This dataset consists of casual observations reported by members of the public.

The dataset includes age- and length-based catch per unit effort data for commercial fish species collected by the French Channel Groundfish Trawl Survey.

Records collected voluntarily and uploaded via indicia based web recording sites including iSpot, Irecord, Marine Sightings Network and Sealife Survey. iSpot records are recorded by members of the public wishing to have identifications confirmed and records from iRecord and the MBA Recording scheme are reported sightings from a wide range of recorders.

Occasional sighting of marine species recorded by academics, professionals or expert amateur naturalists.

The whiting (Merlangius merlangus) spawning grounds dataset is also made available in the SpatialData.gov.scot Metadata Portal. The dataset has been generated using species distribution modeling to identify the likely distribution of whiting spawning in the North Sea and West of Scotland, taking account of certain environmental influences.

The haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) spawning grounds dataset is also made available in the SpatialData.gov.scot Metadata Portal. The dataset has been generated using species distribution modeling to identify the likely distribution of haddock spawning in the North Sea and West of Scotland, taking account of certain environmental influences.

The Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) spawning grounds dataset is derived from the existing (Gonzalez-Irusta and Wright, 2016) spawning ground map available in the SpatialData.gov.scot Metadata Portal. (Gonzalez-Irusta and Wright, 2016) spawning 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.

Predicted map based on generalized additive models used to relate juvenile sardine presence with geographical variables and spawning grounds (egg abundance) and to model juvenile abundance

Predicted map based on generalized additive models used to relate juvenile sardine presence with geographical variables and spawning grounds (egg abundance) and to model juvenile abundance

Predicted map based on generalized additive models used to relate juvenile sardine presence with geographical variables and spawning grounds (egg abundance) and to model juvenile abundance