Summary Estimated observations of the biotope AB.H2T1 were collected from the Baltic Sea area by expert judgements for HELCOM Red List of biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes. Description Baltic aphotic muddy sediment characterized by sea-pensThe HELCOM Red List of Baltic Sea underwater biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes (2013) is an updated and improved version of the Red List assessment of marine and coastal biotopes and biotope complexes published in 1998. The classification of the report follows the proposed International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria and assessment principals but with some modifications for the Baltic Sea.Altogether, the HELCOM Underwater Biotope and habitat classification (HELCOM HUB) includes 209 biotopes of which 59 were red-listed. Many of the red-listed biotopes are located in deep areas of the Baltic Sea due to oxygen-free nature as well as in the southwestern Baltic Sea due to the salinity restricted distribution of species in certain biotope. The HELCOM assessment relies heavily on expert judgment and inference, and the questionnaire data represents the estimated presence-absence data not in-situ measured data. This must be taken in account when observing the map presentation. The biotopes are shown on the map using the EEA 100 km grid. This dataset displays estimated presence of AB.H2T1 according to HELCOM RED LIST assessment experts:Because of its salinity and depth requirements, this habitat occurs mostly in the deeper parts of Kattegat. The most common sea pen species Virgularia mirabilis and Pennatula phosphorea have been observed for example in the deep trenches of the Kattegat (The Kattegat trench, the Ddupa Rännan trench), in the Groves Flak and near the island Ven in the Sound. The habitat has likely suffered from bottom trawling as trawling marks and badly disturbed seabeds has been recorded in the area of their distribution. Distribution map indicates the area in the 100 x 100 km grid where biotopes are known to occur.(Data (expert judgements) collected in HELCOM RED LIST project, released in May 2013)

Summary Estimated observations of the biotope AA.J3L3 were collected from the Baltic Sea area by expert judgements for HELCOM Red List of biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes. Description Baltic photic sand dominated by ocean quahog (Arctica islandica)The HELCOM Red List of Baltic Sea underwater biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes (2013) is an updated and improved version of the Red List assessment of marine and coastal biotopes and biotope complexes published in 1998. The classification of the report follows the proposed International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria and assessment principals but with some modifications for the Baltic Sea.Altogether, the HELCOM Underwater Biotop e and habitat classification (HELCOM HUB) includes 209 biotopes of which 59 were red-listed. Many of the red-listed biotopes are located in deep areas of the Baltic Sea due to oxygen-free nature as well as in the southwestern Baltic Sea due to the salinity restricted distribution of species in certain biotope. The HELCOM assessment relies heavily on expert judgment and inference, and the questionnaire data represents the estimated presence-absence data not in-situ measured data. This must be taken in account when observing the map presentation. The biotopes are shown on the map using the EEA 100 km grid. This dataset displays estimated presence of AA.J3L3 according to HELCOM RED LIST assessment experts:The main distribution area of this biotope is the western Baltic Sea. The largest populations of A. islandica are found in Kiel and Mecklenburg Bights (Zettler et al. 2001). The distribution map indicates the area in the 100 x 100 km grid where biotope is known to occur.(Data (expert judgements) collected in HELCOM RED LIST project, released in May 2013)

Summary Estimated observations of the biotope 1620 were collected from the Baltic Sea area by expert judgements for HELCOM Red List of biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes. Description Boreal Baltic islets and small islandsThe HELCOM Red List of Baltic Sea underwater biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes (2013) is an updated and improved version of the Red List assessment of marine and coastal biotopes and biotope complexes published in 1998. The classification of the report follows the proposed International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria and assessment principals but with some modifications for the Baltic Sea.Altogether, the HELCOM Underwater Biotope and habitat classification (HELCOM HUB) includes 209 biotopes of which 59 were red-listed. Many of the red-listed biotopes are located in deep areas of the Baltic Sea due to oxygen-free nature as well as in the southwestern Baltic Sea due to the salinity restricted distribution of species in certain biotope. The HELCOM assessment relies heavily on expert judgment and inference, and the questionnaire data represents the estimated presence-absence data not in-situ measured data. This must be taken in account when observing the map presentation. The biotopes are shown on the map using the EEA 100 km grid. This dataset displays estimated presence of the biotope 1620 according to HELCOM RED LIST assessment experts:The distribution map indicates the area in the 100 x 100 km grid where biotope is known to occur (Naturvårdverket 2011).(Data (expert judgements) collected in HELCOM RED LIST project, released in May 2013)

Summary Estimated observations of the biotope AB.H3L5 were collected from the Baltic Sea area by expert judgements for HELCOM Red List of biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes. Description Baltic aphotic muddy sediment dominated by Astarte spp.The HELCOM Red List of Baltic Sea underwater biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes (2013) is an updated and improved version of the Red List assessment of marine and coastal biotopes and biotope complexes published in 1998. The classification of the report follows the proposed International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria and assessment principals but with some modifications for the Baltic Sea.Altogether, the HELCOM Underwater Biotope and habitat classification (HELCOM HUB) includes 209 biotopes of which 59 were red-listed. Many of the red-listed biotopes are located in deep areas of the Baltic Sea due to oxygen-free nature as well as in the southwestern Baltic Sea due to the salinity restricted distribution of species in certain biotope. The HELCOM assessment relies heavily on expert judgment and inference, and the questionnaire data represents the estimated presence-absence data not in-situ measured data. This must be taken in account when observing the map presentation. The biotopes are shown on the map using the EEA 100 km grid. This dataset displays estimated presence of AB.H3L5 according to HELCOM RED LIST assessment experts:The Astarte borealis is found in the Western parts of the Baltic Sea, it’s most eastern populations appearing in the Bornholm Basin. Dense populations of the Astarte elliptica were common on the muddy sediments of the Kiel Bay at depths greater than 15 meters (Trutschler & Samtleben 1988). The distribution map indicates the area in the 100 x 100 km grid where environmental conditions required by the biotope are known to occur and the biotope is estimated to occur in the grid cells.(Data (expert judgements) collected in HELCOM RED LIST project, released in May 2013)

Summary Estimated observations of the biotope 1110 were collected from the Baltic Sea area by expert judgements for HELCOM Red List of biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes. Description Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the timeThe HELCOM Red List of Baltic Sea underwater biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes (2013) is an updated and improved version of the Red List assessment of marine and coastal biotopes and biotope complexes published in 1998. The classification of the report follows the proposed International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria and assessment principals but with some modifications for the Baltic Sea.Altogether, the HELCOM Underwater Biotope and habitat classification (HELCOM HUB) includes 209 biotopes of which 59 were red-listed. Many of the red-listed biotopes are located in deep areas of the Baltic Sea due to oxygen-free nature as well as in the southwestern Baltic Sea due to the salinity restricted distribution of species in certain biotope. The HELCOM assessment relies heavily on expert judgment and inference, and the questionnaire data represents the estimated presence-absence data not in-situ measured data. This must be taken in account when observing the map presentation. The biotopes are shown on the map using the EEA 100 km grid. This dataset displays estimated presence of the biotope 1110 according to HELCOM RED LIST assessment experts:Sandbanks are widely spread throughout the whole Baltic Sea area, and occur in all HELCOM sub-regions. The Distribution map indicates the area in the 100 x 100 km grid where biotope is known to occur (Naturvårdverket 2011, EUNIS Database).(Data (expert judgements) collected in HELCOM RED LIST project, released in May 2013)

Observations of Agrypnetes crassicornis were collected from the Baltic Sea area for HELCOM Red List species list. The HELCOM Red List of Baltic Sea species in danger of becoming extinct (2013) is the first threat assessment for Baltic Sea species that covers all marine mammals, fish, birds, macrophytes (aquatic plants), and benthic invertebrates, and follows the Red List criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Almost 2800 species were considered in the Red List assessment and about 1750 were evaluated according to the IUCN Red List criteria. Agrypnetes crassicornis has been placed to the Red List category of Data deficient (DD) species. Dataset for download contains spatial grid of the Baltic Sea. Distribution of the species can be found in corresponding name column. Values are coded: 1 - Present before year 2000 or in 2000, 2 - Present after year 2000, 3 - Present both before and after year 2000.

Summary Estimated observations of the biotopes AA.D and AB.D were collected from the Baltic Sea area by expert judgements for HELCOM Red List of biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes. Description Baltic photic and aphotic maërl beds (unattached particles of coralline red algae)The HELCOM Red List of Baltic Sea underwater biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes (2013) is an updated and improved version of the Red List assessment of marine and coastal biotopes and biotope complexes published in 1998. The classification of the report follows the proposed International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria and assessment principals but with some modifications for the Baltic Sea.Altogether, the HELCOM Underwater Biotope and habitat classification (HELCOM HUB) includes 209 biotopes of which 59 were red-listed. Many of the red-listed biotopes are located in deep areas of the Baltic Sea due to oxygen-free nature as well as in the southwestern Baltic Sea due to the salinity restricted distribution of species in certain biotope. The HELCOM assessment relies heavily on expert judgment and inference, and the questionnaire data represents the estimated presence-absence data not in-situ measured data. This must be taken in account when observing the map presentation. The biotopes are shown on the map using the EEA 100 km grid. This dataset displays estimated presence of AA.Dand AB.Daccording to HELCOM RED LIST assessment experts:Known areas where maërl beds occur are on offshore banks in the Kattegat (e.g. Lilla Middelgrund and Fladen). The presence of dead maërl at some offshore banks indicates that the habitat must have been more widespread in the past. It is unclear how large a proportion of the maërl beds occur in the aphotic zone. Maërl beds have a patchy distribution. The distribution map indicates the area in the 100 x 100 km grid where maërl beds are known to occur.(Data (expert judgements) collected in HELCOM RED LIST project, released in May 2013)

Summary Estimated observations of the biotope AB.J3L3 were collected from the Baltic Sea area by expert judgements for HELCOM Red List of biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes. Description Baltic aphotic sand dominated by ocean quahog (Arctica islandica)The HELCOM Red List of Baltic Sea underwater biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes (2013) is an updated and improved version of the Red List assessment of marine and coastal biotopes and biotope complexes published in 1998. The classification of the report follows the proposed International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria and assessment principals but with some modifications for the Baltic Sea.Altogether, the HELCOM Underwater Biotope and habitat classification (HELCOM HUB) includes 209 biotopes of which 59 were red-listed. Many of the red-listed biotopes are located in deep areas of the Baltic Sea due to oxygen-free nature as well as in the southwestern Baltic Sea due to the salinity restricted distribution of species in certain biotope. The HELCOM assessment relies heavily on expert judgment and inference, and the questionnaire data represents the estimated presence-absence data not in-situ measured data. This must be taken in account when observing the map presentation. The biotopes are shown on the map using the EEA 100 km grid. This dataset displays estimated presence of AB.J3L3 according to HELCOM RED LIST assessment experts:The main distribution area of this biotope is the western Baltic Sea. The largest populations of A. islandica are found in Kiel and Mecklenburg Bights (Zettler et al. 2001). The distribution map indicates the area in the 100 x 100 km grid where biotope is believed to occur based on the suitability of the environmental conditions.(Data (expert judgements) collected in HELCOM RED LIST project, released in May 2013)

A vector grid in 2 x 2 km resolution showing the environmental sensitivity and the underlying themes that have caused the final vulnerability in spring for the Baltic Sea area. This dataset has been produced by COWI (http://www.cowi.dk) for the BRISK project (Sub-regional risk of spill of oil and hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea, http://www.brisk.helcom.fi/). Sensitivity map is based on datasets provided by the BRISK Project Partner organisations. The detailed documentation of what partner provided what data is given in the Annex of the document: 70618-3.1.2.2 Data Collection Report. Field explanations: RS_SR: Rocky shores and stony reefs, Estuaries; Estuaries, Lagoons: Coastal lagoons, Bays: Shallow inlets and bays, Sandbanks: Underwater Sand banks, Beach: Sandy beaches, Seagrass: Sea grass, meadows, Spawning: Spawning area for fish with demersal eggs, Nursery: Nursery areas for fish on shallow water, Off_spawn: Offshore spawning areas for fish with pelagic eggs, Win_Birds: Wintering areas for sea and shore birds, Staging: Staging areas for migrating sea and shore birds, Breeding: Breeding areas for sea and shore birds, Moulting: Moulting areas for sea birds, Mammals: Marine Mammals, Protected: Protected areas, Aquacult:: Fish farms and aqua cultures, Sum: Weighted vulnerability index, Index: Not used Weighted vulnerability index is used to depict vulnerability for the Baltic Sea. Certain parameters have been used to map the environmental sensitivity to oil and each has been weighted for four seasons based on expert judgment. Two alternative sensitivity weighting matrices were also prepared in order to evaluate and validate the results. The sensitivity maps has been combined with the data on oil impact to model environmental damage, and to quantitatively compare the relative efect of the proposed new measures to reduce the risk, impact and damage of oil. Underlaying paramenters used in the vulnerability calculation can be obtained from HELCOM map service under Shipping\Risk Assessment (BRISK)\Environmental parameters -folder.

Summary Estimated observations of the biotope AC were collected from the Baltic Sea area by expert judgements for HELCOM Red List of biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes. Description Baltic Sea seasonal sea iceThe HELCOM Red List of Baltic Sea underwater biotopes, habitats and biotope complexes (2013) is an updated and improved version of the Red List assessment of marine and coastal biotopes and biotope complexes published in 1998. The classification of the report follows the proposed International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria and assessment principals but with some modifications for the Baltic Sea.Altogether, the HELCOM Underwater Biotope and habitat classification (HELCOM HUB) includes 209 biotopes of which 59 were red-listed. Many of the red-listed biotopes are located in deep areas of the Baltic Sea due to oxygen-free nature as well as in the southwestern Baltic Sea due to the salinity restricted distribution of species in certain biotope. The HELCOM assessment relies heavily on expert judgment and inference, and the questionnaire data represents the estimated presence-absence data not in-situ measured data. This must be taken in account when observing the map presentation. The biotopes are shown on the map using the EEA 100 km grid. This dataset displays estimated presence of AC according to HELCOM RED LIST assessment experts:The distribution of the biotope covers the whole Baltic Sea, but is most common in the northern regions. From a time series of the maximum annual ice extent of sea ice, a declining trend can be detected. During the last two decades all ice winters of the Baltic Sea have been between average and extremely mild. The length of the ice season shows a decreasing trend by 14–44 days in the latest century (Vihma & Haapala 2009). The distribution area in the 100 x 100 km grid where the biotope occurs during an average ice winter when the ice covers approximately 200 000 km2.(Data (expert judgements) collected in HELCOM RED LIST project, released in May 2013)