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UK Atlas of Seabed Habitats: UKSeaMap Predictive Map v2025.1 2025

Abstract

The UKSeaMap Predictive Habitats Map 2025 (version 1) is a broad-scale prediction that uses physical models of depth, light, sediment and energy to predict the physical seabed habitats for the whole UK seabed. This map covers the UK extended Continental Shelf as defined by the Continental Shelf (Designation of Areas) Order 2013, but excluding the intertidal zone, Dee Estuary and Morecambe Bay.

Two habitat classification systems are present in the final output:

  • EUNIS habitat classification system version 2007-11
  • The Marine Habitat Classification for Britain and Ireland (https://mhc.jncc.gov.uk/) version 22.04

The attribute table includes a column for each of level 2, level 3 and level 4 of each of these two classification schemes. In some cases, there were 2-3 options of habitat type, which were both included and separated by the word “OR“. There is also a column containing the most detailed unique habitat type for each of the two classification systems.

The habitats were determined by combining 4 categorical input layers called 'habitat descriptors', which are the basis for describing physical habitats in the Marine Habitat Classification for Britain and Ireland. These are also present in the geodatabase.

Habitat descriptor data layers:

  • Seabed substrate type - created using the British Geological Survey's national broad-scale predictive sediment map - Marchant et al. (2025) and the JNCC-BGS-Cefas national broad-scale predictive rock map (JNCC, 2019)
  • Biological zone (also known as biozone) - created using the depth to seabed, wave disturbance at the seabed and amount of light reaching the seabed.
  • Kinetic energy at the seabed - created using energy from tidal currents and energy from waves
  • Salinity regime - created using the Annex I Habitats Regulations datasets for coastal lagoons and estuaries features

A methods report will be published in due course.

The UKSeaMap Predictive Map forms part of the UK Atlas of Seabed Habitats (UKASH), a suite of mapping products, offering the most complete characterisation of seabed habitats in the UK in the Marine Habitat Classification for Britain and Ireland and the European standard classification system, EUNIS. UKASH is composed of:

  • UKASH Library of Localised Maps: A standardised collection of individual, ground-truthed habitat maps from various sources.
  • UKASH Mosaic of Localised Maps: A unified, non-overlapping map product that prioritises the most reliable maps from the UKASH Library of Localised Maps.
  • UKSeaMap Predictive Map: A seamless, full-coverage predictive map of physical seabed habitats in the UK.
  • UKASH Combined Map: The UKASH Mosaic of Localised Maps, with gaps filled by the UKSeaMap Predictive Map.

Resource type Dataset

Topic category Oceans

Reference date 2025·04·11

Citation
© JNCC. Copyright and database right 2025. Contains data derived from the DEFRA Marine DEM (one arc second) © British Crown Copyright, 2025. All rights reserved. Permission Number: Defra012017.002. This product has been derived in part from material obtained from the UK Hydrographic Office with the permission of the UK Hydrographic Office, The Keeper of Public Records. NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION.

Lineage
Updated 11/04/2025 - UKSeaMap Predictive Map 2025.1. This version replaces the UKSeaMap 2018 Version 2. This is a complete remake of UKSeaMap, which uses a new seabed substrate layer produced by the British Geological Survey. This work was funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of the marine arm of the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme: NC42: mNCEA for GES. ~~~~~ Updated 2018/12/17 – UKSeaMap 2018 Version 2 replaces UKSeaMap2018 released in October 2018 and UKSeaMap2016 – The following updates were made: 1) Correction of the correlation table: in previous versions the deep sea “sandy mud to muddy sand” has been equated to EUNIS muddy sand and called "A6.4 deep sea muddy sand", instead of "A6.5 deep sea mud" (see also ChangeDec18 attribute); 2) Translation into JNCCv15 Habitats; 3) Reclassification of substrate in "A6.4 or A6.5 polygons" (FOLK Muddy sands) based on UKSeaMap 2010 and BGS PSA data; 4) Addition of EUNIS Level 3 habitats attribute (EL3_LON18) ~~~~~ Updated 2018/10/12: UKSeaMap 2018 replaces UKSeaMap2016. Substrate updated in most of UKShelf as a result of the publication of "Prediction of outcrops or subcrops of rock in UK shelf seabed" doi:10.25603/840424.1.0.0 ~~~~~ Updated 2017/10/16: MSFD predominant habitats reclassified as MSFD Benthic Broad Habitat Types (as defined in Commission Decision May 2017). Composite data product, created by merging the UK 3-arc-second case study and EUSeaMap 2016 outputs of EMODnet Seabed Habitats phase 2. The UK 3-arc-second dataset was erased (in ArcGIS) from EUSeaMap 2016, to create a single full-coverage and flat dataset, before clipping to the UK continental shelf.

Responsible organisation
Digital and Data Solutions, JNCC custodian

Limitations on public access None

Use constraints Available under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Attribution statement: "JNCC data © copyright and database right 2025" "Contains data derived from the DEFRA Marine DEM (one arc second) © British Crown Copyright, 2025. All rights reserved. Permission Number: Defra012017.002". This product has been derived in part from material obtained from the UK Hydrographic Office with the permission of the UK Hydrographic Office, The Keeper of Public Records. NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION.

Metadata date 2025·05·08

Metadata point of contact
Digital and Data Solutions, JNCC

Temporal extent 2025·04·10 2025·04·10

Spatial extent
North 63.887
South 47.4354
East 3.3986
West -25.1344
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