2009 Defra MB0102 2B Distribution of Mobile species half rectangle resolution layer
The data for 40 highly mobile species within this layer are distributed at a half ICES rectangle resolution (0.5 x 0.5 degrees) and have been obtained from Aqua maps and expert knowledge, primarily from A Wheeler. To provide mathematically modeled species distributions combined with and quality assured by expert knowledge.
dataset
http://www.oceannet.org/download_gis/
name: Reference Layers Catalogue
MB010200002BM001
http://dassh.ac.uk/
eng
urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326
Reference Kaschner, K., J. S. Ready, E. Agbayani, J. Rius, K. Kesner-Reyes, P. D. Eastwood, A. B. South, S. O. Kullander, T. Rees, C. H. Close, R. Watson, D. Pauly, and R. Froese. 2008 AquaMaps: Predicted range maps for aquatic species. World wide web electronic publication, www.aquamaps.org, Version 10/2008. Wheeler. A. 1969. Key to the fishes of northern Europe: A guide to the identification of more than 350 species
biota
revision
2008-01-06
revision
2009-11-16
-16.0000
5.0000
62.0000
48.0000
creation
2009-06-18
Eastern Channel
creation
2009-06-18
Western Channel and Celtic Sea
creation
2009-06-18
Southern North Sea
creation
1954-01-01
Bristol Channel
creation
1954-01-01
English Channel
creation
1954-01-01
Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland
creation
1954-01-01
Irish Sea and St. George's Channel
creation
1954-01-01
North Atlantic Ocean
creation
1954-01-01
North Sea
creation
1954-01-01
Norwegian Sea
revision
2010-01-01
unknown
creation
1954-01-01
Celtic Sea
creation
2014-05-16
VIIIe1
creation
2014-05-16
VIIId1
creation
2014-05-16
VIIId2
creation
2014-05-16
VIIIa
creation
2014-05-16
VIIj1
creation
2014-05-16
VIIh
creation
2014-05-16
VIIf
creation
2014-05-16
VIIg
creation
2014-05-16
VIIk1
creation
2014-05-16
VIIk2
creation
2014-05-16
VIIj2
creation
2014-05-16
IVc
creation
2014-05-16
VIIc1
creation
2014-05-16
VIIc2
creation
2014-05-16
VIIb
creation
2014-05-16
VIIa
creation
2014-05-16
IVb
creation
2014-05-16
VIb1
creation
2014-05-16
VIb2
creation
2014-05-16
VIa
creation
2014-05-16
Vb1a
creation
2014-05-16
XIIa4
creation
2014-05-16
IVa
creation
2014-05-16
Vb1b
creation
2014-05-16
Vb2
creation
2014-05-16
XIIa2
creation
2014-05-16
VIIe
creation
2014-05-16
VIId
1982-01-01
2008-12-31
publication
2009-09-01
revision
2010-06-21
asNeeded
ICES half Rectangle identification fields: FID, SHAPE, CentreX, CentreY, GridID, UniqueID, UniqueID2, Hrec_ID Field descriptions: XXX_e - Expert knowledge - Value 0/less than null> = Not present 1 = Present where XXX is the three letter species identifier outlined in the species coding list below Species coding list: Whiting, Merlangius merlangus, WHG Common skate, Dipturus batis, SKT White skate, Rostroraja alba, WSK Black scabbardfish, Aphanopus carbo, BSF European eel, Anguilla anguilla, ELE Sandeels, Ammodytidae, SAN Herring, Clupea harengus, HER Cod, Gadus morhua, COD European hake, Merluccius merluccius, HKE Plaice, Pleuronectes platessa, PLE Mackerel, Scomber scombrus, MAC Sole, Solea solea, SOL Horse mackerel, Trachurus trachurus, HOM Thornback ray, Raja clavata, THR Spotted ray, Raja montagui, SDR Undulate ray, Raja undulata, UNR Spurdog, Squalus acanthias, DGS Ling, Molva molva, LIN Anglerfish, Lophius piscatorius, MON Blue whiting, Micromesistius poutassou, WHB Roundnose grenadier, Coryphaenoides rupestris, RNG Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, HAL Orange roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus, RHF Blue ling, Molva dypterygia, BLI Greenland halibut, Reinhardtius hippoglossoi, GLH Gulper shark, Centrophorus granulosus, CGS Leafscale gulper shark, Centrophorus squamosus, CSQ Portuguese dogfish, Centroscymnus coelolepsis, PUS Kitefin shark, Dalatias licha, DCH Blue-fin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, BFT Shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus, SMA Tope shark, Galeorhinus galeus, GAG Porbeagle shark, Lamna nasus, POR Blue shark, Prionace glauca, BSH Basking Shark, Cetorhinus maximus, BSK Smelt, Osmerus eperlanus, SME Brown/Sea trout, Salmo trutta, TRS Sandy ray, Leucoraja circularis, SAR Angel shark, Squatina squatina, ALS Leatherback Turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, LBT Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) Expert knowledge. Whiting is a widespread and abundant demersal species. Surveys with PHHT and GOV trawls are considered appropriate for providing data on this species. Beam trawl surveys are considered appropriate for providing comparable data for juvenile whiting, although beam trawl catches may not be representative for larger individuals. Common skate (Dipturus batis) Expert knowledge. Common skate now has a restricted distribution in UK waters, occuring in the deeper waters of the northern North Sea, west coast of Scotland and Celtic Sea. Beam trawl surveys would sample juveniles if present, but these surveys are typically too inshore. Otter trawl suveys do catch low numbers. The large discrepancy between the biogeographical distribution and presence/absence data is due to the large decrease in area of occupancy that is well documented for this species. White skate (Rostroraja alba) expert knowledge. White skate is a little-known species that is considered to extirpated from much of its former inshore range off south-west England, and there are few recent records. There is some historical information. Black scabbard (Aphanopus carbo) expert knowledge. Black scabbardfish is a deep-water species that is only taken very occasionally in groundfish surveys. They are taken in commercial fisheries, and so their distribution in UK waters is described from commercial catch data. European eel (Anguilla anguilla) expert knowledge. European eel are only captured occasionally in surveys, most often at inshore stations close to important estuaries (e.g. the Greater Thames Estuary). Groundfish surveys are not considered appropriate for this species. Little is known about the offshore distribution of this species, and only inshore/estuarine information should be considered fo site selection. Sandeels (Ammodytidae) expert knowledge. There are five species of sandeel in UK waters and these are widely distributed and abundant on suitable habitats. Neither beam or otter trawls are that effective for examining relative abundance, although sandeels are caught regularly, These species should be treated at a family level, as there is unlikely to be major differneces in their overall functional importance to the ecosystem. Herring (Clupea harengus) expert knowledge. Herring is a widespread and abundant pelagic fish species. Surveys with PHHT and GOV trawls, which both have a high headline height, are considered appropriate for providing data on this species. Herring are only taken very occasionally in beam trawl surveys and this gear is not considered effective. Cod (Gadus morhua) expert knowledge. Cod is a widespread and frequently observed demersal species. Surveys with PHHT and GOV trawls are considered appropriate for providing data on this species. Beam trawl surveys do catch small numbers of juvenile code, although beam trawl catches may not be representative for larger individuals. European hake (Mefluccius merluccius) expert knowledge. Hake is a widespread and abundant demersal species, most abundant in deeper waters of the outer continental shelf and slope. Surveys with PHHT and GOV trawls are considered appropriate for providing data on this species. Although beam trawl surveys catch juvenile hake occasionally larger fish are not caught and the sampling grid of these surveys is mostly outside the main distribution area of hake. Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) expert knowledge. Plaice is a widespread and abundant demersal species. especially on the inner continental shelf. Beam trawl surveys (both gear and survey grid) are designed to sample plaice (and other inshore flatfish) and are considered approprate. Although surveys with PHHT and GOV trawls do catch plaice, the gear and survey grid are less effective than beam trawls, especially for juvenille plaice. Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) expert knowledge. Mackerel is a widespread and abundant pelagic fish species. Surveys with PHHT and GOV trawls, which both have a high headline height, are considered apropriate for providing data on this species. Mackerel are only taken very occasionally in beam trawl surveys and this gear is not considered effective. Sole (Solea solea) expert knowledge. Sole is a widespread and abundant demersal species, especially on the inner continental shelf. Beam trawl survyes )both gear and survey grid) are desighned to sample sole (and other inshore flatfish) and are considered appropriate. Although surveys with PHHT and GOV trawls do catch sole, the gear and survey grid are much less effective than beam trawls, especially for juveniles. Horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) expert knowledge. Horse mackerel (Scad) is a widespread and abundant pelagic fish species. Surveys with PHHT and GOV trawls, which both have a high headline height, are considered appropriate for providing data on this species. Although small Scad are taken occasionally in beam trawl surveys, this gear is not considered effective for Scad. Thornback ray (Raja clavata) expert knowledge. Thornback ray is a widespread and relatively abundant skate. Beam trawl surveys sample juveniles quite effectively, although the larger mature fish are probably under-sampled. Otter trawls (e.g. PHHT and GOV) are more effective at sampling larger thornback rays, although there is a low density of stations on the main grounds for this species. Spotted ray (Raja montagui) expert knowledge. Spotted ray is a widespread and relatively abundant skate. Beam trawl surveys sample juveniles and adults (which are comparatively small) quite effectively. Otter trawls (e.g. PHHT and GOV) are also quite effective for this species. Undulate ray (Raja undulata) expert knowledge. Undulate ray has a restricted distribution in UK waters. Beam trawl surveys sample juveniles quite effectively, although the larger mature fish are under-sampled. Otter trawl surveys, which would be more effective at sampling larger undulate rays, don't tend to fish on the main grounds for this species, and so data are somewhat limited. Spurdog (Squalus acanthias) expert knowledge. Spurdog is a fast-moving, large-bodied, bentho-pelagic species, and as such is not sampled effectively in beam trawl surveys. Surveys with PHHT and GOV trawls are more effective at sampling spurdog and, due to their aggregating nature, large catches can be made. Spurdog are highly migratory, and so there may be seasonal patterns in abundance in some areas. Ling (Molva molva) expert knowledge. Ling is widespread in the deeper waters of the continental shelf, although small numbers are taken in shallower waters. Both beam trawl and otter trawl surveys catch low numbers of this species. Anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) expert knowledge. Anglerfish is widespread in the deeper waters of the continental shelf, although small numbers are taken in shallower waters. Both beam trawl and otter trawl surveys catch low numbers of this species. Blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) expert knowledge. Blue whiting is a widespread and abundant bentho-pelagic species, most abundant in deeper waters of the outer continental shelf and slope. Surveys with PHHT and GOV trawls, which both have a high headline height, are considered appropriate for providing data on this species. Although beam trawl surveys catch juveniles occasionally, larger fish are not caught and the sampling grid of these surveys is mostly outside the main distribution area of blue whiting. Roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris) expert knowledge. Roundnose grenadier is a deep-water species that is most abundant to the north of the British Isles. It is only taken very occasionally in groundfish surveys. They are taken in commercial fisheries, and so their distribution in UK waters is described from commercial catch data. Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) expert knowledge. Halibut is a northern species that is most abundant in deeper waters around the British Isles, although it is taken periodically in shallower waters as far south as the English Channel. It is only taken very occasionally in groundfish surveys. They are taken in commercial fisheries, and so their distribution in UK waters is described from commercial catch data. Orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) expert knowledge. Orange roughy is a deep-water species that has been reported from the west of the British Isles. They are taken in commercial fisheries, and so their distribution in UK waters is described from commercial catch data, although species-specific catch data may include some misidentifications or mis-reporting. Orange roughy associate with seamounts and distributions of these features are a useful proxy for them. Blue ling (Molva dypterygia) expert knowledge. Blue ling is a deep-water species that is most abundant on the continental slope, and as such is only taken very occasionally in groundfish surveys. They are taken in commercial fisheries, and so their distribution in UK waters is described from commercial catch data. There may be some taxonomic problems with catch data, as landings of blue ling (Molva dypterygia) and Spanish ling (Molva macrophthalmus) may be aggregated. Indeed, some authors have considered these two species to be sub-species (Molva dypterygia dypterygia and Molva dypterygia macrophthalmus). Blue ling is more northerly, occurring off NW Scotland, whereas Spanish ling is a more southerly species that occurs as far north as Ireland. Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoi) expert knowledge. Greenland halibut is a northerly species that is most abundant north of the British Isles, although it is taken occasionally in deeper waters around the UK. They are taken in commercial fisheries, and so their distribution in UK waters is described from commercial catch data. Gulper shark (Centrophorus granulosus) expert knowledge. Gulper shark is a deep-water species that is most common to the south of the British Isles. They are reported in commercial fishery statistics, and so their nominal distribution in UK waters is described from commercial catch data. It should be noted, however, that these species-specific catch data likely include misidentifications with other deep-water squaliform sharks, especially leafscale gulper shark, and the taxonomy of this genus is quite problematic. It is suggested that this species is not included in MPA site selection. Leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus) expert knowledge. Leafscale gulper shark is a deep-water species that is most common to the west of the British Isles. They are taken in commercial fisheries, and so their distribution in UK waters is described from commercial catch data, although species-specific catch data may include some misidentifications with other deep-water squaliform sharks. Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepsis) expert knowledge. Portuguese dogfish is a deep-water species that is most common to the west of the British Isles. They are taken in commercial fisheries, and so their distribution in UK waters is described from commercial catch data, although species-specific catch data may include some misidentifications with other deep-water squaliform sharks. Kitefin shark (Dalatias licha) expert knowledge. Kitefin shark is a deep-water species that is most common to the west of the British Isles. It has only been caught very occasionally in groundfish surveys. They are taken in commercial fisheries, and so their distribution in UK waters is described from commercial catch data, although species-specific catch data may include some misidentifications with other deep-water squaliform sharks. Blue-fin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) expert knowledge. The North Atlantic stock of blue-fin tuna is wide ranging in tropical to temperate oceanic and continental shelf waters, and specimens are occasionally taken around the UK. Commercial catch data are available. Historically blue-fin tuna were also taken in the North Sea, although there are few recent data. Given the uncertainty as to the factors controlling the distribution and occurrence of this species in UK and adjacent waters, and that this is a wide-ranging pelagic species, it is suggested that data for this species is not included in MPA site selection. Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) expert knowledge. The North Atlantic shortfin mako stock is wide ranging in tropical to warm temperate oceanic waters, and occasional specimens are taken around the UK. Although commercial catch data are available, this will likely include some mis-identifications with the related porbeagle shark, which is more abundant in UK waters. Given concern over the quality of data for this species, and that it is a wide-ranging oceanic species, it is suggested that data for this species is not included in MPA site selection. Tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) expert knowledge. Tope is a fast-moving, large-bodied, bentho-pelagic species, and as such is not sampled effectively in beam trawl surveys. Surveys with PHHT and GOV trawls are more effective at catching tope, albeit in low numbers. Tope are highly migratory, and so there may be seasonal patterns in abundance in some areas. Porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus) expert knowledge. The North-East Atlantic stock of porbeagle is wide ranging in temperate to boreal oceanic and continental shelf waters and specimens are often taken seasonally around the UK. Porbeagles are only taken very occasionally in groundfish surveys and more comprehensive data are available from commercial catch statistics. Blue shark (Prionace glauca) expert knowledge. The North Atlantic stock of blue shark is wide ranging in tropical to temperate oceanic and continental shelf waters, and specimens are often taken around the UK. Commercial catch data are available. Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) expert knowledge. This species is not taken in groundfish surveys or recent catch statistics, and much of the available data comes from reported sightings and strandings. Given the bias in reporting information (i.e. most reported data are from coastal areas, with less information for offshore areas), it is suggested that this species is not included in site selection for MPAs per se, as other data layers (e.g. locations of fronts) may be considered as proxies for basking shark. Smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) expert knowledge. Smelt is an inshore species that is only very rarely taken in groundfish surveys. Data for this species may also be confounded with the unrelated sand smelt Atherina spp. Brown/sea trout (Salmo trutta) expert knowledge. Sea trout is a fast moving species that is only very rarely taken in groundfish surveys and in offshore fisheries, and little is known about their offshore distribution. They are more often encountered in coastal waters. Little is known about the offshore distribution of this species, and only inshore/estuarine information should be considered for site selection. Sandy ray (Leucoraga circularis) expert knowledge. Sandy ray is an offshore skate that seems to be most abundant from the outer continental shelf and out to deeper waters and various offshore banks. Groundfish survey data and species-specific commercial catch data are both limited, and may include mis-identifications. Angel shark (Squatina squatina) expert knowledge. Angel shark is a little-known species that is considered to be extirpated from much of its former inshore range, and there are few recent records. There are some commercial catch data as well as historical information. This species was considered during data mining exercises, and so many of the location data are from historical records. The most recent sites of capture would be off the southern and western coasts of England and Wales. Leatherback turtle (Cermochelys coriacea) expert knowledge. This species is not taken in groundfish surveys or catch statistics, and much of the available data comes from reported sightings and strandings. Given the bias in distribution data (i.e. many records are from strandings) and that this species is only a (regular) vagrant in UK waters, it is suggested that data for this species is not included in MPA site selection. Reference Kaschner, K., J. S. Ready, E. Agbayani, J. Rius, K. Kesner-Reyes, P. D. Eastwood, A. B. South, S. O. Kullander, T. Rees, C. H. Close, R. Watson, D. Pauly, and R. Froese. 2008 AquaMaps: Predicted range maps for aquatic species. World wide web electronic publication, www.aquamaps.org, Version 10/2008. Wheeler. A. 1969. Key to the fishes of northern Europe: A guide to the identification of more than 350 species Whitehead P. J. P., Bauchot M. L., Hureau J. C., Nielsend J. and Tortonese E. (1984-1986) Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Paris: UNESCO. 3 vols, 1474 pp
Full resolution data layer for use only within the MB0102 contract. Permission required from data originators for use in any other context, or by non MB0102 partners. 10km resolution data layer freely available under Open Government Licence.
Full resolution GIS layer only for viewing by MB0102 partners with publicly available layers available at 10km resolution.
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Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory
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originator
Marine Biodiversity R and D Programme Manager
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
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custodian
ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd
pointOfContact
2016-11-15