MARINE ECOSYSTEMS – HABITAT TYPES AND GROUPS OF HABITAT TYPES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 5(1) AND (2)
ANNEX IISupplementary provisions
ANNEX II MARINE ECOSYSTEMS – HABITAT TYPES AND GROUPS OF HABITAT TYPES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 5(1) AND (2) The list below includes the marine habitat types referred to in Article 5(1) and (2), as well as seven groups of those habitat types, namely 1) seagrass beds, 2) macroalgal forests, 3) shellfish beds, 4) maerl beds, 5) sponge, coral and coralligenous beds, 6) vents and seeps and 7) soft sediments (not deeper than 1 000 metres of depth). The relation with the habitat types listed in Annex I to Directive 92/43/EEC is also presented. The classification of marine habitat types used, differentiated by marine biogeographical regions, is made according to the European nature information system (EUNIS), as revised for the marine habitats typology in 2022 by the EEA. The information on the related habitats listed in Annex I to Directive 92/43/EEC is based on the crosswalk published by the EEA in 2021 ( 1 ) . 1. Group 1: Seagrass beds EUNIS code EUNIS habitat type name Related habitat type code as referred to in Annex I to Directive 92/43/EEC Atlantic MA522 Seagrass beds on Atlantic littoral sand 1140; 1160 MA623 Seagrass beds on Atlantic littoral mud 1140; 1160 MB522 Seagrass beds on Atlantic infralittoral sand 1110; 1150; 1160 Baltic Sea MA332 Baltic hydrolittoral coarse sediment characterised by submerged vegetation 1130; 1160; 1610; 1620 MA432 Baltic hydrolittoral mixed sediment characterised by submerged vegetation 1130; 1140; 1160; 1610 MA532 Baltic hydrolittoral sand characterised by submerged rooted plants 1130; 1140; 1160; 1610 MA632 Baltic hydrolittoral mud dominated by submerged rooted plants 1130; 1140; 1160; 1650 MB332 Baltic infralittoral coarse sediment characterised by submerged rooted plants 1110; 1160 MB432 Baltic infralittoral mixed sediment characterised by submerged rooted plants 1110; 1160; 1650 MB532 Baltic infralittoral sand characterised by submerged rooted plants 1110; 1130; 1150; 1160 MB632 Baltic infralittoral mud sediment characterised by submerged rooted plants 1130; 1150; 1160; 1650 Black Sea MB546 Seagrass and rhizomatous algal meadows in Black Sea freshwater influenced infralittoral muddy sands 1110; 1130; 1160 MB547 Black Sea seagrass meadows on moderately exposed upper infralittoral clean sands 1110; 1160 MB548 Black Sea seagrass meadows on lower infralittoral sands 1110; 1160 Mediterranean Sea MB252 Biocenosis of Posidonia oceanica 1120 MB2521 Ecomorphosis of striped Posidonia oceanica meadows 1120; 1130; 1160 MB2522 Ecomorphosis of ‘barrier-reef’ Posidonia oceanica meadows 1120; 1130; 1160 MB2523 Facies of dead ‘mattes’ of Posidonia oceanica without much epiflora 1120; 1130; 1160 MB2524 Association with Caulerpa prolifera on Posidonia beds 1120; 1130; 1160 MB5521 Association with Cymodocea nodosa on well sorted fine sands 1110; 1130; 1160 MB5534 Association with Cymodocea nodosa on superficial muddy sands in sheltered waters 1110; 1130; 1160 MB5535 Association with Zostera noltei on superficial muddy sands in sheltered waters 1110; 1130; 1160 MB5541 Association with Ruppia cirrhosa and/or Ruppia maritima on sand 1110; 1130; 1160 MB5544 Association with Zostera noltei in euryhaline and eurythermal environment on sand 1110; 1130; 1160 MB5545 Association with Zostera marina in euryhaline and eurythermal environment 1110; 1130; 1160 2. Group 2: Macroalgal forests EUNIS code EUNIS habitat type name Related habitat type code as referred to in Annex I to Directive 92/43/EEC Atlantic MA123 Seaweed communities on full salinity Atlantic littoral rock 1160; 1170; 1130 MA125 Fucoids on variable salinity Atlantic littoral rock 1170; 1130 MB121 Kelp and seaweed communities on Atlantic infralittoral rock 1170; 1160 MB123 Kelp and seaweed communities on sediment-affected or disturbed Atlantic infralittoral rock 1170; 1160 MB124 Kelp communities on variable salinity Atlantic infralittoral rock 1170; 1130; 1160 MB321 Kelp and seaweed communities on Atlantic infralittoral coarse sediment 1160 MB521 Kelp and seaweed communities on Atlantic infralittoral sand 1160 MB621 Vegetated communities on Atlantic infralittoral mud 1160 Baltic Sea MA131 Baltic hydrolittoral rock and boulders characterised by perennial algae 1160; 1170; 1130; 1610; 1620 MB131 Perennial algae on Baltic infralittoral rock and boulders 1170; 1160 MB232 Baltic infralittoral bottoms characterised by shell gravel 1160; 1110 MB333 Baltic infralittoral coarse sediment characterised by perennial algae 1110; 1160 MB433 Baltic infralittoral mixed sediment characterised by perennial algae 1110; 1130; 1160; 1170 Black Sea MB144 Mytilid-dominated Black Sea exposed upper infralittoral rock with fucales 1170; 1160 MB149 Mytilid-dominated Black Sea moderately exposed upper infralittoral rock with fucales 1170; 1160 MB14A Fucales and other algae on Black Sea sheltered upper infralittoral rock, well illuminated 1170; 1160 Mediterranean Sea MA1548 Association with Fucus virsoides 1160; 1170 MB1512 Association with Cystoseira tamariscifolia and Saccorhiza polyschides 1170; 1160 MB1513 Association with Cystoseira amentacea (var. amentacea , var. stricta , var. spicata ) 1170; 1160 MB151F Association with Cystoseira brachycarpa 1170; 1160 MB151G Association with Cystoseira crinita 1170; 1160 MB151H Association with Cystoseira crinitophylla 1170; 1160 MB151J Association with Cystoseira sauvageauana 1170; 1160 MB151K Association with Cystoseira spinosa 1170; 1160 MB151L Association with Sargassum vulgare 1170; 1160 MB151M Association with Dictyopteris polypodioides 1170; 1160 MB151W Association with Cystoseira compressa 1170; 1160 MB1524 Association with Cystoseira barbata 1170; 1160 MC1511 Association with Cystoseira zosteroides 1170; 1160 MC1512 Association with Cystoseira usneoides 1170; 1160 MC1513 Association with Cystoseira dubia 1170; 1160 MC1514 Association with Cystoseira corniculata 1170; 1160 MC1515 Association with Sargassum spp. 1170; 1160 MC1518 Association with Laminaria ochroleuca 1170; 1160 MC3517 Association with Laminaria rodriguezii on detritic beds 1160 3. Group 3: Shellfish beds EUNIS code EUNIS habitat type name Related habitat type code as referred to in Annex I to Directive 92/43/EEC Atlantic MA122 Mytilus edulis and/or barnacle communities on wave-exposed Atlantic littoral rock 1160; 1170 MA124 Mussel and/or barnacle communities with seaweeds on Atlantic littoral rock 1160; 1170 MA227 Bivalve reefs in the Atlantic littoral zone 1170; 1140 MB222 Bivalve reefs in the Atlantic infralittoral zone 1170; 1130; 1160 MC223 Bivalve reefs in the Atlantic circalittoral zone 1170 Baltic Sea MB231 Baltic infralittoral bottoms dominated by epibenthic bivalves 1170; 1160 MC231 Baltic circalittoral bottoms dominated by epibenthic bivalves 1170; 1160; 1110 MD231 Baltic offshore circalittoral biogenic bottoms characterised by epibenthic bivalves 1170 MD232 Baltic offshore circalittoral shell gravel bottoms characterised by bivalves 1170 MD431 Baltic offshore circalittoral mixed bottoms characterised by macroscopic epibenthic biotic structures MD531 Baltic offshore circalittoral sand characterised by macroscopic epibenthic biotic structures MD631 Baltic offshore circalittoral mud characterised by epibenthic bivalves Black Sea MB141 Invertebrate-dominated Black Sea lower infralittoral rock 1170 MB143 Mytilid-dominated Black Sea exposed upper infralittoral rock with foliose algae (no Fucales) 1170; 1160 MB148 Mytilid-dominated Black Sea moderately exposed upper infralittoral rock with foliose algae (other than Fucales) 1170; 1160 MB242 Mussel beds in the Black Sea infralittoral zone 1170; 1130; 1160 MB243 Oyster reefs on Black Sea lower infralittoral rock 1170 MB642 Black Sea infralittoral terrigenous muds 1160 MC141 Invertebrate-dominated Black Sea circalittoral rock 1170 MC241 Mussel beds on Black Sea circalittoral terrigenous muds 1170 MC645 Black Sea lower circalittoral mud Mediterranean Sea MA1544 Facies with Mytilus galloprovincialis in waters enriched in organic matter 1160; 1170 MB1514 Facies with Mytilus galloprovincialis 1170; 1160 Mediterranean infralittoral oyster beds Mediterranean circalittoral oyster beds 4. Group 4: Maerl beds EUNIS code EUNIS habitat type name Related habitat type code as referred to in Annex I to Directive 92/43/EEC Atlantic MB322 Maerl beds on Atlantic infralittoral coarse sediment 1110; 1160 MB421 Maerl beds on Atlantic infralittoral mixed sediment 1110; 1160 MB622 Maerl beds on Atlantic infralittoral muddy sediment 1110; 1160 Mediterranean Sea MB3511 Association with rhodolithes in coarse sands and fine gravels mixed by waves 1110; 1160 MB3521 Association with rhodolithes in coarse sands and fine gravels under the influence of bottom currents 1110; 1160 MB3522 Association with maerl (= Association with Lithothamnion corallioides and Phymatolithon calcareum ) on Mediterranean coarse sands and gravel 1110; 1160 MC3521 Association with rhodolithes on coastal detritic bottoms 1110 MC3523 Association with maerl ( Lithothamnion corallioides and Phymatholithon calcareum ) on coastal dendritic bottoms 1110 5. Group 5: Sponge, coral and coralligenous beds EUNIS code EUNIS habitat type name Related habitat type code as referred to in Annex I to Directive 92/43/EEC Atlantic MC121 Faunal turf communities on Atlantic circalittoral rock 1170 MC124 Faunal communities on variable salinity Atlantic circalittoral rock 1170; 1130 MC126 Communities of Atlantic circalittoral caves and overhangs 8330; 1170 MC222 Cold water coral reefs in the Atlantic circalittoral zone 1170 MD121 Sponge communities on Atlantic offshore circalittoral rock 1170 MD221 Cold water coral reefs in the Atlantic offshore circalittoral zone 1170 ME122 Sponge communities on Atlantic upper bathyal rock 1170 ME123 Mixed cold water coral communities on Atlantic upper bathyal rock 1170 ME221 Atlantic upper bathyal cold water coral reef 1170 ME322 Mixed cold water coral community on Atlantic upper bathyal coarse sediment ME324 Sponge aggregation on Atlantic upper bathyal coarse sediment ME422 Sponge aggregation on Atlantic upper bathyal mixed sediment ME623 Sponge aggregation on Atlantic upper bathyal mud ME624 Erect coral field on Atlantic upper bathyal mud MF121 Mixed cold water coral community on Atlantic lower bathyal rock 1170 MF221 Atlantic lower bathyal cold water coral reef 1170 MF321 Mixed cold water coral community on Atlantic lower bathyal coarse sediment MF622 Sponge aggregation on Atlantic lower bathyal mud MF623 Erect coral field on Atlantic lower bathyal mud Baltic Sea MB138 Baltic infralittoral rock and boulders characterized by epibenthic sponges 1170; 1160 MB43A Baltic infralittoral mixed sediment characterized by epibenthic sponges (Porifera) 1160; 1170 MC133 Baltic circalittoral rock and boulders characterized by epibenthic cnidarians 1170; 1160 MC136 Baltic circalittoral rock and boulders characterized by epibenthic sponges 1170; 1160 MC433 Baltic circalittoral mixed sediment characterized by epibenthic cnidarians 1160; 1170 MC436 Baltic circalittoral mixed sediment characterized by epibenthic sponges 1160 Black Sea MD24 Black Sea offshore circalittoral biogenic habitats 1170 ME14 Black Sea upper bathyal rock 1170 ME24 Black Sea upper bathyal biogenic habitat 1170 MF14 Black Sea lower bathyal rock 1170 Mediterranean Sea MB151E Facies with Cladocora caespitosa 1170; 1160 MB151Q Facies with Astroides calycularis 1170; 1160 MB151α Facies and association of coralligenous biocenosis (in enclave) 1170; 1160 MC1519 Facies with Eunicella cavolini 1170; 1160 MC151A Facies with Eunicella singularis 1170; 1160 MC151B Facies with Paramuricea clavata 1170; 1160 MC151E Facies with Leptogorgia sarmentosa 1170; 1160 MC151F Facies with Anthipatella subpinnata and sparse red algae 1170; 1160 MC151G Facies with massive sponges and sparse red algae 1170; 1160 MC1522 Facies with Corallium rubrum 8330; 1170 MC1523 Facies with Leptopsammia pruvoti 8330; 1170 MC251 Coralligenous platforms 1170 MC6514 Facies of sticky muds with Alcyonium palmatum and Parastichopus regalis on circalittoral mud 1160 MD151 Biocenosis of Mediterranean shelf-edge rock 1170 MD25 Mediterranean offshore circalittoral biogenic habitats 1170 MD6512 Facies of sticky muds with Alcyonium palmatum and Parastichopus regalis on lower circalittoral mud ME1511 Mediterranean upper bathyal Lophelia pertusa reefs 1170 ME1512 Mediterranean upper bathyal Madrepora oculata reefs 1170 ME1513 Mediterranean upper bathyal Madrepora oculata and Lophelia pertusa reefs 1170 ME6514 Mediterranean upper bathyal facies of with Pheronema carpenteri MF1511 Mediterranean lower bathyal Lophelia pertusa reefs 1170 MF1512 Mediterranean lower bathyal Madrepora oculata reefs 1170 MF1513 Mediterranean lower bathyal Madrepora oculata and Lophelia pertusa reefs 1170 MF6511 Mediterranean lower bathyal facies of sandy muds with Thenea muricata MF6513 Mediterranean lower bathyal facies of compact muds with Isidella elongata 6. Group 6: Vents and seeps EUNIS code EUNIS habitat type name Related habitat type code as referred to in Annex I to Directive 92/43/EEC Atlantic MB128 Vents and seeps in Atlantic infralittoral rock 1170; 1160; 1180 MB627 Vents and seeps in Atlantic infralittoral mud 1130; 1160 MC127 Vents and seeps in Atlantic circalittoral rock 1170; 1180 MC622 Vents and seeps in Atlantic circalittoral mud 1160 MD122 Vents and seeps on Atlantic offshore circalittoral rock 1170 MD622 Vents and seeps in Atlantic offshore circalittoral mud 7. Group 7: Soft sediments (not deeper than 1 000 metres of depth) EUNIS code EUNIS habitat type name Related habitat type code as referred to in Annex I to Directive 92/43/EEC Atlantic MA32 Atlantic littoral coarse sediment 1130; 1160 MA42 Atlantic littoral mixed sediment 1130; 1140; 1160 MA52 Atlantic littoral sand 1130; 1140; 1160 MA62 Atlantic littoral mud 1130; 1140; 1160 MB32 Atlantic infralittoral coarse sediment 1110; 1130; 1160 MB42 Atlantic infralittoral mixed sediment 1110; 1130; 1150; 1160 MB52 Atlantic infralittoral sand 1110; 1130; 1150; 1160 MB62 Atlantic infralittoral mud 1110; 1130; 1160 MC32 Atlantic circalittoral coarse sediment 1110; 1160 MC42 Atlantic circalittoral mixed sediment 1110; 1160 MC52 Atlantic circalittoral sand 1110; 1160 MC62 Atlantic circalittoral mud 1160 MD32 Atlantic offshore circalittoral coarse sediment MD42 Atlantic offshore circalittoral mixed sediment MD52 Atlantic offshore circalittoral sand MD62 Atlantic offshore circalittoral mud ME32 Atlantic upper bathyal coarse sediment ME42 Atlantic upper bathyal mixed sediment ME52 Atlantic upper bathyal sand ME62 Atlantic upper bathyal mud MF32 Atlantic lower bathyal coarse sediment MF42 Atlantic lower bathyal mixed sediment MF52 Atlantic lower bathyal sand MF62 Atlantic lower bathyal mud Baltic Sea MA33 Baltic hydrolittoral coarse sediment 1130; 1160; 1610; 1620 MA43 Baltic hydrolittoral mixed sediment 1130; 1140; 1160; 1610 MA53 Baltic hydrolittoral sand 1130; 1140; 1160; 1610 MA63 Baltic hydrolittoral mud 1130; 1140; 1160; 1650 MB33 Baltic infralittoral coarse sediment 1110; 1150; 1160 MB43 Baltic infralittoral mixed sediment 1110; 1130; 1150; 1160; 1170; 1650 MB53 Baltic infralittoral sand 1110; 1130; 1150; 1160 MB63 Baltic infralittoral mud 1130; 1150; 1160; 1650 MC33 Baltic circalittoral coarse sediment 1110; 1160 MC43 Baltic circalittoral mixed sediment 1160; 1170 MC53 Baltic circalittoral sand 1110; 1160 MC63 Baltic circalittoral mud 1160; 1650 MD33 Baltic offshore circalittoral coarse sediment MD43 Baltic offshore circalittoral mixed sediment MD53 Baltic offshore circalittoral sand MD63 Baltic offshore circalittoral mud Black Sea MA34 Black Sea littoral coarse sediment 1160 MA44 Black Sea littoral mixed sediment 1130; 1140; 1160 MA54 Black Sea littoral sand 1130; 1140; 1160 MA64 Black Sea littoral mud 1130; 1140; 1160 MB34 Black Sea infralittoral coarse sediment 1110; 1160 MB44 Black Sea infralittoral mixed sediment 1110; 1170 MB54 Black Sea infralittoral sand 1110; 1130; 1160 MB64 Black Sea infralittoral mud 1130; 1160 MC34 Black Sea circalittoral coarse sediment 1160 MC44 Black Sea circalittoral mixed sediment MC54 Black Sea circalittoral sand 1160 MC64 Black Sea circalittoral mud 1130; 1160 MD34 Black Sea offshore circalittoral coarse sediment MD44 Black Sea offshore circalittoral mixed sediment MD54 Black Sea offshore circalittoral sand MD64 Black Sea offshore circalittoral mud Mediterranean Sea MA35 Mediterranean littoral coarse sediment 1160; 1130 MA45 Mediterranean littoral mixed sediment 1140; 1160 MA55 Mediterranean littoral sand 1130; 1140; 1160 MA65 Mediterranean littoral mud 1130; 1140; 1150; 1160 MB35 Mediterranean infralittoral coarse sediment 1110; 1160 MB45 Mediterranean infralittoral mixed sediment MB55 Mediterranean infralittoral sand 1110; 1130; 1150; 1160 MB65 Mediterranean infralittoral mud 1130; 1150 MC35 Mediterranean circalittoral coarse sediment 1110; 1160 MC45 Mediterranean circalittoral mixed sediment MC55 Mediterranean circalittoral sand 1110; 1160 MC65 Mediterranean circalittoral mud 1130; 1160 MD35 Mediterranean offshore circalittoral coarse sediment MD45 Mediterranean offshore circalittoral mixed sediment MD55 Mediterranean offshore circalittoral sand MD65 Mediterranean offshore circalittoral mud ME35 Mediterranean upper bathyal coarse sediment ME45 Mediterranean upper bathyal mixed sediment ME55 Mediterranean upper bathyal sand ME65 Mediterranean upper bathyal mud MF35 Mediterranean lower bathyal coarse sediment MF45 Mediterranean lower bathyal mixed sediment MF55 Mediterranean lower bathyal sand MF65 Mediterranean lower bathyal mud ( 1 ) EUNIS marine habitat classification 2022. European Environment Agency https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/eunis-habitat-classification-1 .