2010 - 2010 Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas) Highly mobile fish species distributions in UK waters
Distribution shapefiles of highly mobile species, derived from BS Sample, BSFSM, FSS and data mining and the Environment Agency.
dataset
http://data.cefas.co.uk/#/View/154/
function: order
CEFAS28b88d5a-3fc2-4c1c-b64d-da1ff3aad61a
http://www.cefas.co.uk/
eng
OGP
urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326
biota
revision
2011-03-25
publication
2008-06-01
-15
3.5
64
48
revision
2010-05-18
2010
2010
publication
2021-02-22
notPlanned
A consortium [1] led by ABPmer were commissioned (Contract Reference: MB0102) to develop a series of biophysical data layers to aid the selection of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in England and Wales under the Marine and Coastal Access Act and the equivalent MPA measures in Scotland. Such data layers would also be of use in taking forward marine planning in UK waters. The overall aim of the project was to ensure that the best available information is used for the selection of MPAs in UK waters, and that these data layers can be easily accessed and utilised by those who would have responsibility for selecting sites. The Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009) allows for the designation of MCZs for conserving marine flora or fauna, marine habitats and features of geological or geomorphological interest. In the case of marine flora and fauna, these are with particular reference to marine species that are “ *rare or threatened because of (a) the limited number of individuals of that species, or (b) the limited number of locations in which that species is present* ”. To deliver this requirement, the project was divided into a number of discrete tasks, one of which is to map the distributions of highly mobile species of conservation interest. These species were identified from being either listed on the OSPAR List of Threatened and Declining Species, or highlighted as UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species, including the grouped plans for commercial marine fish and for deep-water fish. The report provides a detailed description of the development of the data layers for 40 marine species considered to be highly mobile, and includes 22 species of bony fish (Teleostei), 17 species of shark and skate (Elasmobranchii) and one marine reptile, the leatherback turtle. The overall project aimed to help identify ecologically important areas (including spatially discrete areas) for the selected species, including by life-history stage where data were available. This initial project aimed to examine distribution and relative abundance data in order to identify regions of importance for the various species. The locations of spawning and nursery grounds were examined in a subsequent project (MB5301). Cetaceans were not included within the scope of this contract. The objectives of the project were to map the broad, biogeographical distribution patterns of the identified species around the UK, based on the captures of fish from contemporary fishery-independent groundfish surveys. For those species that were insufficiently abundant in fishery-independent groundfish surveys evidence-based distribution maps based on other data sources (e.g. commercial landings data and historical records) were provided. All layers were provided in a digital GIS ESRI data format. Limitations and caveats of the data have also been outlined in the report, and the users of the GIS data are encouraged to use this information to assist in the interpretation of distribution data. Such caveats include issues on gear selectivity, the timings and locations of surveys, and taxonomic identification in surveys. [1] ABPmer, MarLIN, Cefas, EMU Limited, Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (POL) and Bangor University.
Public data (Crown Copyright) - Open Government Licence Terms and Conditions apply
Public data (Crown Copyright) - Open Government Licence Terms and Conditions apply
Data Manager
Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science
Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory
Pakefield Road
Lowestoft
NR33 0HT
UK
+44 (0)1502 562244
originator
Data Manager
Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science
Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory
Pakefield Road
Lowestoft
NR33 0HT
UK
+44 (0)1502 562244
custodian
Data Manager
Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science
Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory
Pakefield Road
Lowestoft
NR33 0HT
UK
+44 (0)1502 562244
pointOfContact
2021-02-22T10:16:58