SYMBIOSE: Ecologically relevant data for marine strategies

The main objective of the SYMBIOSE project was to develop spatial distributions of anthropogenic pressures and ecosystem components for nationwide Danish marine waters including the eastern North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat and Belt Sea. In this report we present the resulting data including distributions of 78 spatially harmonized indicators (38 human activities and 40 ecosystem components including key species and habitats). Knowledge of the spatial distribution of these indicators is a prerequisite for identifying and mapping cumulative human pressures and impacts in Danish marine waters. This report provides a detailed overview of the spatial distribution of human activities and ecosystem components based on the available data (see annex). The methodology is based on the methodology adopted by the HARMONY project for the eastern North Sea, but applied nationwide in SYMBIOSE. The result is a catalogue of spatial maps and data sheets with a detailed description of data sources and methods for selected data layers. The maps developed provide a state-of-the-art data collection for a future mapping of cumulative pressures and impacts in Danish marine waters.