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Seabed Habitats

EMODnet Seabed Habitats - Broad-scale seabed habitat map for Europe (EUSeaMap) - 2019

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 2021 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 the Essential Ocean Variable habitats Live hard coral cover, Seagrass cover and Macroalgal canopy cover.

Phase four (2021-2023). In this phase EMODnet Seabed Habitats will:

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 I 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 II (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 extent to include the Barents Sea took place in phase III (2017-2019).

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 2021 Technical Report . The 2021 technical report describes all modifications and improvements to the methods used to construct the previous version of EUSeaMap (2019) and so users are recommended to also read the EUSeaMap 2019 Technical Report and the EUSeaMap 2016 technical report .

EUSeaMap 2021 in the EUNIS 2019 classification

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.