Developing essential fish habitat maps: report

The project helped define areas of the sea essential to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity. Twenty-nine species and multiple life-stages were reviewed covering marine fish and shellfish of commercial and ecological importance, relevant to offshore wind development areas.


Appendix B. List and names of EUNIS habitat types (Level 3 and 4)

Full list of marine EUNIS habitat types considered for the habitat proxy assessment. The list also includes habitats that were excluded a priori from the habitat proxy assessment (highlighted in grey) because considered not relevant to UK inshore areas due to geographical/environmental reasons: N(1), habitats typical of Baltic, Mediterranean, Black Sea or Pontic region; N(2), habitats described as deep offshore or deep sea habitat; N(3), ice-associated habitats.

EUNIS Habitat type: Code, Name and Level EUNIS Level 3/4 Included in the Habitat proxy assessment (Matrix) Scored (incl.0 score) Scored (excl.0 score) Included in EUNIS habitat maps
A. Marine habitats (Level 1)
A1. Littoral rock and other hard substrata (Level 2)
A1.1 High energy littoral rock Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A1.11 Mussel and/or barnacle communities Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A1.12 Robust fucoid and/or red seaweed communities Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A1.13 Mediterranean and Black Sea communities of upper mediolittoral rock Level 4 N(1)
A1.14 Mediterranean and Black Sea communities of lower exposed to wave action Level 4 mediolittoral rock very N(1)
A1.15 Fucoids in tide-swept conditions Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A1.16 Pontic communities of exposed mediolittoral rock Level 4 N(1)
A1.2 Moderate energy littoral rock Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A1.21 Barnacles and fucoids on moderately exposed shores Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A1.22 Mussels and fucoids on moderately exposed shores Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A1.23 Mediterranean communities of lower moderately exposed to wave action Level 4 mediolittoral rock N(1)
A1.24 Pontic communities of lower mediolittoral rock wave action Level 4 moderately exposed to N(1)
A1.3 Low energy littoral rock Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A1.31 Fucoids on sheltered marine shores Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A1.32 Fucoids in variable salinity Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A1.33 Red algal turf in lower eulittoral, sheltered from wave action Level 4 Y Y Y
A1.34 Mediterranean communities of lower mediolittoral rock action Level 4 sheltered from wave N(1)
A1.4 Features of littoral rock Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A1.41 Communities of littoral rockpools Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A1.42 Communities of rockpools in the supralittoral zone Level 4 Y Y Y
A1.43 Brackish permanent pools in the geolittoral zone Level 4 Y Y Y
A1.44 Communities of littoral caves and overhangs Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A1.45 Ephemeral green or red seaweeds (freshwater or sand-influenced) on non- mobile substrata Level 4 Y Y Y
A1.46 Hydrolittoral soft rock Level 4 Y Y Y
A1.47 Hydrolittoral solid rock (bedrock) Level 4 Y Y Y
A1.48 Hydrolittoral hard clay Level 4 Y Y Y
A1.49 Hydrolittoral mussel beds Level 4 Y Y Y
A1.4A Hydrolittoral peat Level 4 Y Y Y
A2. Littoral sediment (Level 2)
A2.1 Littoral coarse sediment Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A2.11 Shingle (pebble) and gravel shores Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A2.12 Estuarine coarse sediment shores Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A2.2 Littoral sand and muddy sand Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A2.21 Strandline Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A2.22 Barren or amphipod- dominated mobile sand shores Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A2.23 Polychaete/amphipod- dominated fine sand shores Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A2.24 Polychaete/bivalve- dominated muddy sand shores Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A2.3 Littoral mud Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A2.31 Polychaete/bivalve- dominated mid estuarine mud shores Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A2.32 Polychaete/oligochaete- dominated upper estuarine mud shores Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A2.33 Marine mud shores Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A2.4 Littoral mixed sediments Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A2.41 Hediste diversicolor dominated gravelly sandy mud shores Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A2.42 Species-rich mixed sediment shores Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A2.43 Species-poor mixed sediment shores Level 4 Y Y Y
A2.5 Coastal Saltmarshes and saline reedbeds Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A2.51 Saltmarsh driftlines Level 4 Y Y Y
A2.52 Upper saltmarshes Level 4 Y Y Y
A2.53 Mid-upper saltmarshes and saline and brackish reed, rush and sedge beds Level 4 Y Y Y
A2.54 Low-mid saltmarshes Level 4 Y Y Y
A2.55 Pioneer saltmarshes Level 4 Y Y Y
A2.6 Littoral sediments dominated by aquatic angiosperms Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A2.61 Seagrass beds on littoral sediments Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A2.62 Marine Cyperaceae beds Level 4 N(1)
A2.7 Littoral biogenic reefs Level 3 Y Y Y
A2.71 Littoral Sabellaria reefs Level 4 Y Y Y
A2.72 Littoral mussel beds on sediment Level 4 Y Y Y
A2.8 Features of littoral sediment Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A2.81 Methane seeps in littoral sediments Level 4 Y Y Y
A2.82 Ephemeral green or red seaweeds (freshwater or sand-influenced) on mobile substrata Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A2.83 Hydrolittoral stony substrata Level 4 N(1)
A2.84 Hydrolittoral gravel substrata Level 4 N(1)
A2.85 Hydrolittoral sandy substrata Level 4 N(1)
A2.86 Hydrolittoral muddy substrata Level 4 N(1)
A2.87 Hydrolittoral mixed sediment substrata Level 4 N(1)
A3. Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata (Level 2)
A3.1 Atlantic and Mediterranean high energy infralittoral rock Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A3.11 Kelp with cushion fauna and/or foliose red seaweeds Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A3.12 Sediment-affected or disturbed kelp and seaweed communities Level 4 Y Y Y
A3.14 Encrusting algal communities Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A3.15 Frondose algal communities (other than kelp) Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A3.2 Atlantic and Mediterranean moderate energy infralittoral rock Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A3.21 Kelp and red seaweeds (moderate energy infralittoral rock) Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A3.22 Kelp and seaweed communities in tide-swept sheltered conditions Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A3.23 Mediterranean and Pontic communities of infralittoral algae moderately exposed to wave action Level 4 N(1)
A3.24 Faunal communities on moderate energy infralittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y
A3.3 Atlantic and Mediterranean low energy infralittoral rock Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A3.31 Silted kelp on low energy infralittoral rock with full salinity Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A3.32 Kelp in variable salinity on low energy infralittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A3.33 Mediterranean submerged fucoids, green or red seaweeds on full salinity infralittoral rock Level 4 N(1)
A3.34 Submerged fucoids, green or red seaweeds (low salinity infralittoral rock) Level 4 Y Y Y
A3.35 Faunal communities on low energy infralittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y
A3.36 Faunal communities on variable or reduced salinity infralittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y
A3.4 Baltic exposed infralittoral rock Level 3 N(1)
A3.5 Baltic moderately exposedinfralittoralrock Level 3 N(1)
A3.6 Baltic sheltered infralittoral rock Level 3 N(1)
A3.7 Features of infralittoral rock Level 3 Y Y Y
A3.71 Robust faunal cushions and crusts in surge gullies and caves Level 4 Y Y Y
A3.72 Infralittoral fouling seaweed communities Level 4 Y Y Y
A3.73 Vents and seeps in infralittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y
A3.74 Caves and overhangs in infralittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y
A4. Circalittoral rock and other hard substrata (Level 2)
A4.1 Atlantic and Mediterranean high energy circalittoral rock Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A4.11 Very tide-swept faunal communities on circalittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A4.12 Sponge communities on deep circalittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y
A4.13 Mixed faunal turf communities on circalittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A4.2 Atlantic and Mediterranean moderate energy circalittoral rock Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A4.21 Echinoderms and crustose communities on circalittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A4.22 Sabellaria reefs on circalittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y
A4.23 Communities on soft circalittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A4.24 Mussel beds on circalittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A4.25 Circalittoral faunal communities in variable salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A4.26 Mediterranean coralligenous communities moderately exposed to hydrodynamic action Level 4 N(1)
A4.27 Faunal communities on deep moderate energy circalittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y
A4.3 Atlantic and Mediterranean low energy circalittoral rock Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A4.31 Brachiopod and ascidian communities on circalittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y
A4.32 Mediterranean coralligenous communities sheltered from hydrodynamic action Level 4 N(1)
A4.33 Faunal communities on deep low energy circalittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y
A4.4 Baltic exposed circalittoral rock Level 3 N(1)
A4.5 Baltic moderately exposed circalittoral rock Level 3 N(1)
A4.6 Baltic sheltered circalittoral rock Level 3 N(1)
A4.7 Features of circalittoral rock Level 3 Y Y Y
A4.71 Communities of circalittoral caves and overhangs Level 4 Y Y Y
A4.72 Circalittoral fouling faunal communities Level 4 Y Y Y
A4.73 Vents and seeps in circalittoral rock Level 4 Y Y Y
A5. Sublittoral sediment (Level 2)
A5.1 Sublittoral coarse sediment Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A5.11 Infralittoral coarse sediment in low or reduced salinity Level 4 N(1)
A5.12 Sublittoral coarse sediment in variable salinity (estuaries) Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.13 Infralittoral coarse sediment Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.14 Circalittoral coarse sediment Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.15 Deep circalittoral coarse sediment Level 4 N(2)
A5.2 Sublittoral sand Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A5.21 Sublittoral sand in low or reduced salinity Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.22 Sublittoral sand in variable salinity (estuaries) Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.23 Infralittoral fine sand Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.24 Infralittoral muddy sand Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.25 Circalittoral fine sand Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.26 Circalittoral muddy sand Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.27 Deep circalittoral sand Level 4 N(2)
A5.3 Sublittoral mud Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A5.31 Sublittoral mud in low or reduced salinity Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.32 Sublittoral mud in variable salinity (estuaries) Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.33 Infralittoral sandy mud Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.34 Infralittoral fine mud Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.35 Circalittoral sandy mud Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.36 Circalittoral fine mud Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.37 Deep circalittoral mud Level 4 N(2)
A5.4 Sublittoral mixed sediments Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A5.41 Sublittoral mixed sediment in low or reduced salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A5.42 Sublittoral mixed sediment in variable salinity (estuaries) Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.43 Infralittoral mixed sediments Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.44 Circalittoral mixed sediments Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.45 Deep circalittoral mixed sediments Level 4 N(2)
A5.5 Sublittoral macrophyte- dominated sediment Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A5.51 Maerl beds Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.52 Kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.53 Sublittoral seagrass beds Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.54 Angiosperm communities in reduced salinity Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.6 Sublittoral biogenic reefs Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A5.61 Sublittoral polychaete worm reefs on sediment Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.62 Sublittoral mussel beds on sediment Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A5.63 Circalittoral coral reefs Level 4 Y Y
A5.7 Features of sublittoral sediments Level 3 Y Y
A5.71 Seeps and vents in sublittoral sediments Level 4 Y Y
A5.72 Organically-enriched or anoxic sublittoral habitats Level 4 Y Y
A6. Deep sea bed (Level 2)
A6.1 Deep-sea rock and artificial hard substrata Level 3 N(2)
A6.2 Deep-sea mixed substrata Level 3 N(2)
A6.3 Deep-sea sand Level 3 N(2)
A6.4 Deep-sea muddy sand Level 3 N(2)
A6.5 Deep-sea mud Level 3 N(2)
A6.6 Deep-sea bioherms Level 3 N(2)
A6.7 Raised features of the deep-sea bed Level 3 N(2)
A6.8 Deep-sea trenches and canyons, channels, slope Level 3 N(2)
failures and slumps on the continental slope
A6.9 Vents, seeps, hypoxic and anoxic habitats of the deep sea Level 3 N(2)
A7. Pelagic water column (Level 2)
A7.1 Neuston Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A7.11 Temporary neuston layer Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.12 Permanent neuston layer Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A7.2 Completely mixed water column with reduced salinity Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A7.21 Completely mixed water column with reduced salinity and short residence time Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.22 Completely mixed water column with reduced salinity and medium residence time Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.23 Completely mixed water column with reduced salinity and long residence time Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.3 Completely mixed water column with full salinity Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A7.31 Completely mixed water column with full salinity and short residence time Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.32 Completely mixed water column with full salinity and medium residence time Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.33 Completely mixed water column with full salinity and long residence time Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A7.4 Partially mixed water column with reduced Level 3 Y Y Y Y
salinity and medium or long residence time
A7.41 Partially mixed water column with full salinity and medium residence time Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.42 Partially mixed water column with full salinity and long residence time Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.5 Unstratified water column with reduced salinity Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A7.51 Euphotic (epipelagic) zone in unstratified reduced salinity water Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.52 Mesopelagic zone in unstratified reduced salinity water Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.53 Bathypelagic zone in unstratified reduced salinity water Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.6 Vertically stratified water column with reduced salinity Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A7.61 Water column with ephemeral thermal stratification and reduced salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.62 Water column with seasonal thermal stratification and reduced salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.63 Water column with permanent thermal stratification and reduced salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.64 Water column with ephemeral halocline and reduced salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.65 Water column with seasonal halocline and reduced salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.66 Water column with permanent halocline and reduced salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.67 Water column with ephemeral oxygen stratification and reduced salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.68 Water column with seasonal oxygen stratification and reduced salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.69 Water column with permanent oxygen stratification and reduced salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.7 Fronts in reduced salinity water column Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A7.71 Ephemeral fronts in reduced salinity water column Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.72 Seasonal fronts in reduced salinity water column Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.73 Persistent fronts in reduced salinity water column Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.8 Unstratified water column with full salinity Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A7.81 Euphotic (epipelagic) zone in unstratified full salinity water Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A7.82 Mesopelagic zone in unstratified full salinity water Level 4 Y Y Y Y
A7.83 Bathypelagic zone in unstratified full salinity water Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.9 Vertically stratified water column with full salinity Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A7.91 Water column with ephemeral thermal stratification and full salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.92 Water column with seasonal thermal stratification and full salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.93 Water column with permanent thermal stratification and full salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.94 Water column with ephemeral halocline and full salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.95 Water column with seasonal halocline and full salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.96 Water column with permanent halocline and full salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.97 Water column with ephemeral oxygen stratification and full salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.98 Water column with seasonal oxygen stratification and full salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.99 Water column with permanent oxygen stratification and full salinity Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.A Fronts in full salinity water column Level 3 Y Y Y Y
A7.A1 Ephemeral fronts in full salinity water column Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.A2 Seasonal fronts in full salinity water column Level 4 Y Y Y
A7.A3 Persistent fronts in full salinity water column Level 4 Y Y Y
A8. Ice-associated marine habitats (Level 2)
A8.1 Sea ice Level 3 N(3)
A8.2 Freshwater ice Level 3 N(3)
A8.3 Brine channels Level 3 N(3)
A8.4 Under ice habitat Level 3 N(3)
X. Habitat complexes (Level 1)
X01 Estuaries Level 2 Y Y Y
X02 Saline coastal lagoons Level 2 Y Y Y
X03 Brackish coastal lagoons Level 2 Y Y Y
X30 Bentho-pelagic habitats Level 2 Y Y Y
X31 Mosaics of mobile and non-mobile substrata in the littoral zone Level 2 Y Y Y
X32 Mosaics of mobile and non-mobile substrata in the infralittoral zone Level 2 Y Y Y
X33 Mosaics of mobile and non-mobile substrata in the circalittoral zone Level 2 Y Y Y
X34 Anchihaline caves Level 2 Y

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