UKASH is a suite of mapping products, offering the most complete characterisation of seabed habitats in the UK in the Marine Habitat Classification for Britain and Ireland and the European standard classification system, EUNIS. It has four components.
UKASH Library of Localised Maps
The UKASH Library of Localised Maps is a standardised collection of individual, ground-truthed habitat maps from various sources. Its component maps form the building blocks of the UK Atlas of Seabed Habitats (UKASH).
Various sectors including research, government and industry create habitat maps focussed on a specific local area, termed a ‘localised map’. These maps are created using a variety of data schemas and habitat classification systems, and at a variety of scales.
To make this wealth of data findable and reusable, JNCC gathers and ingests habitat maps from all available sources before cleaning and conforming them into the European standard classification, EUNIS v2007-11.
Newly ingested maps are also translated to the standard national classification scheme, the Marine Habitat Classification for Britain and Ireland v22.04. We are also in the process of translating the historical collection to this scheme.
Each localised map is openly available to view and download via the EMODnet Map Viewer.
Much of the work to build this invaluable collection of habitat maps has been, and continues to be, funded through JNCC's involvement in EMODnet (the European Marine Observation and Data Network). EMODnet is the European Commission (EC) in situ marine data service of the EC Directorate-General Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (EC DG MARE) and funded by the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund
UKASH Mosaic of Localised Maps
The Library of Localised Maps has been integrated into a single, non-overlapping map product for the UK seabed, including the intertidal zone, but only where localised habitat maps exist.
Where maps overlap, we have selected the most reliable according to set criteria. Source maps vary in terms of spatial and thematic detail. All original classifications and the provenance of individual polygons is preserved within the data product.
Its main strength is that it presents a rapid, single view of habitats as determined from localised habitat maps, without the possibility of having to query several overlapping pieces of information that may be present in the Library of Localised Maps.
It should be used in favour of the UKASH Combined Map where the highest quality data is required to inform important policy advice and decisions (i.e. without the UKSeaMap Predictive Map).
UKSeaMap Predictive Map
UKSeaMap is a broad-scale prediction that uses physical models of depth, light, sediment and energy to predict the physical seabed habitats for the whole UK seabed, excluding the intertidal zone.
While more detailed maps exist for specific habitats and local areas, as contained in the Mosaic of Localised Maps, UKSeaMap offers a seamless and complete geographic coverage of the UK seabed below the low water mark.
Where localised maps are lacking, it is used to fill the gaps in Mosaic of Localised Maps in the UKASH Combined Map.
On its own it offers a simple alternative to the UKASH Combined Map, where fine detail and high accuracy is less important.
UKASH Combined Map
Using the UKASH Mosaic of Localised Maps as a starting point, the UKASH Combined Map infills the gaps in the Mosaic of Localised Maps with the UKSeaMap Predictive Map to provide the most comprehensive full-coverage* map of seabed habitats in the UK.
Source maps vary in terms of spatial and thematic detail. Where the source is UKSeaMap, the spatial and thematic detail is typically low.
* Full coverage, except in the intertidal zone, where UKSeaMap is not available to fill the gaps.
Its main strength is that it lets us calculate the total area of broad-scale habitats within UK waters and/or regional seas, using the best-available data. This is particularly useful for assessments of the adequacy of the UK marine protected area network.
For other purposes, it should be used with caution and understanding of its limitations caused by the varying quality of the source maps.
Find out more
| UKASH Library of Localised Maps | UKASH Mosaic of Localised Maps | UKSeaMap Predictive Map |
UKASH Combined Map |
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| View online | EMODnet Map Viewer | NA | NA |
NA |
| Access web services | See guidance on EMODnet GitHub | NA | NA |
NA |
| Metadata and direct download | EMODnet Products Catalogue (click on a map in the Map Viewer to get a direct link to its metadata) | JNCC Resource Hub | JNCC Resource Hub | |
| Version history | NA - regularly updated | v2025.1 - April 25 |
v2025.1 - April 25 (previous: v2018, v2010) |
v2025.1 - April 25 (previous: v10 - 2022; v9.6.6 - 2019; v8.3 - 2014) |
| Further information | See EMODnet website | User guide soon to be published via JNCC's Resource Hub | User guide & technical report soon to be published via JNCC's Resource Hub |
User guide soon to be published via JNCC's Resource Hub |
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