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Europe's regional seas (sensu MSFD) |
EU part of sea (km2) |
Area covered by Natura 2000 (km2) |
Total number of Natura 2000 sites |
EU waters covered by Natura 2000 (%) |
Nearshore zone (0-1 NM) covered by Natura 2000 (%) |
Territorial zone (1-12 NM) covered by Natura 2000 (%) |
Offshore waters zone (12 NM -END) covered by Natura 2000 (%) |
Baltic Sea |
368720 |
57072 |
954 |
15.5 |
32 |
17 |
9 |
North East Atlantic Ocean (NOEA) |
4082719 |
376531 |
1126 |
9.2 |
55 |
30 |
6 |
Celtic Seas |
930900 |
95756 |
460 |
10.3 |
52 |
25 |
6 |
Greater North Sea, incl. the Kattegat and the English Channel |
491305 |
119328 |
408 |
24.3 |
62 |
36 |
19 |
Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Coast |
803350 |
128042 |
204 |
15.9 |
60 |
34 |
14 |
Macaronesia |
1857164 |
33405 |
70 |
1.8 |
31 |
29 |
1 |
Mediterranean Sea |
1210508 |
92230 |
1270 |
7.6 |
43 |
14 |
2 |
Western Mediterranean Sea |
659989 |
57870 |
531 |
8.8 |
53 |
20 |
4 |
Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea |
240068 |
14283 |
173 |
5.9 |
53 |
17 |
1 |
Adriatic Sea |
120069 |
6650 |
386 |
5.5 |
38 |
6 |
0 |
Aegean-Levantine Sea |
190382 |
13427 |
193 |
7.1 |
36 |
7 |
0 |
Black Sea |
64384 |
9156 |
44 |
14.2 |
84 |
51 |
6 |
Total |
5726331 |
534989 |
3392[1] |
9.3 |
44 |
22 |
6 |
[1] The total number of site polygons is lower than the sum of sites at regional/sub-regional level, because some sites span across different regions or sub-regions.
(1) The total number of site polygons is lower than the sum of sites at regional/subregional level, because some sites span across different regions or subregions.
NM = nautical miles; END = equidistance or 200 nautical miles.
The methodology and the procedure used for selecting the marine Natura 2000 sites from the 2018 tabular and spatial data are those illustrated in the EEA report 'Spatial analysis of marine protected area networks in Europe's seas' (2015).
Natura 2000 sites located outside the 200 NM in the North East Atlantic Ocean are not considered.
For the definition of Europe's seas, see the data set.
The table was produced by European Topic Centre on Inland, Coastal and Marine Waters, ETC/ICM. For full details, please see the report Spatial analysis of marine protected area networks in Europe's seas.
For references, please go to https://eea.europa.eu./themes/biodiversity/natura-2000/natura-2000-coverage-in-european-seas-2 or scan the QR code.
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