MeshAtlantic – Mapping Atlantic Area Seabed Habitats For Better Marine Management

MeshAtlantic is an EU funded project (INTERREG IVB, 2010-2013) which has provided a harmonised seabed habitat map of the coastal and shelf areas of the Northeast Atlantic. The primary aim of the project was to aid the development of sustainable marine management plans at both regional and European levels. It involved the collation of habitat mapping information across several countries, including Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal as well as acquisition of new data in MPAs in each country.

MeshAtlantic has acted as a focal point for collation and standardization of these datasets at an international level. It has also resulted in improved interaction between the European agencies responsible for seabed mapping and stakeholders. The collation of these data has also resulted in close collaboration with other EU funded projects (e.g. EMODNET).

The key outputs of the project are three different sets of maps harmonized and classified using EUNIS across the project area. These are:

1. Pre-existing habitat maps that have been enhanced and harmonized

2. Detailed national and transnational habitat maps covering a limited set of Natura 2000 sites

3. A broad-scale modelled habitat map extending from Ireland to Potrtugal (including the Azores)

The outputs of the project in Ireland include acquisition of new data in Kenmare Bay, a EUNIS habitat map for Kenmare Bay, direct support of monitoring work in the WFD, a collated habitat map for a significant part of Irelands seabed, and collation of existing habitat maps and source data. MeshAtlantic was supported by INFOMAR, Irelands national seabed mapping programme. Involvement in MeshAtlantic has facilitated leveraging of extra resources in order to discharge a programme of data collation which otherwise could not have been carried out.

This paper will focus on how MeshAtlantic promoted harmonised production and use of marine habitat maps covering the Atlantic Area, and look at the approaches adopted to delivering habitat maps for marine spatial planning in a transnational context.