The European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) nursery grounds dataset is derived from the existing (Trimoreau et al, 2013) nursery ground map available in the Sextant Ifremer data catalogue. (Trimoreau et al, 2013) nursery ground dataset has been modified in order to comply with the standard format developed by the EMODnet Seabed Habitats Lot. In that EMODnet format, the map key classifies areas as ‘high’, ‘medium’, and 'low' suitability. The juvenile density values provided in (Trimoreau et al, 2013) dataset have been used to classify areas as ‘high’, ‘medium’, and 'low' suitability.

January spawning ground occurrence probability was modeled as part of INTERREG 3a CHARM II project (2006-2008). The gridded dataset (horizontal resolution 0.009 x 0.009 decimal degrees, i.e. approximately 800m) was created by (Carpentier et al, 2009) by fitting a Generalised Linear Model (GLM) using IBTS survey data and a series of environmental raster datasets. More information is available in the metadata of the original data source (Carpentier et al, 2009) and the CHARM II final report - see lineage for a link to these items.