Skip to main content
European Commission logo
European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet)

Seabed Habitats

EMODnet Seabed Habitats - Broad-scale seabed habitat map for Europe (EUSeaMap) - 2023

EMODnet Seabed Habitats - Broad-scale seabed habitat map for Europe (EUSeaMap) - 2023

Seabed Habitats provides access to seabed habitat data in Europe. This includes new products such as the EMODnet broad-scale seabed habitat map for Europe (AKA EUSeaMap) and habitat maps and observations gathered from surveys across Europe.

Background

Since its inception in 2009, EMODnet Seabed Habitats has developed, improved and gradually increased the coverage of a broad-scale seabed habitat map Europe's seabed, also known as EUSeaMap. The most recent iteration was created in 2023 using the latest seabed substrate from EMODnet Geology.

In addition, EMODnet Seabed Habitats continued the work started by MESH and MESH Atlantic projects in collating and making available seabed habitat maps from surveys, through the map viewer.

In its third Phase (2017–2021), EMODnet Seabed Habitats began to collate and provide habitat point data and the outputs of habitat distribution modelling. In addition, this phase saw the creation of new composite data products, which combine data from the existing collation of habitat maps and observations to show the distribution of specific habitats. Examples in the Essential Ocean Variable habitats include Live hard coral cover, Seagrass cover and Macroalgal canopy cover.

Phase four (2021–2023) saw EMODnet Seabed Habitats expand into two new regions: the Caspian Sea and some European territories in the Caribbean.  An updated version of EMODnet broad-scale seabed habitat map for Europe (EUSeaMap) was delivered, along with new coastal wetland and essential fish habitat products.

Phase five (2023–2025). In this phase EMODnet Seabed Habitats will:
 

  • Continue to grow Europe's only comprehensive library of habitat maps from surveys and collection of survey sample points;
  • Create new composite data products from our library of collated maps showing the extent and distribution of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems and potentially degraded habitats in and around Europe;
  • Update the EMODnet broad-scale seabed habitat map for Europe (EUSeaMap);
  • Engage with Regional Sea Conventions (RSCs) and ICES Working Groups to deliver habitat mapping products for their reporting and monitoring requirements;
  • Maintain and improve a common method of access to data held in repositories.
     

EUSeaMap - Broad-scale Seabed Habitat Map for Europe

The EMODnet broad-scale seabed habitat map for Europe is a comprehensive, free and ready-to-use broad-scale map of physical habitats, harmonising mapping procedures and fostering a common understanding among seabed mappers in Europe. The map is also known as EUSeaMap.

The EUSeaMap broad-scale predictive mapping methods are repeatable and ensure that the predictive maps can continue to be improved in the future. EUSeaMap is available in the EUNIS and MSFD Benthic Broad Habitat types classifications.

Building on the highly successful INTERREG IIIB-funded MESH and BALANCE projects, Phase One of EMODnet Seabed Habitats (2009–2012) improved and harmonised the broad-scale physical habitat map across the Celtic Seas, Greater North Sea and Baltic Sea, as well as generating the very first broad-scale map of the western Mediterranean. In Phase Two (2013–2016), the coverage of the maps was extended to all European seas and the existing maps were improved. Updates and further increases in the resolution and extent (including the Barents Sea) took place in Phase Three (2017–2019). Phase Four (2019–2023) delivered new seabed substrate data and maps published in new classifications, including the new version of the marine section of EUNIS, called EUNIS 2019.

The data layers and confidence maps produced by project partners are freely available through the Map Viewer. More information on the methodology used to create the most recent version of EUSeaMap can be found in the EUSeaMap 2023 Technical Report. EUSeaMap 2023 is the sixth iteration of EUSeaMap.  The 2023 technical report describes all modifications and improvements to the methods used to construct the previous version of EUSeaMap (2021) so users are recommended to also read the Technical Reports of the precious versions (2021, 2019, 2016).  

EUSeaMap 2023 in the EUNIS 2019 classification

EUSeaMap 2023 in the EUNIS 2019 classification

Benefits of broad-scale habitat map

In order to maximise the potential offered by the European marine basins in terms of growth and employment, and to protect the marine environment, we need to know more about the seafloor. European Directives, such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), call for a full-coverage seabed habitat map of all European seas. In general, habitat maps are very costly and time consuming to produce from survey. The creation of a detailed habitat map involves surveying the seafloor with sonar equipment and collecting samples or photos of the seabed, before analysing and integrating these data types to generate a map. It can take several years from planning a survey to completing a detailed map. By contrast, broad-scale mapping of seabed substrate at a low resolution combined with using modelling techniques to classify habitats in terms of physical parameters is an efficient way to meet the need for a full coverage habitat map at a reasonable cost and a shorter time frame.

EUSeaMap products have been used for assessing and reporting the status of European seas, designing ecologically coherent Marine Protected Area networks, establishing monitoring programmes for seabed habitats and informing marine planning. For more information and some examples of how EUSeaMap products have been applied, see Use Cases.

Principles behind making broad-scale seabed habitat maps

It is possible to produce a ‘predictive map’ of expected seabed habitat types by combining a series of proxy measurements, such as water depth and light levels amongst others, using statistical analysis and Geographical Information System modelling.

Principal drivers for seabed habitat distributions include the type of seabed substrate (rock, mud, mixed sediment, etc.), depth, light availability and the energy of water movements. To describe the variation in environmental conditions with depth, EUNIS divides subtidal habitats into zones: Infralittoral, Shallow Circalittoral (or Circalittoral), Deep Circalittoral and Deep Sea. In this project we further subdivide the Deep-Sea zone into bathyal and abyssal zones, following scientific literature and recognising the diversity of these huge areas.

The division of marine sublittoral habitats into biological zones .

The division of marine sublittoral habitats into biological zones (©MESH Atlantic Blue Box, 2013).

Another factor that can be fundamental in driving habitat types is the degree of exposure to wave and water current energy. For some more enclosed basins other parameters, such as salinity, oxygen levels and temperature of water at the seabed are also considered to be fundamental for habitat mapping.

Generating maps

Another factor that can be fundamental in driving habitat types is the degree of exposure to wave and water current energy. For some more enclosed basins other parameters, such as salinity, oxygen levels and temperature of water at the seabed are also considered to be fundamental for habitat mapping.

Predictive habitat map

Illustration of how a predictive habitat map can be created by ‘layering’ data in GIS

The principal input layers are the type of seabed substrate and the biological zones. Depending on the basin, layers of hydrodynamic energy levels, salinity and/or oxygen are also produced. For example, the hydrodynamic energy layer is divided into ‘Low’, ‘Medium’ and ‘High’ classes.

Biological zones

Example of an input layer: biological zones. Input layers are also useful per se and are available online through the Map Viewer.

The EUSeaMap model was developed in ESRITM ArcGIS ModelBuilder and can be saved and executed multiple times, which ensures that the systems are repeatable and easily updated when new layers or methods are available.

In order to create EUSeaMap, it is necessary to define meaningful threshold values for classifying the environmental (input) layers into ecologically-relevant classes for the determination of habitat types. A threshold value indicates where the change in the physical conditions reaches a critical point that defines an expected change in habitat type (at the map-scale adopted in EUSeaMap, 100mx100m blocks). For example, the infralittoral zone is the area of the seabed where photosynthetic algae is able to grow. This is mapped by finding a threshold value of light at the seabed that best fits observations of this limit in the field. More information on EUSeaMap methodology is available in the Reports section, including the EUSeaMap 2023 Technical ReportEUSeaMap 2021 Technical Report EUSeaMap 2019 Technical Report , and EUSeaMap 2016 Technical Report 

Timeline of releases of the EUSeaMap

There have been six iterations of broad-scale seabed habitat maps in Europe in the past decade. The current release of the EMODnet broad-scale seabed habitat map for Europe (EUSeaMap 2023) is the recommended product to use as it supersedes all previous maps (such as EUSeaMap 2021, EUSeaMap 2019, EUSeaMap 2016, EUSeaMap 2012, BALANCE, MESH broad-scale map, MESH Atlantic).

The latest products are available to view and download for free from the Map Viewer.

  1. 2023: Official Release
    • All previously included seas
    • European Overseas Territories in the Carribbean
    • Caspian Sea
  2. 2021: Official Release
    • All previously included seas
  3. 2019: Official Release
    • All previously included seas
    • Barents Sea
  4. 2016: Official Release
    • All previously included seas
  5. 2015: Draft Release
    • Azores and Atlantic High Seas
    • Black Sea
    • Baltic Sea
    • Celtic Seas
    • Central and Eastern Mediterranean
    • Greater North Sea
    • Iberia and Biscay
    • Norwegian EEZ
  6. 2014: Draft Release
    • Adriatic Sea
    • Canaries
  7. 2013: Official Release
    • Iberia and Biscay
    • Azores and Atlantic High Seas
  8. 2012: Official Release
    • Celtic Seas
    • Greater North Sea
  9. 2010: Official Release
    • Baltic Sea
    • Western Mediterranean

Data Products Summary

EMODnet Seabed Habitats provides access to a variety of harmonised marine data and products, which are highlighted in the story map and summary tables below. The tables can be used to identify which data and products are available in different basins.

Seabed Habitat Collections

Product Atlantic Arctic Baltic Black Sea Mediterranean Sea North Sea Caspian Sea Caribbean Sea Other Seas Total
Habitat maps From surveys- EUNIS classification 321 0 0 9 121 173 0 0 0 559
Habitat maps from surveys - Habitats Directive Annex I 135 1 56 0 90 68 0 0 0 341
Habitat maps from surveys - other classification systems 23 6 7 7 29 46 0 33 0 159
Essential fish habitat maps/models 18 8 23 0 6 27 0 0 0 47
Survey sample points - all 212,930 4,612 116,712 6,039 47,609 124,407 0 0 0 512,309
Survey samples points - EUNIS classification 111,643 0 0 79 23,249 58,224 0 0 0 193,195
Modelled maps of specific habitats 56 69 47 12 14 63 0 20 22 119

Seabed Habitat Products

Product Atlantic Arctic Baltic Black Sea Mediterranean Sea North Sea Caspian Sea Caribbean Sea Other Seas
EMODnet broad-scale seabed habitat map for Europe (EUSeaMap) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Composite product: OSPAR threatened and/or declining habitats Yes Yes No No No Yes No No No
Composite product: Habitats Directive Annex I habitats (external) Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
Composite product: Essential Ocean Variables Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No
Composite product: Habitats Directive HELCOM habitats No No Yes No No No No No No
Composite product: Biogenic substrate in Europe (draft) Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No
Composite product: Coralligenous and other calcareous bioconcretions in the Mediterranean No No No No Yes No No No No

Physics Products

Product Atlantic Arctic Baltic Black Sea Mediterranean Sea North Sea Caspian Sea Caribbean Sea Other Seas
Depth to Seabed Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Optical Properties Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Salinity No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes
Waves Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Currents Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Ice Cover Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No

Chemistry Products

Product Atlantic Arctic Baltic Black Sea Mediterranean Sea North Sea Caspian Sea Caribbean Sea Other Seas
Density of dissolved oxygen at the seabed No No No Yes No No No No No

Glossary

A guide to terms and phrases used within Seabed Habitats: Seabed Habitats - Glossary. You may use the links below to jump to a specific bookmark in the glossary.

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.

Communication

In this section you will find thematic-specific communication material, and a direct link to the video gallery.