French chondrichthyans distribution dataset in North-Eastern Atlantic and Western Mediterranean waters (2003-2021)

Sampling event
Latest version published by UAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), Paris on Apr 27, 2026 UAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), Paris
Publication date:
27 April 2026
License:
CC-BY 4.0

Download the latest version of this resource data as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A) or the resource metadata as EML or RTF:

Data as a DwC-A file download 177,042 records in English (6 MB) - Update frequency: unknown
Metadata as an EML file download in English (26 KB)
Metadata as an RTF file download in English (14 KB)

Description

This dataset compiles and standardises chondrichthyan occurrence data collected between 2003 and 2021 for species known to occur regularly or occasionally in metropolitan French waters. Given the high mobility of these species, records from adjacent areas of the North-East Atlantic and the Western Mediterranean Sea are also included.The dataset integrates both presence-absence data derived from structured sampling events (e.g., fishing operations, survey transects) and presence-only occurrence records from opportunistic observations. Data originate from three complementary sources: fisheries-dependent data (i.e., the French professional fisheries observer program), scientific surveys (i.e., bottom trawl and acoustic trawl surveys, deep-sea canyon exploration cruises, aerial and vessel-based observation surveys), and citizen initiatives.All records were harmonised and subjected to reliability assessments based on taxonomic verification and consistency with known species distributions, depth ranges, and biological traits (i.e., individual lengths). Expert review by French taxonomic specialists was also applied for selected species. This dataset underpinned the production of the 'Atlas des chondrichthyens de France métropolitaine' (Bisch et al., 2024). The full methodological framework and quality control procedures are described in detail in an associated data paper currently in preparation (Bisch et al., forthcoming).

Data Records

The data in this sampling event resource has been published as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A), which is a standardized format for sharing biodiversity data as a set of one or more data tables. The core data table contains 177,042 records.

1 extension data tables also exist. An extension record supplies extra information about a core record. The number of records in each extension data table is illustrated below.

Event (core)
177042
Occurrence 
169519

This IPT archives the data and thus serves as the data repository. The data and resource metadata are available for download in the downloads section. The versions table lists other versions of the resource that have been made publicly available and allows tracking changes made to the resource over time.

Versions

The table below shows only published versions of the resource that are publicly accessible.

How to cite

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

Bisch A, Stephan P, Elliott S, Acou A (2026). French chondrichthyans distribution dataset in North-Eastern Atlantic and Western Mediterranean waters (2003-2021). Version 1.8. GBIF France. Samplingevent dataset. https://ipt-uat.gbif.fr/resource?r=french_elasmo_dataset&v=1.8

Rights

Researchers should respect the following rights statement:

The publisher and rights holder of this work is UAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), Paris. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY 4.0) License.

GBIF Registration

This resource has been registered with GBIF, and assigned the following GBIF UUID: db8b1693-ed9e-4bb2-a737-62dcd8d7839d.  UAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), Paris publishes this resource, and is itself registered in GBIF as a data publisher endorsed by GBIF France.

Keywords

Samplingevent; Chondrichthyans; Sharks; Skates; Rays; Chimaeras; Fisheries-dependent data; Scientific survey data; Citizen science; Occurrence; Presence-absence; North-east Atlantic Ocean; Western Mediterranean Sea; Elasmobranchii; Holocephali

Contacts

Amaëlle Bisch
  • Metadata Provider ●
  • Originator ●
  • Point Of Contact
  • Research officer
UAR PatriNat
  • Station marine de Dinard, 38 rue du Port Blanc
35800 Dinard
FR
Pauline Stephan
  • Metadata Provider ●
  • Originator
UAR PatriNat
Sophie Elliott
  • Originator
Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), School of Natural Science, University of Kent
Canterbury
GB
Anthony Acou
  • Metadata Provider ●
  • Point Of Contact
Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB) / UAR PatriNat
35800 Dinard
FR
Anthony Acou
  • Metadata Provider ●
  • Point Of Contact
  • Scientific project manager
Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB) / UAR PatriNat
  • Station marine de Dinard, 38 rue du Port Blanc
35800 Dinard
FR
Thomas Barreau
  • Reviewer
Muséum National d'Histoire naturelle
Dinard
FR
Direction générale des affaires maritimes, de la pêche et de l'aquaculture (DGAMPA)
  • Content Provider
FR
IFREMER
  • Content Provider
FR
Station de Recherches Sous-marines et Océanographiques de Calvi (STARESO)
  • Content Provider
FR
Caroline Bousquet
  • Content Provider
Office de l'Environnement de la Corse
FR
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)
  • Content Provider
Office français de la biodiversité (OFB)
  • Content Provider
FR
Observatoire Pelagis (La Rochelle Université - CNRS)
  • Content Provider
FR
Association Ailerons
  • Content Provider
FR
Association pour l'étude et la conservation des Sélaciens (APECS)
  • Content Provider
FR
Base pour l'inventaires des observations subaquatiques (BioObs)
  • Content Provider
FR
GBIF France
  • Distributor
FR

Geographic Coverage

The dataset covers all or part of the four marine sub-regions defined under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Greater North Sea, Celtic Seas, Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Coast, and Western Mediterranean Sea. The dataset also includes data collected in adjacent areas of the North-East Atlantic.

Bounding Coordinates South West [36, -15.99], North East [62.33, 12]

Taxonomic Coverage

The dataset includes 86 chondrichthyans species (7 holocephali, 79 elasmobranchii) known to occur in French marine metropolitan waters. All the scientific names of the species comply with the TAXREF v18 reference database.

Order Chimaeriformes, Squatiniformes, Squaliformes, Torpediniformes, Carcharhiniformes, Orectolobiformes, Lamniformes, Myliobatiformes, Hexanchiformes, Rajiformes
Family Triakidae, Gymnuridae, Squalidae, Arhynchobatidae, Dalatiidae, Chlamydoselachidae, Alopiidae, Rhinochimaeridae, Hexanchidae, Centrophoridae, Dasyatidae, Carcharhinidae, Squatinidae, Sphyrnidae, Rajidae, Oxynotidae, Torpedinidae, Mobulidae, Chimaeridae, Etmopteridae, Scyliorhinidae, Lamnidae, Myliobatidae, Somniosidae, Cetorhinidae, Ginglymostomatidae, Pseudotriakidae, Pentanchidae

Temporal Coverage

Start Date / End Date 2003-01-08 / 2021-12-21

Project Data

No Description available

Title Mapping the presence and sensitivity of French regulated elasmobranch species within the framework of Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) measures program (D01-PC-OE1-AN1)

The personnel involved in the project:

Anthony Acou

Bibliographic Citations

  1. Bisch, A., Stephan, P., Barreau, T., Bousquet, C., Durieux, E., Elliott, S., Mayot, S., Lapinski, M., Rohr, A., Stephan, E., Bouet, M., Santoni, M-C., Dorémus, G., Laliche, C., Paillon, C., Coulon, N., Labourgade, P., Carpentier, A., Delesalle, M. & Acou, A. (2024). Atlas des Chondrichtyens de France métropolitaine - Cartographier la présence et la sensibilité des espèces réglementées dans le cadre du programme de mesures D01-PC-OE01-AN1 (sous-action 1) de la DCSMM cycle 2. Rapport d’expertise de PatriNat et de l’Université de Corse. 385 pp. + annexes. URL: https://mnhn.hal.science/mnhn-04475562

Additional Metadata

Acknowledgements
Alternative Identifiers db8b1693-ed9e-4bb2-a737-62dcd8d7839d
https://ipt.gbif.fr/resource?r=french_elasmo_dataset