Identification

Title

Highly mobile fish species distributions in UK waters

Abstract

Distribution shapefiles of highly mobile species, derived from BS Sample, BSFSM, FSS and data mining and the Environment Agency.

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

https://data.cefas.co.uk/view/154

name: Cefas Data Portal

description: The Cefas Data Portal contains metadata records and data sets available to download and connect to in support of our commitment to open science. Data is available in the following formats: CSV, ESRI Shapefile. The data can also be accessed via the WFS and WMS protocols.

function: download

Unique resource identifier

code

CEFAS154

codeSpace

https://data.cefas.co.uk

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

biota

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2011-03-25

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2008-06-01

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-05-18

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2012-01-11

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2012-01-11

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-15.00

East bounding longitude

3.50

North bounding latitude

64.00

South bounding latitude

48.00

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2010

End position

2010

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2015-10-21

date type

revision

effective date

2023-01-31

date type

creation

effective date

2011-10-07

Frequency of update

notPlanned

Quality and validity

Lineage

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.

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2013-12-10

degree

false

explanation

See the referenced specification

Conformity report

specification

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2010-12-08

degree

true

explanation

See the referenced specification

Data format

name of format

Unknown

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

organisation name

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS)

full postal address

Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory

Pakefield Road

Lowestoft

NR33 0HT

UK

email address

data.manager@cefas.co.uk

responsible party role

originator

Responsible party

organisation name

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS)

full postal address

Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory

Pakefield Road

Lowestoft

NR33 0HT

UK

email address

data.manager@cefas.co.uk

responsible party role

custodian

Responsible party

organisation name

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS)

full postal address

Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory

Pakefield Road

Lowestoft

NR33 0HT

UK

email address

data.manager@cefas.co.uk

responsible party role

distributor

Responsible party

organisation name

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

email address

defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk

responsible party role

owner

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

organisation name

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS)

full postal address

Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory

Pakefield Road

Lowestoft

NR33 0HT

UK

email address

data.manager@cefas.co.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2023-01-31T01:40:50

Metadata language