UKSeaMap 2010 - predictive mapping of seabed habitats
Overview
The UKSeaMap 2010
project produced a seabed habitat map for the UK marine
area. It builds on the previous work of MESH (2008), UKSeaMap 2006
and the Irish Sea Pilot (2004). Newly available data products and
an enhanced predictive approach were used to prepare the input data
layers.

Classification system:
EUNIS habitat classification system
Input data layers:
- Seabed substrates
- Depth
- Proportion of surface light reaching the seabed
- Energy (disturbance) at the seabed caused by tidal
currents
- Energy (disturbance) at the seabed caused by waves
Outputs:
- Seabed habitat map based on the EUNIS classification
- Confidence layer
- Updated map of coastal physiographic features
- Interactive mapping portal for viewing and querying data layers
online.
Final report
The UKSeaMap 2010 final report, UKSeaMap 2010: predictive mapping of seabed habitats
in UK waters (JNCC Report No. 446), is available
online.
In places, the main report refers to technical
reports/appendices for more detailed information on
several topics. These can be downloaded below:
- Bathymetry
(PDF; 1,633 KB)
- Light
penetration (PDF; 291 KB)
- Substrate
(PDF; 3,395 KB)
- Energy (PDF;
2,306 KB)
- Analysing
the relationship between substrate and energy data (PDF; 309
KB)
- Comparison
of UKSeaMap 2010 predictive habitat map with other predictive
habitat maps and maps derived from surveys (PDF; 2,028 KB)
- External
review of confidence assessment methods (PDF; 1,452 KB)

Find out more
UKSeaMap (2006)
EUSeaMap
MESH project website
Irish Sea
Pilot Project (2004)
EUNIS
habitat classification system
For further information contact
Graeme Duncan
Marine Evidence
Project Partners
UKSeaMap 2010 was funded through funds which remained after
UKSeaMap 2006. UKSeaMap 2006 funding partners, as well as the JNCC,
are Defra, Scottish
Government, Department for Energy and Climate
Change (formerly Department of Trade and Industry), The Crown Estate, Natural Resources
Wales (formerly Countryside Council for Wales), Natural England (formerly
English Nature), WWF-UK, and the Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds. The project also received European Regional Development
Funding through the INTERREG III B Community Initiative,
as part of the Development of a Framework for Mapping European
Seabed Habitats project (MESH).