The data set aims to contribute to a better biological characterization of European marine ecosystems. As such it represents probabilities of EUNIS (EUropean Nature Information System) habitat presence at Level 3 for marine habitats including information on sea ice coverage (this corresponds to EUNIS level 2 for terrestrial habitats). The map combines spatially explicit data on marine bathymetry and sea-bed with non-spatially referenced habitat information of the EUNIS classification. The objective of the data set produced by EEA and its Topic Centre ETC/ULS is to improve the biological description of marine based ecosystem types and their spatial distribution. The work supports Target 2 Action 5 of the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, established to achieve the Aichi targets of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). It further addresses the MAES process (Mapping and Assessing of Ecosystems and their Services). The data set represents 2 classes of the MAES classification level 3, namely “Marine inlets and transitional waters” and “Marine”. The dataset comprises the following information: • Sea region (1 – Arctic, 2 – Atlantic, 3 – Baltic, 4 – Mediterranean, 5 – Black Sea) • Sea zone (1 – Littoral, 2 – Infralittoral, 3 – Circalittoral, 4 – Offshore circalittoral, 5 – Upper bathyal, 6 – Lower bathyal, 7 – Abyssal,8 - Coastal Lagoons, 9 - Coastal Lagoons) • Substrate (0 – undetermined substrate, 1 – rock and biogenic, 3 – coarse sediment, 4 – mixed sediment, 5 – sand, 6 – mud) • Sea ice coverage (0 – no sea ice presence, 1 – seasonal sea ice presence, 2 – perennial sea ice presence)

All Member States are requested by the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) to monitor habitat types and species listed in its annexes and send a report every 6 years following an agreed format. The assessment of conservation status is based on information about the status and trends of species populations and of habitats at the level of the biogeographical or marine region. The spatial dataset contains habitat and species distribution data (10km grid cells) as reported by EU 27 (2007-2013) Member States for the 2007-2012 period. This metadata refers to the public dataset, without sensitive species. The data sets are divided in two sets for species and two sets for habitat types. Habitats: Art17_habitats_distribution_2007_2012_EU (distribution by European Union aggregate) Art17_habitats_distribution_2007_2012_MS (distribution by Member State) Species: Art17_species_distribution_2007_2012_EU (distribution by European Union aggregate) Art17_species_distribution_2007_2012_MS (distribution by Member State) Furthermore, a series of tables are also provided with the assessments of conservation status of species and habitats at Member State biogeographical level (done by Member States) and at EU biogeographical level (done by the ETC/BD and the EEA). Both MS datasets are aggregated by habitat/species code, country and biogeographical /marine region [COMSRE]. Using this attribute [COMSRE] the tabular conservation status, which is available in the table, per biogeographical/marine region of the Member State level (MS) can be joined directly to the spatial dataset. Both EU datasets are aggregated by habitat/species code and biogeographical /marine region [CORE]. Using this attribute [CORE] the tabular conservation status, which is available in the table, of the biogeographical/marine region of the EU-27 (2007-2013) level (EU) can be directly joined to the spatial dataset. NOTE: The original datasets have been reviewed and re-published in February 2021, including delayed deliveries from Greece.

All Member States are requested by the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) to monitor habitat types and species listed in its annexes and send a report every 6 years following an agreed format. The assessment of conservation status is based on information about the status and trends of species populations and of habitats at the level of the biogeographical or marine region. The spatial dataset contains habitat and species distribution data (10km grid cells) as reported by Member States for the 2013-2018 period. This metadata refers to the public dataset, without sensitive species. The data sets are divided in two sets for species and two sets for habitat types. Species: ART17 species distribution MS (by Member State) ART17 species distribution EU (European Union aggregate) Habitats: ART17 habitats distribution MS (by Member State) ART17 habitats distribution EU (European Union aggregate) Both MS datasets are aggregated by habitat/species code, country and biogeographical /marine region [CO_MS_RE]. Using this attribute [CO_MS_RE] the tabular conservation status, which is available in the table, per biogeographical/marine region of the Member State level (MS) can be joined directly to the spatial dataset. Both EU datasets are aggregated by habitat/species code and biogeographical /marine region [CO_RE]. Using this attribute [CO_RE] the tabular conservation status, which is available in the table, of the biogeographical/marine region of the EU-28 level (EU) can be directly joined to the spatial dataset. Further description of the Article 17 tabular and spatial dataset and a Article 17 web tool can be accessed with the download data.