Habitat mapping, Norra Midsjöbanken (open data)

The Habitat maps of Norra Midsjöbanken are the results of the widespread marine habitat mapping from Norra Midsjöbanken, an offshore bank stretching from southern Gotland and west of Öland to the central and southwestern parts of the Baltic Proper. The maps were created by integrating bio-geophysical data, as well as machine learning modelling to produce continuous coverage models (%) of substrates and biota. These (biophysical and geological) continuous models were then combined to produce benthic habitat maps that are categorised according to different classification systems. These include the HELCOM HUB classification system for the Baltic Sea and the European Initiative Programme Natura 2000. In addition, the maps and models produced using this method are high resolution (5 m), allowing them to be scaled up to scales relevant to management, while retaining important information from high-resolution data.