> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://protectedseas.gitbook.io/navigator-api-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://protectedseas.gitbook.io/navigator-api-docs/field-reference/site-keys.md).
# Site Keys
Response fields for a site. This is the complete set of site fields across the API.
* [**Site Details**](/navigator-api-docs/api-reference/site-details.md) returns the full set below. Fields marked *(Site Details)* in the table are returned only by this endpoint: the narrative and regulatory fields (`purpose`, `restrictions`, `allowed`, `definitions`, `regulation_name`, `report_violations`), plus `url`, `species_of_concern`, and `site_boundary`.
* [**Search**](/navigator-api-docs/api-reference/search.md) returns a subset — it omits those narrative/regulatory fields and instead includes `resType` (`SITE` or `REGION`).
{% hint style="info" %}
**Column notes**
* **V1 / V2** — Availability for sites of the specified data version. ✓ = Yes, X = No.
* † — Fishing or marine-activity field, coded as: `0` = Allowed, `1` = Prohibited, `2` = Restricted, `3` = N/A or Unknown, `NULL` = Not Yet Coded.
* ‡ — Boundary geometries from MarViva, WDPA, or the Convention on Biological Diversity CHM are excluded due to redistribution constraints; however, bounding boxes (`bounds`) are still returned when `export_boundaries=true`.
{% endhint %}
| Field | Type | Description | V1 | V2 |
| --------------------------------- | ------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -- | -- |
| `ogc_fid` | number | Unique internal identifier for a specific site record. A new record — e.g. a `site_major_version` bump — receives a new `ogc_fid`, so it does not persist across site versions. Suitable for immediate lookups only; use `ps_id` for stable references. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `ps_id` | string | ProtectedSeas-assigned unique identifier. Stable across site versions and data releases; use for cross-references, joins, and deep links. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `site_name` | string | Site name. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `url` | string | URL link to the most relevant webpage about the site. *(Site Details)* | ✓ | ✓ |
| `country` | string | Country. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `state` | string | Subnational unit if any (e.g. State, Province). | ✓ | ✓ |
| `managing_authority` | string | Agency(s) with presiding jurisdiction over this site. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `designation` | string | Specific site type (e.g. National Marine Sanctuary). | ✓ | ✓ |
| `category_id` | number | Site category ID (stable key — filter/join on this). See [Site Categories](/navigator-api-docs/field-reference/site-categories.md). | ✓ | ✓ |
| `category_name` | string | Site category label (display only). See [Site Categories](/navigator-api-docs/field-reference/site-categories.md). | ✓ | ✓ |
| `wdpa_id` | string | The World Database on Protected Areas identifier(s) for this site, or `null` where no WDPA match exists. **May contain multiple identifiers separated by `"; "`** where a Navigator site corresponds to several WDPA records. Values may be either a `WDPAID` (e.g. `555624172`) or a `WDPA_PID` carrying a parcel suffix (e.g. `555624810_1`, `102534_A`). Split on `"; "` and handle both forms before joining to WDPA. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `iucn_cat` | string | IUCN Protected Area Category. Unassigned if no value found, not reported, or not applicable. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `purpose` | string | 2–4 sentences explaining what is special about this marine area. *(Site Details)* | ✓ | ✓ |
| `restrictions` | string | Prohibited/banned marine activities and restricted commercial/recreational fishing. *(Site Details)* | ✓ | ✓ |
| `allowed` | string | Allowed marine-related activities, including associated licenses/permits if applicable. *(Site Details)* | ✓ | ✓ |
| `definitions` | string | Definitions of terms used in `restrictions` or `allowed` (gear, species, locations). *(Site Details)* | ✓ | ✓ |
| `regulation_name` | string | The name(s) of the regulation(s) governing this site, or null where none is
recorded. Where a site is governed by more than one regulation, names are
separated by "; ". Note that commas appear within individual regulation
names (e.g. 11 AAC 12.050, 12.0140, 12.0170) and are not separators — split on
"; " only. (Site Details)
| ✓ | ✓ |
| `regulation_type` | string | Decree; Management Plan; Act; Regulation; Rules. | X | ✓ |
| `regulation_source` | string | Citation for any organization that assisted with finding the regulation. | X | ✓ |
| `season` | string | Year-round or Seasonal. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `effective_from` | string | Start date of seasonal restrictions (month-day or year-month-day). | ✓ | ✓ |
| `effective_to` | string | End date of seasonal restrictions (month-day or year-month-day). | ✓ | ✓ |
| `moratorium_reg_expiration_date` | string | Date a moratorium ends or regulation is due to expire. | X | ✓ |
| `report_violations` | string | Contact (email, phone, text) for the agency with jurisdiction. *(Site Details)* | ✓ | ✓ |
| `protection_focus` | string | Primary focus: Ecosystem; Focal Species; Human Health; Cultural Heritage; Human Safety; Water Quality; Unknown. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `species_of_concern` | string | General categories of species of interest or concern. *(Site Details)* | ✓ | ✓ |
| `year_est` | number | Year the site was first established. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `gov_level` | string | Governance level: National; Subnational; Local; Collaborative Governance; Partnership; Private. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `primary_site_id` | string | The ps\_id of this site's parent
where the site is a subzone; null otherwise. A non-null value always resolves to
an active site, so it can be used directly in a ps\_id lookup without checking
whether the target exists.
| X | ✓ |
| `subzone` | boolean | true if this site is a zone within a larger site,
false if it is a standalone site or the parent of subzones. When true,
primary\_site\_id gives the ps\_id of the parent site.
| X | ✓ |
| `site_major_version` | number | Major version of the site attributes and boundary. | X | ✓ |
| `site_minor_version` | number | Minor version of the site attributes and boundary. | X | ✓ |
| `last_update` | string | ISO 8601 date (YYYY-MM-DD). Advanced whenever any
attribute of the site changes, including corrections. This is the field
changed\_since compares against. Sorts chronologically as a string, so no parsing
is required for range comparisons.
| ✓ | ✓ |
| `last_reviewed` | string | ISO 8601 date (YYYY-MM-DD). When the site's
regulatory content was last verified against its source regulation. Not advanced by
data corrections, geometry changes, or schema work — only by legal review. A review
that confirms the existing coding without changing it still advances
last\_reviewed, so it can be newer than last\_update.
| X | ✓ |
| `location_type` | number | `0` = Marine, `1` = Inland Water, `2` = Island, `3` = Inland Terrestrial. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `boundary_source` | string | Source information for the site's boundary data. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `boundary_modification` | number | What was done to the **source** boundary: `0` = Unmodified; `2` = Other modification (e.g. multiple source parts merged, clipped, or split); `3` = Digitized using best available data. `1` is retired and no longer assigned. Display simplification is reported separately in `display_simplified` — see [Boundary geometry](#boundary-geometry) below. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `display_simplified` | boolean | true if the returned geometry has been
simplified for display; false if it is returned as held; null if the site has
no boundary record. Independent of boundary\_modification, which describes what
was done to the source boundary — a site can be both digitized and
display-simplified.
Where true, total\_area, total\_marine\_area and percent\_marine\_area are
unaffected: they are always computed from the authoritative boundary, not the
simplified geometry.
| X | ✓ |
| `total_area` | number | Total area of the site (sq. km). | ✓ | ✓ |
| `total_marine_area` | number | Total marine area of the site (sq. km). | ✓ | ✓ |
| `percent_marine_area` | number | Percentage of the total site area that is marine. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `lfp` | number | Indicator of the strength of fishing regulations (Level of Fishing Protection). | ✓ | ✓ |
| `recreational_fishing`† | number | Fishing for recreational purposes — not sold. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `commercial_fishing`† | number | Professional large-scale fisheries using large, often impactful gear. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `artisanal_fishing`† | number | Small-scale, low-technology fisheries. | X | ✓ |
| `subsistence_fishing`† | number | Fishing to feed the fisher's family — not sold. | X | ✓ |
| `bottom_trawling`† | number | Towing a net along the ocean floor. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `pelagic_trawling`† | number | Towing a net through the water column (midwater). | X | ✓ |
| `hook_and_line`† | number | Baited hooks suspended on lines; excludes trolling and longline. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `trolling`† | number | Trailing baits/lures behind a moving boat. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `longlining`† | number | A horizontally deployed line with gangions and hooks. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `nets`† | number | Any net types not otherwise accounted for. | ✓ | X |
| `purse_seine_rndhaul_surrd_nets`† | number | A net that encircles schools of fish. | X | ✓ |
| `gillnetting`† | number | Walls of netting hanging in the water column. | ✓ | X |
| `gillnets_entangling_nets`† | number | Gillnets and entangling nets. | X | ✓ |
| `trammel_nets`† | number | An entangling net hanging in several curtains. | X | ✓ |
| `dip_scoop_nets`† | number | A handled bag net used to scoop fish. | X | ✓ |
| `cast_nets`† | number | A cone-shaped weighted net cast by a fisher. | X | ✓ |
| `drift_nets`† | number | A net that drifts with the tide or current. | X | ✓ |
| `other_nets`† | number | Any net types not otherwise accounted for. | X | ✓ |
| `dredges`† | number | Frames dragged along the seafloor to catch shellfish. | X | ✓ |
| `traps_and_pots`† | number | Submerged devices that permit entry but make escape difficult. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `spear_fishing`† | number | Fishing with a sharpened-point shaft. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `underwater_extraction_diving`† | number | Collecting marine life underwater by hand/spear/harpoon. | X | ✓ |
| `hand_capture`† | number | Collecting by hand without gear. | X | ✓ |
| `fish_aggregating_devices`† | number | Floating objects designed to attract pelagic fish. | X | ✓ |
| `misc_gear`† | number | Any fishing gear not included elsewhere. | ✓ | X |
| `tribal_exemptions` | number | Tribal exemptions to fishing restrictions? 0 = Yes, exemptions exist; 1 = No exemptions;
null = not yet coded. Note the inverted coding: 0 means exemptions are present.
| ✓ | ✓ |
| `discharge`† | number | Deliberate disposal at sea of wastes or other matter from vessels. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `speed` | number | Vessel speed. `1` = Prohibited; `2` = Restricted; `3` = N/A or Unknown; `null` = not yet coded. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `entry`† | number | Permittance of vessel types to enter or transit the site. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `diving`† | number | Recreational, non-extractive SCUBA diving or freediving. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `removal_of_historic_artifacts`† | number | Removal of fossils or artifacts. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `stopping`† | number | Permittance of vessels to stop (vs. continuous transit). | ✓ | ✓ |
| `anchoring`† | number | Mooring a vessel to the seafloor with an anchor. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `mooring`† | number | Securing a vessel to a fixed object such as a mooring buoy. | X | ✓ |
| `dragging`† | number | Dragging an anchor along the seafloor. | ✓ | X |
| `landing`† | number | Loading/unloading things or people to/from land. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `dredging`† | number | Removal of silt and material from the bottom of water bodies. | ✓ | X |
| `dredging_dumping`† | number | Removal of bottom material and/or dumping of dredged material. | X | ✓ |
| `industr_or_mineral_exploration`† | number | Exploration for minerals, oil, gas (e.g. seismic exploration). | ✓ | ✓ |
| `drilling`† | number | Drilling for oil or gas extraction. | ✓ | X |
| `non_fishing_industr_extraction`† | number | Extraction of oil, gas, or minerals. | X | ✓ |
| `aquaculture`† | number | Any type of marine farmed fishing. | X | ✓ |
| `construction`† | number | Development or construction of new infrastructure. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `overflight_or_drones`† | number | Overflight with manned or unmanned aircraft. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `bounds` | GeoJSON | Minimum bounding box of the site boundary. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `site_boundary`‡ | GeoJSON | Full boundary of the site. *(Site Details, when `export_boundaries=true`)* | ✓ | ✓ |
| `type` | string | Site type, derived from `category_id`: `MPA` when `category_id` is 1, otherwise `non-MPA`. | ✓ | ✓ |
| `resType` | string | `SITE` or `REGION`. *(Search results only)* | ✓ | ✓ |
#### Boundary geometry
Navigator holds two representations of every boundary. The **authoritative boundary** is the geometry as received from the source authority, and is never simplified. A **display geometry** is derived from it for rendering, and is what `site_boundary` and `bounds` return.
`boundary_modification` and `display_simplified` describe two independent things, and either, both, or neither may apply to a given site:
* `boundary_modification` — what was done to the **source** boundary before it entered Navigator.
* `display_simplified` — whether the **returned** geometry has been simplified for rendering.
#### Simplification method
Display geometries are simplified using the Douglas–Peucker algorithm applied in Web Mercator (EPSG:3857). The tolerance is one half pixel at the maximum zoom level of the vector tile archive serving the site:
| Level of Fishing Protection (`lfp`) | Tile maximum zoom | Tolerance |
| ----------------------------------- | ----------------- | --------- |
| 1–2 | 12 | 9.55 m |
| 3–5 | 14 | 2.39 m |
Because the tolerance derives from tile resolution rather than being chosen independently, simplification removes only detail the tiles cannot represent. **Maximum deviation from the authoritative boundary is bounded by the tolerance** — 9.55 m or 2.39 m depending on protection level.
Simplification preserves boundary structure. Polygon and ring counts are unchanged: every island excluded from a protected area remains excluded, regardless of size. Vertices are removed from rings, but no ring is deleted, filled, or merged. Point-in-polygon tests against the returned geometry are therefore accurate to within the tolerance above.
#### Scope and exclusions
* Simplification is applied to boundaries exceeding 10,000 vertices, the point at which tile generation cost becomes material. Boundaries below that threshold are returned unsimplified and report `display_simplified: false`.
* Boundaries extending beyond ±85° latitude are returned **unsimplified at full detail**, since Web Mercator is undefined at those latitudes. These sites may return very large geometries.
* Boundaries that cross 180° longitude are split at the antimeridian before simplification.
#### Area fields are unaffected
`total_area`, `total_marine_area`, and `percent_marine_area` are always computed from the authoritative boundary. Simplification never changes a reported area.