1.08-4.58,P=0.030)were associated with significantly higher odds of experiencing violence.More than 50%of HCWs felt less motivated and had decreased job satisfaction post-violent conduct.CONCLUSION A large proportion of HCWS in the Caribbean are exposed to violence,yet the phenomenon remains underreported.As a result,HCWs’job satisfaction has diminished.

Dissemination of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Latin America and the Caribbean: the Cases of Peru, Chile, and Cuba

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) arrived from China to Latin America and the Caribbean in the 1840s due to the massive migration of Chinese people to the region. In a few years, the press noticed the presence of Chinese herbalists practicing in different cities and countries regardless of the demographic weight of the Chinese community. The fascination with Chinese doctors implicated not only the press but also the literature, a phenomenon particularly observed in Cuba. In the first decades of the 20th century, the reactivation of Chinese immigration to the region fostered an anti-Chinese climate that materialized in more significant migratory restrictions and control of their businesses, such as what happened with Chinese herbalists. These herbalists who practiced inside and outside the Chinese community started to object to criticism and persecution by the conservative press and professional doctors. Despite this, Chinese doctors will continue to maintain their support of a significant number of ill persons. This work seeks to illuminate the historical relevance of TCM in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on the cases of Peru, Chile, and Cuba. This last country was far from China culturally and geographically, but as in many other small towns in the region, Chinese medicine presented an alternative to the treatment of illnesses.

Designing a Drought Monitoring System for Caribbean SIDS

There are limited drought studies for the Caribbean. This is concerning since drought is not only one of the most devastating disasters in the region, but it is also one of the least understood disasters. Very few papers analyze new ways to identify and monitor this disaster. Another major arguable gap in research is the Caribbean’s sole focus on the meteorological drought and disregard of the agricultural drought. This is an important omission because of the significant negative impacts drought has on the Caribbean occurs in the agricultural and forestry sectors. Not considering this in drought monitoring systems in the Caribbean means that a major part of the phenomena is overlooked. Therefore, this study has focused on bridging this gap. It has sought to establish a system to strengthen drought’s early warning. To accomplish this, three predetermined conditions of drought, precipitation, land surface temperature and vegetation conditions were used to derive the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI), the Temperature Condition Index (TCI) and the Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), in order to analyze drought conditions. The drought vulnerability map found that the SPI, TCI and VCI all correlated with past drought events. The study also produced an agricultural drought map. This study, therefore, aims to build resilience by providing accurate information on the duration, intensity and spatial variability of droughts in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Spatiotemporal assessment of particulate matter(PM_(10) and PM_(2.5)) and ozone in a Caribbean urban coastal city

Air pollution has become a critical issue in urban areas,so a broad understanding of its spatiotemporal characteristics is important to develop public policies.This study analyzes the spatiotemporal variation of atmospheric particulate matter(PM_(10) and PM_(2.5))and ozone(O_(3))in Barranquilla,Colombia from March 2018 to June 2019 in three monitoring stations.The average concentrations observed for the Móvil,Policía,and Tres Avemarías stations,respectively,for PM_(10):46.4,51.4,and 39.7μg/m^(3);for PM_(2.5):16.1,18.1,and 15.1μg/m^(3) and for O_(3):35.0,26.6,and 33.6μg/m^(3).The results indicated spatial and temporal variations between the stations and the pollutants evaluated.The highest PM concentrations were observed in the southern part of the city,while for ozone,higher concentrations were observed in the north.These variations are mainly associated with the influence of local sources in the environment of each site evaluated as well as the meteorological conditions and transport patterns of the study area.This study also verified the existence of differences in the concentrations of the studied pollutants between the dry and rainy seasons and the contribution of local sources as biomass burnings from the Isla Salamanca Natural Park and long-range transport of dust particles from the Sahara Desert.This study provides a scientific baseline for understanding air quality in the city,which enables policy makers to adopt efficient measures that jointly prevent and control pollution.

Clinical outcomes after major hepatectomy are acceptable in low-volume centers in the Caribbean

BACKGROUND Major hepatectomies are routinely performed because they are often the only curative treatment for metastatic liver disease.There has been a trend to concentrate major hepatectomies in referral hospitals that perform these operations at high volumes.These high volume referral centers are usually located in developed countries,but many patients in developing nations are not able to access these centers because of financial limitations,lack of social support and/or travel restrictions.Therefore,local hospitals are often the only options many of these patients have for surgical treatment of metastatic liver disease.This is the situation in many Caribbean countries.AIM To determine the clinical outcomes after major liver resections in a low-resource hepatobiliary center in the Caribbean.METHODS We prospectively studied all patients who underwent major liver resections over five years.The following data were extracted:patient demographics,diagnoses,ECOG status,operation performed,post-operative morbidity and mortality.Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS ver 16.0 RESULTSThere were 69 major liver resections performed by two teams at a mean case volume of 13.8 major resections/year.Sixty-nine major hepatic resections were performed for:colorectal liver metastases 40(58%),non-colorectal metastases 9(13%),hepatocellular carcinoma 8(11.6%),ruptured adenomas 4(5.8%),hilar cholangiocarcinomas 4(5.8%),hemangiomata 2(2.9%),trauma 1(1.5%) and hepatoblastoma 1(1.5%).Twenty-one patients had at least one complication,for an overall morbidity rate of 30.4%.There were minor complications in 17(24.6%)patients,major complications in 11(15.9%) patients and 4(5.8%) deaths.CONCLUSION There are unique geographic,political and financial limitations to healthcare delivery in the Caribbean.Nevertheless,clinical outcomes are acceptable in the established,low-volume hepatobiliary centers in the Eastern Caribbean.

Evidence of Correlation between High Frequency Geomagnetic Variations and Seismicity in the Caribbean

An analysis between the hourly distribution of earthquakes in three areas of the Caribbean and the high-frequency variations of the geomagnetic field is presented. The number of earthquakes selected for each zone is between 10,000 and 43,000, which guarantees a statistically significant distribution. The hourly distributions of seismicity in all areas show a bay-shape distribution with a significant increase in the number of earthquakes at night, from 11 PM to 5 AM. For example, in eastern Cuba 36.7% of earthquakes occur at that time, representing 11.7% over 25% in the absence of any time preference. Geomagnetic disturbances were compiled from several years to be able to make a statistically significant hourly distribution of their occurrence, being determined by sudden changes in the magnetic field at a short period of 1 minute. In this sense, geomagnetic data were processed between the years 2011-2016, recorded by the geostationary satellite GOES13 and the magnetic ground station SJG in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The result shows a significant correlation between hourly earthquakes distribution and high-frequency geomagnetic variations. The time-varying conductivity response of Earth’s interior also correlates with seismicity. The theory behind this correlation could be related to the piezoelectric phenomena and the electromagnetic force induced when the magnetic field is disturbed.

Caribbean “substitution culture” is a barrier to effective treatment of persons with diabetic foot infections

Diabetes-related amputation rates are high in the Caribbean. Many authorities have identified independent risk factors for diabetes-related amputations, but cultural factors remain underappreciated. We coined the term “Caribbean substitution culture” to describe the attitude of patients with diabetic foot infections in which they refuse to access medical care, instead voluntarily choosing to substitute “bush medicines” or other alternative therapies in the place of conventional treatment. Recognizing that the Caribbean substitution culture is a barrier to effective treatment of diabetic foot infections is the first step in curbing these practices. In this paper, we discuss the issues related to the Caribbean substitution culture, including the demographics of the population at risk, the alternative therapeutic practices and potential public health strategies to combat this practice.

New Records of Marine Macroalgae on the Caribbean on Coast of Costa Rica

The results obtained in this study highlight that further the macroalgae diversity in this region is even higher than what is reported to date. Here we present eight new records of marine macroalgae collected from the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica between March 2011 and May 2019. The morphological characteristics of Bryocladia cuspidata, Ceratodictyon variabile, Gracilaria hayi, Padina boergesenii, Zonaria tournefortii, Sargassum furcatum, Chaetomorpha aerea, and Bryopsis pennata var. secunda are described. The genera Bryocladia and Zonaria are reported for the first time for this region.

Pathological factors affecting gastric adenocarcinoma survival in a Caribbean population from 2000-2010

AIM: To investigate pathological factors related to long term patient survival post surgical management of gas-tric adenocarcinoma in a Caribbean population.METHODS: This is a retrospective, observational study of all patients treated surgically for gastric adenocarci-noma from January 1st 2000 to December 31 st 2010 at The University Hospital of the West Indies, an urban Jamaican hospital. Pathological reports of all gastrecto-my specimens post gastric cancer resection during the specified interval were accessed. Patients with a final diagnosis other than adenocarcinoma, as well as pa-tients having undergone surgery at an external institu-tion were excluded. The clinical records of the selected cohort were reviewed. The following variables were analysed; patient gender, patient age, the number of gastrectomies previous performed by the lead surgeon, the gross anatomical location and appearance of the tumour, the histological appearance of the tumour, infil-tration of the tumour into stomach wall and surround-ing structures, presence of Helicobacter pylori and the presence of gastritis. Patient status as dead vs alive was documented for the end of the interval. The effect of the aforementioned factors on patient survival were analysed using Logrank tests, Cox regression models, Ranksum tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests and Kaplan-Meier curves.RESULTS: A total of 79 patients, 36 males and 43 fe-males, were included. Their median age was 67 years(range 36-86 years). Median survival time from surgery was 70 mo with 40.5% of patients dying before the termination date of the study. Tumours ranged from 0.8 cm in size to encompassing the entire stomach speci-men, with a median tumour size of 6 cm. The median number of nodes removed at surgery was 8 with a maximum of 28. The median number of positive lymph nodes found was 2, with a range of 0 to 22. Patients' median survival time was approximately 70 mo, with 40.5% of the patients in this cohort dying before the terminal date. An increase in the incidence of cardiac tumours was noted compared to the previous 10 year interval(7.9% to 9.1%). Patients who had serosal involvement of the tumour did have a significantly shorter survival than those who did not(P = 0.017). A significant increase in the hazard ratio(HR), 2.424, for patients with circumferential tumours was found(P = 0.044). Via Kaplan-Meier estimates, the presence of venous infiltration as well as involvement of the circum-ferential resection margin were found to be poor prog-nostic markers, decreasing survival at 50 mo by 46.2% and 36.3% respectively. The increased HR for venous infiltration, 2.424, trended toward significant(P = 0.055) Age, size of tumour, number of positive nodes found and total number of lymph nodes removed were not useful predictors of survival. It is noted that the results were mostly negative, that is many tumour character-istics did not indicate any evidence of affecting patient survival. The current sample, with 30 observed events(deaths), would have about 30% power to detect a HR of 2.5.CONCLUSION: This study mirrors pathological factors used for gastric cancer prognostication in other popu-lations. As evaluation continues, a larger cohort will strengthen the significance of observed trends.

Two New Species of the Genus Dictyota (Phaeophyceae: Dictyotales) from the Mexican Caribbean

During a molecular characterization of the genus Dictyota J. V. Lamouroux (Phaeophyceae, Dictyotales) along the Mexican coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican Caribbean, using psbA and cox1 genes, it was found that two particular collections did not match with the sequences published for a total of 39 species of Dictyota. For each gene, both collections diverged in high-uncorrected “p” distance values with respect to other related species. This high genetic divergence was corroborated by morphological analysis. Hence, we proposed Dictyota mayae J. Lozano-Orozco & Sentíes and Dictyota pedrochei J. Lozano-Orozco & Sentíes as new species.

Joint Ofshore Wind and Wave Energy Resources in the Caribbean Sea

Complementarities between wind and wave energies have many signifcant advantages that are unavailable with the sole deployment of either.Using all available wind speed,signifcant wave height,and wave period buoy observations over a 10-year period(i.e.,2009–2019),colocated wind and wave energy resources are estimated.Although buoy records are imper-fect,results show that the inner Caribbean Sea(CS)under the infuence of the Caribbean low-level jet has the highest wind energy resource at~1500 W/m^(2),followed by the outer CS at~600 W/m^(2) and Atlantic Ocean(AO)at~550–600 W/m^(2) at a 100 m height.Wave energy was most abundant in the AO at 14 kW/m,followed by the inner CS at 13 kW/m and outer CS at 5 kW/m.The average and dominant wave energies can reach a maximum of 10 and 14 kW/m,respectively.Asymmetry between wind and wave energy resources is observed in the AO,where wave energy is higher than the low wind speed/energy would suggest.Swell is responsible for this discrepancy;thus,it must be considered not only for wave energy extraction but also for wind turbine fatigue,stability,and power extraction efciency.

Caribbean Sea Offshore Wind Energy Assessment and Forecasting

The exploitation of wind energy is rapidly evolving and is manifested in the ever-expanding global network of offshore wind energy farms.For the Small Island Developing States of the Caribbean Sea(CS),harnessing this mature technology is an important first step in the transition away from fossil fuels.This paper uses buoy and satellite observations of surface wind speed in the CS to estimate wind energy resources over the 2009–201911-year period and initiates hour-ahead forecasting using the long short-term memory(LSTM)network.Observations of wind power density(WPD)at the 100-m height showed a mean of approximately 1000 W/m^(2) in the Colombia Basin,though this value decreases radially to 600–800 W/m^(2) in the central CS to a minimum of approximately 250 W/m^(2) at its borders in the Venezuela Basin.The Caribbean Low-Level Jet(CLLJ)is also responsible for the waxing and waning of surface wind speed and as such,resource stability,though stable as estimated through monthly and seasonal coefficients of variation,is naturally governed by CLLJ activity.Using a commercially available offshore wind turbine,wind energy generation at four locations in the CS is estimated.Electricity production is greatest and most stable in the central CS than at either its eastern or western borders.Wind speed forecasts are also found to be more accurate at this location,and though technology currently restricts offshore wind turbines to shallow water,outward migration to and colonization of deeper water is an attractive option for energy exploitation.

Bone density, microarchitecture and stiffness in Caucasian and Caribbean Hispanic postmenopausal American women

Hispanic Americans of Caribbean origin are a fast-growing subset of the US population, but there are no studies on bone density, microstructure and biomechanical integrity in this minority group. In this study, we aimed to compare Caucasian and Caribbean Hispanic postmenopausal American women with respect to these characteristics. Thirty-three Caribbean Hispanics were age-matched to thirty-three Caucasian postmenopausal women. At the lumbar spine, the Hispanic women had significantly lower areal bone mineral density （aBMD）. At the radius by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography （HR-pQCT）, there were minimal differences between Hispanic and Caucasian women. At the tibia, Hispanic women had lower trabecular volumetric bone density and trabecular number, and higher trabecular separation. Individual trabecula segmentation （ITS） analyses indicated that at the tibia, Hispanic women not only had significantly lower bone volume fraction, but also had significantly lower rod bone volume fraction, plate trabecular number, rod trabecular number and lower plate-plate, plate-rod and rod-rod junction densities compared to Caucasian women. The differences in bone quantity and quality contributed to lower whole bone stiffness at the radius, and both whole bone and trabecular bone stiffness at the tibia in Hispanic women. In conclusion, Hispanic women had poorer bone mechanical and microarchitectural properties than Caucasian women, especially at the load-bearing distal tibia.

A New Species of Dallasiellus Berg (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae) from Caribbean

The genus Dallasiellus Berg (Hemiptera: Cydnidae) is revised with the description of a new species from Caribbean, Dallasiellus varaderensis nov. sp. A diagnosis of species is based on external morphology of males and genitalia examination. Dorsal view of adults and parameres are illustrated. Notes about their biology and host plants are briefly discussed.

A Review of Prevalence, Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns and Molecular Characteristics of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the Caribbean

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major pathogen causing infections resulting in severe morbidity and mortality worldwide. To date, the true nature and extent of MRSA infections in the Caribbean are not well understood. This is a review of the limited studies in the Caribbean describing the prevalence, epidemiology, and molecular characteristics of MRSA in hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients. Relevant articles were searched and extracted from PubMed and Mendeley and a narrative review of the findings was constructed. An aggregate of 24 articles, from 1999 to 2020, was found from 10 of 27 countries. Majority of the studies were from Trinidad and Tobago (29%) and Jamaica (21%) while 50% were from Barbados, Dominican Republic, Martinique, Haiti, Cuba, St. Kits & Nevis, Guadeloupe, and Guyana. Approximately 75% of investigations were conducted on hospitalized patients versus 20% on outpatients. The data revealed geographical differences in the prevalence of MRSA within the Caribbean;20% - 100% of Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates from hospitalized patients and outpatients were resistant to methicillin, macrolides, and fluoroquinolones, but susceptible to several non-beta lactam antibiotics, due to the widespread occurrence of CA-MRSA clone ST8 SCCmec IV, PVL positive. There was moderate prevalence of ST72 SCCmec V (14% - 25%) in both hospital and community settings in a few of the countries while ST30 SCCmec IV, PVL positive, was moderately prevalent (27%) only in Dominican Republic. Also, there was moderate prevalence of HA-MRSA ST5 SCCmec II (18%) in community settings in the Dominican Republic and Martinique, but high prevalence of HA-MRSA ST239 SCCmec III (60%) in hospitalized patients in Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago. The epidemiologic profile of MRSA in both hospital and community settings is changing in the Caribbean. Epidemiological studies on outpatient settings and the implementation of stringent hospital infection control measures are needed in the region.

From Pariah to Prime Minister:Transformation in the Images of the Indian Community in the Caribbean

Between 1838 and 1917,close to half a million Indians arrived in the Caribbean as labourers under the British scheme of Indian indenture.Upon completion of their respective periods of indenture,most of these immigrants did not return to India,opting instead to make the Caribbean their home.Due to a range of very provocative social,economic,and political factors all indubitably tied to British colonial agenda,Indians were unceremoniously implanted into the various colonies where they continued to exist in a pariah like state for the duration of the system of Indian indenture.Upon termination of the system by 1920,Indians had begun a very checkered journey towards integration in the wider Caribbean societies.For three Caribbean countries,these journeys culminated in the election of Indian prime ministers and presidents;for many others,they were often marked by the emergence of profoundly eminent Indians who carved out niches for themselves in the social,political,economic,and cultural landscapes of the Caribbean community.As communities within nations,the experiences of Indians were marked by varying facets and degrees of growth and development in the locations with substantially large numbers of Indians.In those locations with substantially smaller numbers,the Indian communities were either assimilated as a cultural/ethnic group into the wider social fabrics or,have been struggling to retain their Indian identity as a minority group.The objective of this paper is to chart the many trajectories that have emerged with and for Indians in the Caribbean,and to explore the many images and imaginings of Indians in the Caribbean that have been framed along these trajectories;both of and among themselves and from the larger Caribbean framework.

Improving Resilience and Recovery to the Travel and Tourism Industry in the Caribbean

Travel and tourism is key for the sustainability of Caribbean economies, driving employment and revenue generation for many of the states. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, catalysed by travel, drastically debilitated the Caribbean economies, causing significant economic and job losses, disruptions of crucial services and threatened regional health security. The pandemic reiterated the need for the inclusion of health as a critical part of the travel and tourism sector. The Regional Tourism and Health Program (THP), via surveillance and response, capacity building, standards, partnerships, travellers’ health recognition award and mobile app, is crucial for the recovery of the tourism sector by improving the health and safety of Caribbean people, contributing toward strengthened resilience of Caribbean tourism and the sustainability of its economies. The research seeks to highlight the impact that COVID-19 has had on specific industries core to Caribbean tourism, and how these challenges were addressed utilizing the various tools and products created through the THP. Due to COVID-19, the Program has repurposed and expanded many of its tools for a more robust response, to boost travellers’ confidence and re-establish healthier, safer return to travel in the Caribbean. This innovative program, the first global effort of its kind, continues to strive toward bolstering sustainable tourism and health security, lending toward improved economic stability in the Caribbean. Through these tools, 7836 persons were trained, 789 businesses were registered on THP’s land-based visitor surveillance system, 1190 alerts on incoming cruise ships were issued to Member States and 108 tourist facilities were awarded the Healthier, Safer Tourism Stamp. This paper will discuss the tools within the Program and illustrate how the THP can support the Caribbean’s preparedness and response to COVID-19 and other public health threats, and improve the recovery and sustainability of Caribbean tourism.

Performance in Caribbean and African Literatures as Subversion of the Colonial Order

In the past oral Caribbean and African cultures,performances by the“griots”reminded the community of its heroic past.In colonial studies,performance is a way for the colonized people to reconnect with its original soul and language and to become magnificent of creativity like the storyteller Solibo in Chamoiseau’s Solibo Magnifique(Caribbean).In Chamoiseau’s novel,the Black policemen who came to investigate on Solibo’s sudden death during the performance look grotesque.They mimic the French colonizers with their“baton”and their racism at thinking evil of the Black community and they provoke laughter.Mimicry and the irony it conveys,subverts the formerly ironclad authority of the colonial order(Homi K.Bhabha in Location of Culture).The Cameroonian writer Werewere Liking-Gnépo also warns the Africans of the danger of wearing the White Mask of the colonizers(like Fanon in Black Skin,White Masks).She demonstrates in her Song/Novel She will be of Jasper and Coral,that while the African Mask empowers the performer of metaphysical powers,the White Mask of colonialism on the contrary weakens the performer who internalizes his inferiority and becomes complicit of his subjugation.Fortunately,Werewere Liking-Gnépo shows ithat the White Mask of colonialism can be used to mimic the harshness and corruption of the Colonial order and in doing so to bring back regeneration of Africa.

A High-Resolution Modeling Strategy to Assess Impacts of Climate Change for Mesoamerica and the Caribbean

Mesoamerica and the Caribbean are low-latitude regions at risk for the effects of climate change. Global climate models provide large-scale assessment of climate drivers, but, at a horizontal resolution of 100 km, cannot resolve the effects of topography and land use as they impact the local temperature and precipitation that are keys to climate impacts. We developed a robust dynamical downscaling strategy that used the WRF regional climate model to downscale at 4 - 12 km resolution GCM results. Model verification demonstrates the need for such resolution of topography in order to properly simulate temperatures. Precipitation is more difficult to evaluate, being highly variable in time and space. Overall, a 36 km resolution is inadequate;12 km appears reasonable, especially in regions of low topography, but the 4 km resolution provides the best match with observations. This represents a tradeoff between model resolution and the computational effort needed to make simulations. A key goal is to provide climate change specialists in each country with the information they need to evaluate possible future climate change impacts.

Cold Seeps Associated with Structured Benthic Communities: More Accurate Identification and Evaluation Using a New Multibeam Survey Methodology in the Offshore Southern Colombian Caribbean

A new methodology was developed to identify cold seeps and structured benthic communities associated, which was applied for the first time in the offshore southern Colombian Caribbean. The integral method consists on a new processing of double-coverage (200%) high-resolution backscatter data combined with bathymetric information;validation was done correlating identified gas plumes, seabed cores and drift camera surveys. Results showed that the elimination of artefacts and the increased signal of the backscatter data allowed accurate plotting of seep boundaries and categorization of seeps into an activity catalogue, with more than 200 seeps identified. Most seeps have chemosynthetic communities associated and data analysis from a previous survey showed two ridges with hard ground as the only possible areas for the development the of deep- water corals. Seep results were compared with designated Areas of Significance for Biodiversity (ASB) identifying seeps both within and outside the ASBs, and showing that the presence of seeps and chemosynthetic communities associated were driven more by geological processes than for big-scale seabed morphology, since they were found in both plains and ridges. This methodology allows an accurate seabed map of structured benthic communities, which may work as a precise geo-hazard map to ensure the oil & gas industry can avoid these areas of shallow gas for further developments, and as a map of deep-water structured benthic communities with environmental significance.