Harmonising data from heterogeneous sources to characterise small pelagic fish habitat in the Mediterranean Sea

Summary Within the current work, the habitat of small pelagic fish populations in the Mediterranean was assessed combining historic survey data (i.e. acoustic, ichthyoplankton, bottom trawl surveys) from five different areas along with satellite environmental and bathymetry data. Selected models were used to produce annual habitat suitability maps over the period 2000‐ 2 010 addressing different life stages (i.e. adults, juveniles and eggs) of the target species at a spatial resolution of 4x4 km. Based on these annual maps, habitat persistency maps were produced using GIS techniques where persistent and occasional locations suitable for nurseries and spawning grounds were identified. These areas are discussed in re lation to existing fishing restricted areas in the Mediterranean Sea.