EUSeaMap - Mapping European seabed habitats
Overview
EUSeaMap is a broad-scale modelled habitat 
map that covers over 2 million square kilometres of
European seabed.
Building on the highly successful INTERREG IIIB-funded MESH and
BALANCE projects, EUSeaMap has improved and harmonised predictive
benthic habitat layers across the Celtic, North and Baltic Seas
under the EUNIS classification, as well as undertaking broad-scale
mapping of the western Mediterranean for the first time.
A consortium of seven partners from five countries, led by the
JNCC, have developd data layers and thresholds, with the final
product available publically through an interactive mapping portal. The
report is also
now available to download.
This contract is funded by the European Commission’s
Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, with the
primary aim to support the implementation requirements of the
Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD),
specifically the Initial Assessments which all Member States must
undertake in 2012. EUSeaMap is itself an integral part of the EC’s
preparatory actions for a European Marine Observation Data Network
(EMODnet)
and a primary customer of many of the new data layers that are
being produced by the initiative.
Objectives
- Review and analyse existing broad-scale marine habitat mapping
efforts in terms of methods used, data requirements and
applications.
- Develop a common methodology for broad-scale seabed habitat
mapping across Europe, specifically for the Baltic, North Sea,
Celtic Seas and western Mediterranean sea basins.
- Introduce better quality habitat maps through the use of best
available data and refined modelling processes
- Make the digital map layers available to stakeholders and
develop an on-line mapping tool to display the layers incorporating
a site to make the data available to the public.
- Assess the benefits and constraints of using broad-scale
categories of the EUNIS marine hbaitat types, in comparison with
the use of other regional variations and what shortcomings could be
addressed by more accuracy and higher resolution.
- Demonstrate how the Marine Strategy Framework Directive Annex
III requirements can be used in characterising the marine
environment
- Contriubute towards INSPIRE implemntation standards.
- Determine the effort required to develop a complete broad-scale
coverage of waters surrounding the European continent and that
required to provide a more accurate, higher resolution survey-based
mapping.
Interactive map
The interactive mapping portal (or "webGIS") is a free
resource for viewing and downloading seabed habitat maps
produced by the EUSeaMap modelling process as well as input
data layers such as energy, depth and light penetration.
Launch the mapping portal.
The portal allows you to browse, zoom to and query areas of
interest. View guidance on using the site. Also see
links next to individual layer
names for descriptions of each layer.
We would like to know what you think.
Give
feedback on the mapping portal.
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