This raster dataset represents the probability of occurrence of whales in the Europe Seas, where the species included are: Blue whale, Sei whale, Humpback whale, Sperm whale, Fin whale and Northern right whale. The northern right whale model only describes the range of the western population of this species, since the eastern population is probably almost extinct. Thus, the northern right whale model only partly overlaps with the EEA area on interest. This dataset is based on AquaMaps distribution maps (version 10/2019). The dataset has been prepared in the context of the development of the first European Maritime Transport Environmental Report (EMSA-EEA report, 2021: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/maritime-transport).

Seabed shear stress (in N.m-2) is a measure of the friction of water on the seabed due to waves and currents. The 90th percentile over the available period is used as layer for habitat models prediction.

Geographic information layer including the Limit of maritime affairs - mainland France, French Guiana, Martinique and Guadeloupe. This layer must be considered as an initial version to be validated locally by the competent services. Shom actively seeks out any information which could complete and improve the precision of this layer. The streams and rivers listed correspond to those mentioned in the applicable regulations and/or by a competent Government service. An inventory of existing legal and geographic information was drawn up prior to production in the form of an enquiry targeting services during the second half of 2014. The source legal text and a summary of digital conversion processes is available for each boundary proposed.Updated july 2018