AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Broadscale habitat (EUNIS level 3) for Greater Haig Fras recommended Marine Conservation Zone (rMCZ)

Broadscale habitat (EUNIS level 3) for Greater Haig Fras recommended Marine Conservation Zone (rMCZ).

A broadscale habitat feature class was created to illustrate predicted extent of broadscale habitats present at Greater Haig Fras rMCZ. These broadscale habitats include 'High energy circalittoral rock', 'Moderate energy circalittoral rock', 'Subtidal coarse/mixed sediment', 'Subtidal sand' and 'Subtidal mud' as determined from particle size analysis of sediment samples and descriptive analysis of still images from underwater camera data. The assigned classes at each ground-truth station were used to inform the semi-automated process of map production using object-based image analysis (OBIA).

Tags: EUNIS, GB001518, Grabs, Marine, Multibeam echo sounder, Seabed Habitats and Geology, Video Tows
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Visual Tracking data, tern species, Anglesey Terns / Morwenoliaid Ynys Môn SPA (2009 to 2010)

This resource includes a series of spreadsheets which provide visual tracking data from Anglesey Terns / Morwenoliaid Ynys Môn (previously Ynys Feurig, Cemlyn Bay and the Skerries) Special Protection Area (SPA), for Arctic, common, roseate, and Sandwich terns. The data cover the breeding seasons of 2009 and 2010, including incubation and chick-rearing periods.

These data were collected as part of a wider JNCC marine SPA identification programme, in conjunction with the four country nature conservation bodies (CNCBs). The data were used to quantify usage of the marine environment by the four larger tern Sterna species around their breeding colony SPAs in the UK.

The data must be used in conjunction with [JNCC Report 500: Quantifying usage of the marine environment by terns Sterna sp. around their breeding colony SPAs (Wilson et *al*. 2014)](https://hub.jncc.gov.uk/assets/926cdbbd-c384-42a9-b9e5-81abd778bbd0).

Tags: Marine, Seabird Surveys, Seabirds
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Local Plan - Point Features

Planning Policy (designations from Black Country Core Strategy (adopted 3rd Feb 2011), Brierley Hill Area Action Plan (AAP) 2011, Halesowen AAP 2013, Stourbridge AAP 2013, Dudley AAP 2017 and Dudley Borough Development Strategy 2017)

Tags: Area management/restriction/regulation zones and r, Land use, Statutory Development Plans
Organization: Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
Air quality demand layer for Slurry Infrastructure Grant Round 1

This resource consists of a spatial dataset and an accompanying technical document.

*  This spatial dataset identifies locations in England where there is high demand to improve air quality. It was created to support prioritisation of first round applications to the Slurry Infrastructure Grant, which Defra launched in October 2022. It identifies designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in England which have known features sensitive to ammonia emissions and that currently exceed the threshold at which adverse effects are known to occur, called their critical level. These sites were then buffered by 2 km to identify priority areas for air quality improvements. 
* The technical document sets out the methods proposed for and selected to identify the sites most vulnerable to ammonia emissions in England to prioritise the Slurry Infrastructure Grant’s first round applications.

The method used was developed in consultation with an expert group made up of Air Quality specialists across Defra and its associated Arms-Length Bodies. The spatial layer contains embedded features from a number of datasets, however the original features have been heavily altered and none of the original attributes have been retained. 

Full details on how this layer was used, alongside a water quality layer, to prioritise applications to the grant can be found at: [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/slurry-infrastructure-grant](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/slurry-infrastructure-grant).

These resources may not be fully accessible for all users. If you need a copy of any of these resources in a different or more accessible format, please [get in touch](mailto:communications@jncc.gov.uk).

Tags: Air quality regulation, Decision-making, Ecosystem services , Natural Capital Library, Policy, Pollution, Pressures, Protected Areas, Terrestrial
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Charting Progress 2 (CP2) Reporting Regions

The 2010 Charting Progress 2 assessment (UKMMAS 2010) subdivided UK waters into eight regions to assess how human use and other pressures were affecting the productivity of UK seas. Regional boundaries were developed in 2009, adapting 'regional seas' previously identified on the basis of physical and biological biogeography by the Review of Marine Nature Conservation (RMNC) 2004. The CP2 'Reporting Regions' have subsequently informed a variety of MPA designation, marine assessment and reporting purposes and continue to be used, for example in the selection of Highly Protected Marine Areas, indicators for the ecological status of the water environment, and the aggregation of marine biotope sensitivity information. 

JNCC updated the CP2 Reporting Regions dataset in 2025, making improvements to the outer maritime boundaries of CP2 regions to align with the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) limits (across UK) and Isle of Man Territorial Sea limit.

Note that the use of the CP2 Reporting Regions (or other biogeographic regions and assessment units) by JNCC, the SNCBs and other ALBs will vary by purpose. Variations of the CP2 Reporting Regions may be used for assessment purposes.

Data notes and limitations:
• open data coastline datasets used in the 2022 update were of medium spatial resolution, lacking detail in some areas (e.g. sea lochs and islets in the Hebrides, Orkneys and Shetland, pladdies in Strangford Loch and islets around Northern Ireland). 
• part of the Scottish Continental Shelf (region 7) boundary was originally drawn to align with the UK Territorial Waters limit around Orkney and Fair Isle. This section of boundary has not been updated and therefore remains consistent with the biogeographic boundary created in 2009.
• in the absence of formally agreed maritime limits, linework from the original 2009 CP2 Reporting Regions data set has been retained to represent the boundary between the Northern Ireland Inshore Region and Republic of Ireland inshore waters.

Tags: Base Maps, Ecosystem assessment, Marine, Marine protected area
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
UK Marine Noise Registry: 2021 outputs

This publication contains maps, associated data tables and shapefiles from the 2021 data in the UK Marine Noise Registry (MNR; [https://mnr.jncc.gov.uk/](https://mnr.jncc.gov.uk/)).

When using and/or interpreting the MNR output maps and spatial data, users should take into account the caveats in the enclosed document MNRPBDMapsCaveats2021_UKEEZ.docx and refer to the data dictionary, DataDictionary_2021.xlsx. 

These maps display the distribution and duration of impulsive underwater noise events and the associated activity types contributing to these events, across UK marine waters, for the calendar year beginning January 1st 2021. 

Noise events are mapped in pulse block days (PBD), using the UK oil and gas licensing grid, which consists of a series of blocks measuring 10 minutes latitude by 12 minutes longitude. A PBD is when at least one noise event (between the frequencies of 10 Hz and 10 kHz, multibeam echosounders up to 12kHz) has occurred within a block on a particular day.

Tags: JNCC Publications, Marine
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
UK Marine Noise Registry: 2020 outputs

This publication contains maps, associated data tables and shapefiles from the 2020 data in the UK Marine Noise Registry (MNR; [https://mnr.jncc.gov.uk/](https://mnr.jncc.gov.uk/)).

When using and/or interpreting the MNR output maps and spatial data, users should take into account the caveats in the enclosed document MNRPBDMapsCaveats2020_UKEEZ.docx and refer to the data dictionary, DataDictionary_2020.xlsx. 

These maps display the distribution and duration of impulsive underwater noise events and the associated activity types contributing to these events, across UK marine waters, for the calendar year beginning January 1st 2020. 

Noise events are mapped in pulse block days (PBD), using the UK oil and gas licensing grid, which consists of a series of blocks measuring 10 minutes latitude by 12 minutes longitude. A PBD is when at least one noise event (between the frequencies of 10 Hz and 10 kHz, multibeam echosounders up to 12kHz) has occurred within a block on a particular day.

Tags: JNCC Publications, Marine
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
UK Marine Noise Registry: 2019 outputs

This publication contains maps, associated data tables and shapefiles from the 2019 data in the UK Marine Noise Registry (MNR; [https://mnr.jncc.gov.uk/](https://mnr.jncc.gov.uk/)).

When using and/or interpreting the MNR output maps and spatial data, users should take into account the caveats in the enclosed document MNRPBDMapsCaveats2019_UKEEZ.docx and refer to the data dictionary, DataDictionary_2019.xlsx. 

These maps display the distribution and duration of impulsive underwater noise events and the associated activity types contributing to these events, across UK marine waters, for the calendar year beginning January 1st 2019. 

Noise events are mapped in pulse block days (PBD), using the UK oil and gas licensing grid, which consists of a series of blocks measuring 10 minutes latitude by 12 minutes longitude. A PBD is when at least one noise event (between the frequencies of 10 Hz and 10 kHz, multibeam echosounders up to 12kHz) has occurred within a block on a particular day.

Tags: JNCC Publications, Marine
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Harbour porpoise Special Area of Conservation seasonal areas

This resource contains shapefiles showing the seasonal components for harbour porpoise Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). The seasonal components for each site reflect the areas and seasons during which harbour porpoise densities are persistently higher. These seasons are relevant with regards to management of human activity.

Three of the sites designated solely for harbour porpoise have only a single seasonal component - either summer or winter which covers the entirety of the SAC boundary ([Bristol Channel Approaches](https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/bristol-channel-approaches-mpa/ "Bristol Channel Approaches site information centre"); [North Anglesey Marine](https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/north-anglesey-marine-mpa/ "North Anglesey Marine site information centre"); [North Channel](https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/north-channel-mpa/ "North Channel site information centre")). The other two sites ([Southern North Sea](https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/southern-north-sea-mpa/ "Southern North Sea site information centre"); [West Wales Marine](https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/west-wales-marine-mpa/ "West Wales Marine site information centre")) have both summer and winter components of varying size reflecting changes in usage and distribution with the season. The harbour porpoise sites not included in this shapefile, namely Skerries and causeway and Inner Hebrides and the Minches, are sites showing consistent year-round use. The boundaries from these sites can be obtained from our [SACs with marine components dataset](https://hub.jncc.gov.uk/assets/598a60db-9323-4781-b5a8-dcf0ca3b29f9 "JNCC Special Areas of Conservation with marine components metadata and download page")

The site boundaries were initially drawn up in the British National Grid (BNG) projection in the Secretary of State waters and in Irish National Grid in Northern Ireland waters. Mean Low Water Springs (MLW) was used to delineate the coastal boundary. The MLW shape files were provided by the SNCBs in OSGB36 – British National Grid.

Due to the size and distribution of the proposed sites, an equal area projection was required. European Albers Equal Area Conic (AEAC_UKCS) was used with adjusted standard parallels for the UK Continental Shelf (50.2°N and 61.2°N), which minimises distortion for all sites that span the North-South extent of the UK Continental shelf (47.4 N to approximately 64 N).  The transformations used to change projection from BNG to AEAC _UKCS were OSGB _1936 _To _WGS _1984 _Petroleum (appropriate for boundaries which extend 10 km from the coast) and ED _1950 _To _WGS _1984 _18 (appropriate for the modified Albers applied).

Tags: GIS Strategy, Marine, Natura 2000, Protected Areas
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
UK Marine Noise Registry raw data publication January 2021

A copy of all data held in the Marine Noise Registry (MNR) database, other than personal data, along with permission to re-use the data provided. 

When using and/or interpreting the MNR output maps and spatial data, users should take into account the caveats in the enclosed document MNR_datacaveats_2021Jan.docx and refer to the data dictionary, data_dictionary_MNR_RawData_2021Jan.xlsx. 

Noise events are described in pulse block days (PBD), using the UK oil and gas licensing grid, which consists of a series of blocks measuring 10 minutes latitude by 12 minutes longitude. A PBD is when at least one noise event (between the frequencies of 10 Hz and 10 kHz, multibeam echosounders up to 12 kHz) has occurred within a block on a particular day.

Tags: Corporate, JNCC Publications, Marine, Transparency
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
UK Marine Noise Registry: 2018 outputs

This publication contains maps, associated data tables and shapefiles from the 2018 data in the UK Marine Noise Registry (MNR; [https://mnr.jncc.gov.uk/](https://mnr.jncc.gov.uk/)).

When using and/or interpreting the MNR output maps and spatial data, users should take into account the caveats in the enclosed document C20200813_MNRPBDMapsCaveats2018_UKEEZ.docx and refer to the data dictionary, DataDictionary_C20200813.xlsx. 

These maps display the distribution and duration of impulsive underwater noise events and the associated activity types contributing to these events, across UK marine waters, for the calendar year beginning January 1st 2018. 

Noise events are mapped in pulse block days (PBD), using the UK oil and gas licensing grid, which consists of a series of blocks measuring 10 minutes latitude by 12 minutes longitude. A PBD is when at least one noise event (between the frequencies of 10 Hz and 10 kHz, multibeam echosounders up to 12kHz) has occurred within a block on a particular day.

Tags: JNCC Publications, Marine
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
UK Atlas of Seabed Habitats: UKSeaMap Predictive Map v2025.1

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.

Tags: EUNIS, MNCR, Marine, Seabed Habitats and Geology
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Annex I Sandbanks in the UK version 3 - 2019 (Public) Polygons

This dataset contains a shapefile that shows the potential and high confidence mapped extents of Annex I habitat 'Sandbank' within the boundaries of the UK continental shelf. 'Sandbank' here refers to the habitat (1110) listed under Annex I of EC Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora – commonly known as the Habitats Directive.

JNCC recommends using the accompanying ESRI or QGIS layer file to view the extent of Annex I feature 'Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time'.

This dataset is presented in its most detailed form so you can fully interrogate the dataset and all its underlying attributes representing the underlying logic and data sources resulting in areas of 'Potential' or 'High' confidence Annex I Sandbanks.

Where areas of Sandbank contain differing underlying attributes, descriptor values or data sources, a single Annex I feature may be represented by multiple polygons. These subdivisions are irrelevant in terms of the overall extent of the feature.

Additional information source: Pinder, J. (2020). Method for Creating version 3 of the UK Composite Map of Annex I Sandbanks slightly covered by seawater all of the time.

Tags: Habitats Directive - Annex I, Marine, Seabed Habitats and Geology
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Annex I Sandbanks in the UK version 3 - 2019 Methods document

This document contains methodology for producing the Annex I Sandbanks dataset for the Article 17 2019 reporting round. 'Sandbank' here refers to the habitat (1110) listed under Annex I of EC Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora – commonly known as the Habitats Directive.

Tags: Habitats Directive - Annex I, Marine, Seabed Habitats and Geology
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Annex I submarine structures made by leaking gases in the UK (Open Data) (2018) – v3.2

Map showing potential and high confidence mapped extents of Annex I habitat ‘submarine structures making by leaking gases’  within the boundaries of the UK continental shelf. ‘Submarine structures making by leaking gases’ here refers to the habitat (1180) listed under Annex I of EC Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora – commonly known as the Habitats Directive. Areas where the habitat has been mapped in either zero or one dimension are represented in separate layers as points and lines.

Tags: Habitats Directive - Annex I, Marine, Seabed Habitats and Geology
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
EUNIS Combined Map: full-coverage EUNIS level 3 layer integrating maps from surveys and broad-scale models - methods document

This document contains methodology for producing the 2019 EUNIS Level 3 Combined Map, version 9_6_6. 

Additional information source: https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/marine-habitat-data-product-eunis-level-3-combined-map/

Tags: EUNIS, Marine, Seabed Habitats and Geology
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
UK Atlas of Seabed Habitats: Combined Map v2025.1

The UK Atlas of Seabed Habitats (UKASH) Combined Map is the most comprehensive full coverage (except in the intertidal zone, where UKSeaMap is not available to fill the gaps) map of seabed habitats in the UK. It combines the Mosaic of Localised Maps with the UKSeaMap Predictive Map. Source maps vary in terms of spatial and thematic detail. Where the source is UKSeaMap, the spatial and thematic detail is typically low.

Its main strength is that it lets us calculate the total area of broad-scale habitats within UK waters and/or regional seas, using the best-available data. This is particularly useful for assessments of the adequacy of the UK marine protected area network.
For other purposes, it should be used with caution and understanding of its limitations caused by the varying quality of the source maps. Please see the data inventory included in the download package for more information.

A method report will be provided in due course.

The Combined 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.

Tags: EUNIS, MNCR, Marine, Marine Habitat Mapping, Seabed Habitats and Geology
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Annex I Reefs in UK offshore waters (2019) - methods document

This document contains methodology for producing the Annex I Reefs dataset for the Article 17 2019 reporting round, covered under the Habitats Directive. 

Areas of protected reef can be viewed on the JNCC MPA Mapper - http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5201

Additional information source: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1448

Tags: Habitats Directive - Annex I, Identification of Annex 1 Reef and subtypes, Marine, Seabed Habitats and Geology
Organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee