EUSeaMap 2025 Broad-Scale Predictive Habitat Map for Europe
Output of the 2025 EUSeaMap broad-scale predictive model, produced by EMODnet Seabed Habitats.
The extent of the mapped area includes the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Baltic Sea, and areas of the North Eastern Atlantic extending from the Canary Islands in the south to the Barents Sea in the north.
The map was produced using a "top-down" modelling approach using classified habitat descriptors to determine a final output habitat.
Habitat descriptors differ per region but include: Biological zone Energy class Oxygen regime Salinity regime Seabed substrate Riverine input
Habitat descriptors (except Substrate) are calculated using underlying physical data and thresholds derived from statistical analyses or expert judgement on known conditions.
The model is produced using R and ArcGIS Pro.
The model was created using raster input layers with a cell size of 0.00104dd (roughly 100 metres). The model includes the sublittoral zone only; due to the high variability of the littoral zone, a lack of detailed substrate data and the resolution of the model, it is difficult to predict littoral habitats at this scale.
EUSeaMap is classified into EUNIS 2019 level 3 (or more detailed levels where appropriate), EUNIS 2019 level 2 , EUNIS 2007-2011, the MSFD benthic broad habitat types, the HELCOM HUB classification in the Baltic, and the Barcelona Convention habitat classification in the Mediterranean. In the Black Sea, EUSeaMap is not classified into EUNIS 2007-2011 (due to inapplicability), but is classified according to a classification that was developed by EMODnet Seabed Habitats (Populus et al., 2017). For a revised version Vasquez et al. (2020) linked in the lineage.
Reports that provide methods used for the classification of the predicted habitats into the 2019 EUNIS classification, regional classifications, and MSFD BBHT (v.2017) are linked in Online Resources.
An accompanying confidence layer is available for viewing and download from EMODnet Seabed Habitats - metadata is linked in the 'Composed of' section below.'
A report on the methods used in the 2025 version of EUSeaMap will be added in due course, but reports on previous versions (v2019, v2021 and v2023) are available in the lineage.
Also available as part of this project (accessible in the links below)
- CaribbeanSeaMap 2025
- CaspianSeaMap 2025
Credit: Licensed under CC-BY 4.0 from the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) Seabed Habitats initiative (https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/seabed-habitats), funded by the European Commission.
Data and resources
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EUSeaMap 2025 Broad-Scale Predictive Habitat Map for Europe - EUNIS 2007 classification group - All simplification levelsHTML Open
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EUSeaMap 2025 Broad-Scale Predictive Habitat Map - EUNIS 2007 classificationHTML Open
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Download link for the EUSeaMap 2025 and confidence layersZIP Open
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EUSeaMap 2025 Broad-Scale Predictive Habitat Map for Europe - Barcelona Convention classification group - All simplification levelsHTML Open
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EUSeaMap 2025 Broad-Scale Predictive Habitat Map for Europe - Helcom classification group - All simplification levelsHTML Open
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EUSeaMap 2025 Broad-Scale Predictive Habitat Map for Europe - EUNIS 2019 classification group - All simplification levelsHTML Open
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Correlation tables between MSFD Benthic Broad Habitat types and EUSeaMap biozones and substrate. Annex to EUSeaMap 2016 Technical ReportHTML Open
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Methods explaining how EUSeaMap was classified according to the new version of EUNIS, HELCOM HUB and the Mediterranean habitat types.HTML Open
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Metadata record 2025 CaspianSeaMap broad-scale predictive model produced by EMODnet Seabed Habitats.HTML Open
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Metadata record for 2025 CaribbeanSeaMap broad-scale predictive model, produced by EMODnet Seabed Habitats.HTML Open
Additional information
| Temporal extent | 2023-09-25 – 2025-11-11 |
|---|---|
| Date (creation) | 2025-11-11 |
| Status | onGoing |
| Update frequency | asNeeded |
| Metadata language | en |
| License | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 |
| Source metadata | ISO 19115 XML |
| Last updated | 2026-11-04 |
| Created | 2026-11-04 |
| API | package_show |