Helcom Species Database

Search for species observations

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Specify map area by drawing rectangle. Search will be performed in that area only.

Start typing species name or aphia ID and then choose one from the list.

Observations year

Input for the year range. If you are searching for a single year, please use the same year in both fields. Leave one field blank if searching for older than or newer than.

-Species group

-Institution/data provider

-Origin of data collection

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Datasets for download

By consulting and/or downloading data from HELCOM’s Biodiversity database, the user agrees to the following: The data can be used freely, given that each dataset is cited appropriately and HELCOM’s Biodiversity database is referred to maps.helcom.fi/website/biodiversity

Please note that your applied search filters will not affect the three datasets provided below. The taxonomy in this database is based on one of the international databases (WoRMS> ITIS> BioLib> others), which is noted in the id section. Species with an existing Aphia ID retrieve their taxonomy entries via a customised script to WoRMS.

The coordinate system for species observation data is WGS1984 (EPSG:4326)

Observations data ESRI Geodatabase (ZIP)

The file geodatabase contains all observations data in the HELCOM Biodiversity database (both pointwise and gridded observations).

Species data CSV XLSX

Datasets (CSV and XSLX) contain species with their taxonomic information. The data are updated via a taxonomy script that extracts the information from WoRMS. The goal is to have all species included in WoRMS in the future.”

Red list information data CSV XLSX

Datasets (CSV and XSLX) contain Red list information about species and their assessment at HELCOM based on the IUCN red list criteria.

Background information:

HELCOM Biodiversity database collates species observation data from various sources and data collection activities. In the search section, this can be distinguished by “Origin of data collection” or “Institution/ data provider” fields. The origins of data collection are following:

AquaNIS: HELCOM collects observations of aquatic non-indigenous and cryptogenic species containing from AquaNIS database (http://www.corpi.ku.lt/databases/index.php/aquanis/) on monthly basis by utilizing data harvesting. The data collection system was developed in COMPLETE project (https://helcom.fi/helcom-at-work/projects/complete/)

BaltiCheck (2018-2019): this project aimed to update the previous Checklist of Baltic Sea species (Checklist 2.0) and to make data about species and their spatiotemporal distribution within the Baltic Sea available via a biodiversity database and associated web application. Data attributed to this project are from the BaltiCheck data call, which was initiated December 2018. More information about the project can be found here: http://www.helcom.fi/helcom-at-work/projects/balticheck/

HELCOM Red List (2013): Data attributed to this project are from the first threat assessment of Baltic Sea species (2013) based on the IUCN criteria. The pointwise observation data were either restricted or the data use conditions were unspecified, thus permission for publication of pointwise data was retrieved from participating Baltic Sea countries during the BaltiCheck project. More information can be found under the following links:
http://www.helcom.fi/helcom-at-work/projects/completed-projects/red-list/
http://www.helcom.fi/Lists/Publications/BSEP140.pdf

HELCOM Checklist project (2012): Data attributed to this project are from the first Checklist of Baltic Sea Macro-species (2012). Data attributed to this project were from available open data sources. More information can be found under the following links:
http://www.helcom.fi/helcom-at-work/projects/completed-projects/red-list/
http://www.helcom.fi/Lists/Publications/BSEP130.pdf

HELCOM FISH-PRO – Coastal fish monitoring data: Data stemming from HELCOM coastal fish monitoring and compiled to HELCOM Coastal fish core indicator database (COOL). Data has been compiled and quality assured annually by HELCOM FISH-PRO group. Data obtained to species database from COOL was observations of perch, flounder or cod.
http://www.helcom.fi/helcom-at-work/projects/fish-pro
http://bio.helcom.fi/coastalfish

HELCOM NIS Indicator: Biological community (zooplankton, phytoplankton, zoobenthos) observations of non-indigenous species in HELCOM Marine area stemming from HELCOM COMBINE monitoring and reported to ICES. The data is collected on monthly basis from ICES by utilizing data harvesting. The data collection system was developed in COMPLETE PLUS project (https://helcom.fi/helcom-at-work/projects/complete-plus/)

HELCOM/ASCOBANS Harbour porpoise database: HELCOM countries agreed in 2007 to further develop in co-operation with the 1991 Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas (ASCOBANS) a coordinated reporting system and database on Baltic harbour porpoise sightings, by-catches and strandings. Data was collected originally in 2004 within the Baltic Sea Porpoise and Jastarnia projects. The original database was funded by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Germany, and the data was updated in HELCOM Secretariat in 2010 with financial support from UNEP/ASCOBANS. Since then, the database has been updated annually by HELCOM Expert Group on Marine Mammals (EG MAMA). Pointwise observations on harbour porpoises are included in HELCOM Species database. During 2022, the reporting format and guidelines of reporting harbour porpoise observations was updated by EG MAMA to facilitate harmonized data collection and enhance quality assurance of collected data.

Harbour porpoise acoustic monitoring data: During 2021, HELCOM EG MAMA agreed on collecting available data on acoustic harbor porpoise monitoring carried out in the Baltic to be included in HELCOM Biodiversity database. It should be noted that the collected acoustic monitoring data is not currently harmonized to full extent.

HELCOM/OSPAR Join Ballast Water Decision support tool: Based on the overall IMO framework the 21 Baltic and North-East Atlantic coastal states and EU have developed and agreed in 2013 on a detailed joint harmonised procedure (JHP) to defining “low risk” routes, as well as other necessary steps in granting exemptions under regulation A-4 of the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention. This has been done as a joint venture between the two regional seas commissions HELCOM and OSPAR. The port sampling data on phytoplankton, zooplankton, mobile epifauna, fouling, benthos and pathogens reported to the HELCOM/OSPAR Join Ballast Water Decision support tool (RA Tool) are included in the HELCOM Species database. The observations are thus distributed partly in OSPAR area and outside HELCOM marine area. HELCOM Species database will also be further developed to serve the update of the risk assessment tool carried out in COMPLETE project WP3 (2017-2020).
http://www.helcom.fi/helcom-at-work/projects/complete/
https://maps.helcom.fi/website/ra_tool/

HOLAS I – HELCOM Initial Holistic Assessment 2010: Species observation data collected for HELCOM Initial Holistic Assessment 2010 (HOLAS I) has been included in the species database. The data consists of Zostera observations collected for the first version of Baltic Sea Pressure Index (BSPI).
http://www.helcom.fi/Lists/Publications/BSEP122.pdf

HOLAS II – HELCOM State of the Baltic Sea report 2018: Species observation data collected for HELCOM State of the Baltic Sea report 2018 (HOLAS II) has been included in the species database. The data consists of observation data used for seal and bird indicators.
http://stateofthebalticsea.helcom.fi/
http://stateofthebalticsea.helcom.fi/biodiversity-and-its-status/

Quick search tips:

Use the “Select map area” tool to limit your search to a specific geographical area
Use filters to limit your search to a specific species (latin name), year, institution, and collection code (i.e. project)
The search results will be displayed as point observations (i.e. circles) or as grids (i.e. squares). Circles are point observations for which precise coordinates are available. Rectangles are observations for which precise coordinates are not publicly available. The used grids are 1, 2, 5 or 10 km²
Click on the circle or rectangle for more information on the observation. To navigate between different observations at the same location use the arrow on top of the info box
After your first search, you can choose the option “Update search” to keep your current search settings and adjust them
Afterwards you can use the “Reset filters” to delete all your current search filters
For a new search, choose “Update search” and then “Reset filters”
Please note: some project data occur outside the Baltic Sea. If you wish to search for data only within the Baltic Sea, please use the “Select map area” function

HELCOM Biodiversity database

WELCOME!

This database allows viewing and searching observational data on species and their spatiotemporal distribution in the Baltic Sea. The aim of HELCOM’s biodiversity database is to collate all available species data as reported by Contracting Parties. More information on the origin of this database are available here .

Search

Please search for species observations with species scientific name. Other search options available are: year, species group, institution, and origin of data collection.

Download

The complete dataset is available as a downloadable zip file.
Data of individual search result are available for download as well, with the limit set to 100000 observations.

Data policy

Users of this website agree to the HELCOM privacy policy. The detailed information can be found here . By consulting and/or downloading data from HELCOM Biodiversity database, the user agrees to the following: The data can be used, given that each data point is cited appropriately as described in "citation" attribute and HELCOM Biodiversity database is referred to maps.helcom.fi/website/biodiversity
Please report your publication that made use of HELCOM’s species database and its available data to data@helcom.fi
Disclaimer: Data in the database is stemming from various sources. While there has been considerable quality assurance efforts, the accuracy of data cannot be guaranteed.

Contact

Feedback and questions are warmly welcome and can be send to: data@helcom.fi