4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313031393737 English NRW_DS121633 Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en 2026-03-03T12:00:21.817Z NRW 1.0 wel Latitude and Longitude (EPSG::4326) HABMAP Predictive Habitat Maps of the Irish Sea HABMAP Predictive Habitat Maps of the Irish Sea Mapiau Rhagfynegol o For Iwerddon (HABMAP) 2005 CCW HABMAP sublittoral survey 2010-04-30 NRW_DS101977 The HABMAP project was set up in response to the need for better spatial awareness of habitat distributions in the Southern Irish Sea. This work produced habitat maps of the seabed using novel predictive modelling techniques. Two main components of the project were the mapping of seabed habitats using data collation and predictive modelling, and the collection of new survey data. This was used to increase the knowledge of Irish Sea habitats and validate the maps produced by predictive modelling. There have be subsequent project developed from this HABMAP project, which includes the re-modelling and larger project area is being covered to include all Welsh waters. The purpose of this data capture is to provide seabed habitat maps that could be used for conservation and management. Project outputs might be used in strategic planning, decision making for offshore developments, sensitivity mapping and mapping essential fish habitats. Confidence of predicted biotope maps was assessed and rated as explained on individual maps produced. The area covered in this project related to the southern Irish Sea. The HABMAP project was set up in response to the need for better spatial awareness of habitat distributions in the Southern Irish Sea. This work produced habitat maps of the seabed using novel predictive modelling techniques. Two main components of the project were the mapping of seabed habitats using data collation and predictive modelling, and the collection of new survey data. This was used to increase the knowledge of Irish Sea habitats and validate the maps produced by predictive modelling. There have be subsequent project developed from this HABMAP project, which includes the re-modelling and larger project area is being covered to include all Welsh waters. The purpose of this data capture is to provide seabed habitat maps that could be used for conservation and management. Project outputs might be used in strategic planning, decision making for offshore developments, sensitivity mapping and mapping essential fish habitats. Confidence of predicted biotope maps was assessed and rated as explained on individual maps produced. The area covered in this project related to the southern Irish Sea. Cardiff University Information Services, Science Resource Centre, Cardiff University, PO Box 430, Cardiff, CF10 3XT sparks,j@cardiff.ac.uk http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/ National Museums and Galleries of Wales Education Department, Cathays Park, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, CF1 3NP post@nmgw.ac.uk http://www.marine.ie Marine Institute Marine Institute Headquaters, Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway, Ireland institute.mail@marine.ie http://www.ucc.ie/en/ University College Cork University of Cork, School of Biological, earth and Environmental Sciences, North Mall Campus, Distillery Fields, Cork, Co. Cork, Ireland a.wheeler@ucc.ie http://www.tcd.ie/ Trinity College Dublin Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland webdes@tcd.ie http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk Not Provided Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk Not Provided Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) Countryside Council for Wales, Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/ British Geological Survey (BGS) British Geological Survey (BGS), Central Enquiries, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG enquiries@bgs.ac.uk http://www.bgs.ac.uk/ National Museums and Galleries of Wales Education Department, Cathays Park, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, CF1 3NP post@nmgw.ac.uk http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/ University of Wales, Bangor. School of Ocean Sciences Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG oss011@bangor.ac.uk http://www.bangor.ac.uk ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd Suite B, Waterside House, Town Quay, Southampton, SO14 2AQ, England enquiries@abpmer.co.uk http://www.abpmer.co.uk/ Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Habitats and biotopes Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme Irish Sea marine and freshwater inventory habitat mapping geographical information systems (GIS) predictive habitat maps habitats (see also specific types of habitats) marine (maritime) HABMAP mapping (map drawing) (cartography)(see also digital mapping) environmental modelling NRW Thesaurus 2025-01-08 geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords Habitat extent Habitat characterisation SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2024-06-19 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely. no limitations © CNC/NRW and various third party recorders, 2010. Recipients may re-use, reproduce, disseminate this data free of charge in any format or medium, provided they do so accurately, acknowledging both the source and the copyright of NRW/third party recorders and do not use it in a misleading context. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose, that dissemination or publishing does not result in duplication and that it is fairly interpreted. Advice on interpretation should be sought where required. To avoid re-using old data, users should periodically obtain the latest version from the original source. Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved English oceans biota SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 benthic boundary layer Wales (WLS) -7.23998818 -2.50978719 51.01748346 54.22031239 2004-08-01 2010-04-30 Habmap : habitat mapping for conservation and management of the southern Irish Sea Documents [A] Individual and collated biotope maps (showing present and predicted locations)- MapInfo .tab files, shape .shp files and jpegs [B] HABMAP project report- paper and PDF version [C] Seabed survey data- in HABMAP final report (paper and PDF) and as .tif registered files [D] Data collation maps- MapInfo files and jpegs [E] Seabed survey data (2005) - in Marine Recorder (MRCCW16900000002) [F] Supporting Multibeam data [G] A two part BIOMOR report is also to be published as part of this project and a DVD produced containing PDF files of reports, maps and survey data is available. Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08 This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation. false The methods used to undertaken the work included extensive surveys, generally using a combination of accoustic methods (e.g., multi-beam swath bathymetry) and biological survey (e.g. grab sampling, drop-down video). Using this methodology large areas of the maps could be produced including the use of interpolation techniques. The HABMAP project used a multi-parameter predictive tool to develop seabed biotope maps for the southern Irish Sea. This required the collation of existing biological and physical datasets across the whole study area within a Geographical Information System (GIS) and their subsequent use to construct a rule-based biotope prediction model. Data were collated for the following physical parameters: bathymetry, sediment type, temperature, wave stress, tide stress, salinity, bedstate and light attenuation. These data were combined in a GIS to produce a single map with many cells, all of which were associated with values for each of the physical parameters. Data were also collated for seabed biotopes and these points were overlain onto the physical data layer, allowing the relationships between each biotope and the physical environment to be determined. Southern Irish Sea- land-based boundaries include the Welsh coast west of the Dee Estuary in the north and west of the Gower in the south. On the Irish coast the area stretches from around 40 km north of Dublin to approximately 60 km west of Waterford and includes the whole SE coast including the offshore banks as well as parts of the Celtic Sea. Areas surveyed in 2005 - Arklow Bank, Celtic Deep, St George's Channel, Caernarfon Bay and West Anglesey. The methods used to undertaken the work included extensive surveys, generally using a combination of accoustic methods (e.g., multi-beam swath bathymetry) and biological survey (e.g. grab sampling, drop-down video). Using this methodology large areas of the maps could be produced including the use of interpolation techniques. The HABMAP project used a multi-parameter predictive tool to develop seabed biotope maps for the southern Irish Sea. This required the collation of existing biological and physical datasets across the whole study area within a Geographical Information System (GIS) and their subsequent use to construct a rule-based biotope prediction model. Data were collated for the following physical parameters: bathymetry, sediment type, temperature, wave stress, tide stress, salinity, bedstate and light attenuation. These data were combined in a GIS to produce a single map with many cells, all of which were associated with values for each of the physical parameters. Data were also collated for seabed biotopes and these points were overlain onto the physical data layer, allowing the relationships between each biotope and the physical environment to be determined. Southern Irish Sea- land-based boundaries include the Welsh coast west of the Dee Estuary in the north and west of the Gower in the south. On the Irish coast the area stretches from around 40 km north of Dublin to approximately 60 km west of Waterford and includes the whole SE coast including the offshore banks as well as parts of the Celtic Sea. Areas surveyed in 2005 - Arklow Bank, Celtic Deep, St George's Channel, Caernarfon Bay and West Anglesey.