Marine Habitats and Species Open Data (England)
Summary
This dataset contains a collation of marine habitat and species biotope records created during contracts commissioned by Natural England; collected by Defra and associated bodies/agencies; or provided by third parties that have allowed their data to be republished under the Open Government Licence (OGL). There are two datasets available for download: 'Marine Habitats and Species Open Data' and 'Marine Designated Site Features Open Data'. The dataset 'Marine Habitats Species Open Data' comprises eight sub-datasets: three point datasets and five polygonal. These represent all publicly available datasets of marine habitats and species held by Natural England. The dataset 'Marine Designated Site Features Open Data' is a subset of the habitat and species data, which shows habitats and species (feature) data only within the site in which they are legally designated. The datasets comprises 6 sub-datasets: one point dataset and five polygonal. Both datasets are provided as an ESRI File Geodatabase (GDB) and as an OGC GeoPackage (GPKG). Additionally, 'Marine Designated Site Features Open Data' is provided with an ESRI structured layer file (LYR). All dataset geometry has been validated using the ESRI validation method. It has not been validated using the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) validation method and therefore may not comply with the OGC specification. These datasets are available under the Open Government Licence (OGL).
Categories
Use limitation statement
There are no public access constraints to this data. Use of this data is subject to the licence identified.
Licence
Open Government LicenceAttribution statement
© Natural England, 2025 (see https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/bfc23a6d-8879-4072-95ed-125b091f908a/marine-habitats-and-species-open-data for full copyright statement); © A. Wheeler, 1952; © Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute, 2003; © B. Hepper, 1955; © Bangor University, 2012; © Blue Marine Foundation, 2018, 2020; © Bournemouth University, 2019; © British Petroleum, 1984; © C. Little, 1972, 1973, 1978; © Cemex UK Marine Ltd & Tarmac Marine Ltd, 2013, 2014; © Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, 1985, 1999; © Centre for Environment Fisheries & Aquaculture Science, 1979, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2012, 2014; © Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences / Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016; © Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies Ltd, 2009; © Centre of Applied Marine Sciences, 2007; © Channel Coastal Observatory, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015; © Chichester Harbour Conservancy, 2005; © Community Seagrass Initiative, 2017; © Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland, 1898, 1999, 2007; © Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities, 2007, 2008; © Cornwall Council; © Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority / Cornwall Wildlife Trust / Natural England, 2022; © Cornwall Wildlife Trust, 2008; © Countryside Council for Wales / Natural Resources Wales / Joint Nature Conservation Committee / UKHO / Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs / Environment Agency / Natural England; © Countryside Council for Wales / Environment Agency, 2007; © Countryside Council for Wales, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2011; © D. Deakins, 1982; © D. Fenwick, 2018; © D. Goodwin, 2002; © D. Robinson; © Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats, 1970; © Department for Communities and Local Government, 2003; © Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 1976 – 2015; © Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs / Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, 1979; © Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs / Environment Agency, 2000; © Devon & Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities, 2012; © Devon Biodiversity Records Centre, 2004, 2007; © Devon Wildlife Trust, 1982, 1991, 1992, 1993; © Dorset Wildlife Trust, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013; © Dove Marine Laboratory, 1991, 1999; © Durham Heritage Coast Partnership, 2009; © E. Hunter, 1993; © E. Allen, 1900; © Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, 2014 – 2016; © Ecospan Environmental Ltd / Natural England, 2023; © EMU Limited, 2011; © English Nature, 1993 – 2005; © Environment Agency / Natural England, 2022; © Environment Agency, 1974 - 2018; © Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly / Cornwall Wildlife Trust, 2004, 2012; © Envision Marine Ltd, 2023; © ERT (Scotland) Ltd Marine Environmental Consultants, 2005; © Essex Wildlife Trust, 2012; © European Union, 1997, 1999, 2000; © Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, 2003, 2007; © Fisheries Research Services, 2001; © G. Waugh, 1961; © G. Potts, 1993; © Greater London Authority, 2002 - 2007; © Greenspace Information for Greater London, 2003; © H. Rees, 1997; © Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd, 2012; © Harwich Haven Authority, 2003, 2020; © Helford Marine Conservation Group, 1990, 1995, 1996; © I. Rees, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1995, 1997; © International Council for the Exploration of the Seas, 1970, 1998; © IFREMER, 1988; © Isle of Wight County Council; © J. Dauvin, 1993; © J. Moore, 1983; © J. Cotton, 1971; © J. Orton, 1919; © J. Wrench, 1979; © Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 1972 - 2025; © Joint Nature Conservation Committee / UK Hydrographic Office; © K. Hiscock, 2017; © Kent & Medway Biological Records Centre, 2003, 2004; © Kent and Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority / Natural England, 2022; © Kent Wildlife Trust, 2004 - 2019; © L. Hawkins, 1990; © M. Paul, 2009; © M. Robins, 1964; © Maldon District Council, 1985; © Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund, 2003 - 2010; © Marine Biological Association, 1957, 1970, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2024; © Marine Conservation Society, 1976, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2012, 2014; © Marine Conservation Society Scotland, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009; © Medway Swale Estuary Partnership, 2004; © National Biodiversity Network Trust, 1990, 2011; © National Landscapes Association, 2005; © National Oceanography Centre, 1988; © National Power, 1987, 1990; © National Rivers Authority, 1992; © Natural England, 1984 - 2023; © Natural England / Dorset Wildlife Trust, 2022; © Natural England / Scottish Natural Heritage, 1996; © Natural England and other parties, 2010, 2013, 2015; © Natural Resources Wales, 1988, 2009, 2010; © Natural Resources Wales / Ordnance Survey, 1996; © Nature Conservancy Council, 1983; © Net Gain: The North Sea Marine Conservation Zones Project, 2011; © North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, 2012; © North West Water, 1991, 1993; © North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee, 2000; © Ordnance Survey (AC0000851168), 2025 © P. & P. Wilson, 1998; © P. Rodhouse, 1974; © P. Tompsett, 1995; © P. Walne, 1961; © Plymouth Marine Laboratory, 1972, 2015; © Poole Harbour Commissioners, 1979; © Porcupine Marine Natural History Society, 1973, 1989, 1992, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2018; © R. Bamber, 1996; © R. Gillham, 1976; © R. Witbaard, 1949; © R. Blackman, 1979; © RPS Group Plc, 2004, 2005; © R. Barnes, 1971; © S. Fowler, 1991; © S. Smith, 2005; © Salcombe Harbour Authority, 1997; © Scottish Environment Protection Agency, 1992, 2004; © Scottish Natural Heritage, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2004; © Sea-Scope Marine Environmental Consultants, 2005, 2007, 2010; © Seasearch, 1992 - 2019; © Seasearch / Marine Conservation Society UK, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2017, 2019, 2025; © Southern Water Services, 1991, 1992; © St Mawes Harbour Conservation Trust, 2012; © S. Widdicombe, 1990; © S. Pyatt, 1994; © T. Allsop, 2013; © Tarmac Lefarge; © Tevi, 2020; © Thames Estuary Partnership, 2002; © The Crown Estate, 2009, 2012, 2013; © The Wildlife Trusts, 2014 - 2018; © Tideway, 1997, 1998; © Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, 2006; © UK Research and Innovation, 2003, 2006, 2007; © United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 2010; © Unicomarine, 1993; © United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 1998; © University of Plymouth, 1996; © University of Sussex, 1870; © World Wide Fund for Nature, 1983; © Wyre Rivers Trust, 2018; © Zoological Society of London, 2015, 2017. All Rights Reserved. Not to be used for Navigation.
Technical information
- Update frequency
biannually
- Lineage
- This dataset is a collated evidence base used for Marine Protected Area (MPA) designation, monitoring and condition reporting held by the Natural England Marine Evidence team in DSS. The data is processed to assign standard habitat/species codes and tagged for it's designation status in the MPA network. Point data and Habitats of Conservation Interest (HOCI) layers are added cumulatively to the evidence base. Broad-scale habitat polygonal data is 'stacked' using the MESH confidence score to ensure that only the highest confidence record is present at any single location. This geoprocessing means that full raw datasets may not be included in the evidence base, and records that are included may be subject to clipping to facilitate other records from another raw dataset of a higher confidence score. Please see survey metadata spreadsheet for the full list of component datasets. See "Source_dataset" field for the names of the contributory datasets. See "DataOwner" field for the source of the data, use this field to provide attribution for any reproductions of the data if no attribution statement is given in the "Copyright_text" field.
Spatial information
Coordinate reference system
http://www.opengis.net/def/crs/EPSG/0/4326Geographic extent
- Latitude from: 49.79 to 55.94
- Longitude from: -6.55 to 3.5
Metadata information
Language
English
Metadata identifier
112302df-ba0f-4e81-beab-7a2badb1f148
Data and Supporting Information
| Data services and download by area of interest | Link | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Download via Natural England Amazon Cloud | Open link |
| Full downloads and supporting documentation | Format | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Marine_Habitats_and_Species_(Maps_and_Derived)-OD.pdf | Download | |
| Marine_Habitats_and_Species_(Open)-Attribute_Metadata_A.pdf | Download | |
| Marine_Habitats_and_Species_(Open)-Attribute_Metadata_B.pdf | Download | |
| Marine_Habitats_and_Species_(Open)-Attribute_Metadata_C.pdf | Download | |
| Marine_Habitats_and_Species_(Open)-Spatial_Metadata.pdf | Download | |
| Marine_Habitats_and_Species_Open.lyr | LYR | Download |
| Natural_England_Marine_Habitats_and_Species_data_Detailed_Guidance_Document_July2025.pdf | Download |