OneBenthic brings together disparate benthic datasets from grab/core, trawl, imagery and eDNA surveys in a cloud-based platform.
The resulting high-quality, standardised dataset is used to generate new science, and innovative and collaborative ways of working.
This big data approach creates an opportunity to do things differently, realising the concept of 'collect once, use many times' by finding ways to add
value to marine data.
This is important given the increasing use of the marine environment and the challenges associated with delivering sustainable development.
Outputs are shared via open-access publications and a suite of interactive web apps.
OneBenthic brings together four Postgres databases (grab/core, trawl, imagery, and eDNA), providing access to more than 60,000 samples.
While the imagery and eDNA databases are recent additions and still under development, data from the grab/core and trawl databases can be accessed via web app (see Apps tab) or API (grab/core only).
We continue to collate data from a variety of sources, but get in touch if you'd like to share your data. They'll immediately appear within the apps (putting them into a broader context), and will also support new scientific endeavours, generating insights and promoting more sustainable marine practices.
Explore the data holdings in the map opposite.
OneBenthic Baseline
Explore the faunal assemblage composition of grab and core samples (see Cooper and Barry, 2017).
OneBenthic Survey Array Tool
The Survey Array Tool provides a record of survey arrays and associated protocols.
OneBenthic Faunal Cluster ID Tool
Match new faunal data to existing cluster groups identified using machine learning.
OneBenthic Non-Native Species Tool
This tool allows users to see locations where such species have been encountered and to track their spread over time.
OneBenthic M-test Tool
Use this tool to identify ecologically significant changes in sediment composition in support of the delivery of licence compliance requirements.
OneBenthic Sediment Change Tool
Identify statistically significant changes in sediment composition between baseline and monitoring surveys. Use it for monitoring of licensed areas, MPAs and research sites.
OneBenthic Faunal Change Tool
Identify statistically significant changes in faunal composition between baseline and monitoring surveys. Use it for monitoring of licensed areas, MPAs and research sites.
OneBenthic Data Extraction Tool (Grab/Core)
Use this tool to identify and download macrofaunal and sediment particle size data from the OneBenthic grab/core sample database.
OneBenthic Data Extraction Tool (Trawl)
Use this tool to identify and download macrofaunal and sediment particle size data from the OneBenthic trawl sample database.
OneBenthic Taxa Search Tool (Grab/Core)
Use this tool to obtain distribution records for selected taxa from the OneBenthic grab/core sample database.
Demo video: OneBenthic Data Extraction Tool (Grab/Core)
YouTube video explanation of how app works.
Demo video: OneBenthicAPI-9
YouTube video explanation of how to use OneBenthicAPI-9 to access spatial data layers in raster .tif format.
Demo video: OneBenthicAPI-10
YouTube video explanation of how to use OneBenthicAPI-10 to access to Primary and Secondary Impact Zone (PIZ/SIZ) polygons for UK marine aggregate extraction licenses.
Cooper, K.M., Thompson, M.S.A., Bolam, S.G., Peach, C.M., Webb, T.J., Downie, A-L. (2026). Mapping benthic biodiversity to facilitate future sustainable development. Ecosphere 17(1), e70494. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70494
Bolam, S.G., Cooper, K.M., Downie, A-L. 2026. Developing an ecological risk-based approach to facilitate licensing offshore wind development. Ecosphere 17(1), e70520. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70520
Cooper, K.M., Curtis, M., Downie, A‑L. & Bolam, S.G. (2026). Big data approaches reveal large‑scale spatial patterns in marine epifauna. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 83(1), fsaf227. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsaf227
Couce, E., Pinnegar, J.K., & Townhill, B.L. (2025). Climate change resilience of vulnerable marine species in northwest Europe. Marine Biology, 172(116), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-025-04672-x
Bolam, S.G., Cooper, K., Downie, A.-L. (2023). Mapping marine benthic biological traits to facilitate future sustainable development. Ecological Applications e2905. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2905
Cooper, K.M, Barry, J. (2017). A big data approach to macrofaunal baseline assessment, monitoring and sustainable exploitation of the seabed. Scientific Reports, 7:12431 doi:10.1038/s41598-017-11377-9
Cooper, K.M., Bolam, S. G., Downie, A. L. and Barry, J. (2019). Biological‐based habitat classification approaches promote cost‐efficient monitoring: an example using seabed assemblages. J Appl Ecol. 56:1085–1098. doi:10.1111/1365-2664.13381
Cooper K.M., Barry, J. (2020). A new machine learning approach to seabed biotope classification. Ocean and Coastal Management 198, 105361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2020.105361
Barrio Froján, C.R.S., Cooper, K.M., Bolam, S.G. (2016). Progress towards a unified approach to marine benthic monitoring. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 104, 20-28.
Thompson, M.S.A., Couce, E., Webb, T., Grace, M., Cooper, K.M., Schratzberger, M. (2020). What’s hot and what’s not: Making sense of biodiversity ‘hotspots’. Global Change Biology 27, 3: 521-535.
Cooper, K. M., Downie, A.-L. and Curtis, M. (2022). North Sea Net Gain (NSNG). Cefas Project Report for The Crown Estate, 57 pp.
Gray, P., Garcia, C., Robinson, C., Bremner, J. (2022). A method for Identifying sensitivity of marine benthic invertebrates to ocean acidification through a biological traits approach. ICES Journal of Marine Science 79, 7: 2117–2125. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsac146
McIlwaine, P.S.O., Barry, P.J., Curtis, M., & Cooper, K.M. (2025). Tracking long-term benthic recovery at a disused marine aggregate extraction site using monitoring tools developed for the marine aggregate industry. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 319, 109278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109278
Putuhena, H., Williams, T.J., Sturt, F., White, D., Solan, M., Godbold, J.A., & Gourvenec, S. (2025). Integrated geospatial datasets to inform marine spatial planning and impact assessment in waters surrounding the United Kingdom. Scientific Data, 12, 1845. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05950-5
Dove, D., Marchant, B., Mowat, M., Paice, M. 2025. User Guide for Predictive Seabed Sediments - UK (v1). British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/25/040. 50pp
Bakir, A., Porter, A., Lewis, C., Barry, J., Brookes, R., Procter, W., Silburn, B., McGoran, A. R., Garcia, C., Mason, C., Bolam, S., Clare, D. S., Cooper, K., Downie, A., Ellis, J., Wood, D., Phillips, C., & Galloway, T. S. (2025). A step towards microlitter risk assessment: Modelling microlitter storage potential of the UK seabed. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 383(2307), 20240428. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2024.0428
Macrofaunal assemblages (UK)
From Cooper, K.M., Bolam, S. G., Downie, A. L. and Barry, J. (2019), Biological-based habitat classification approaches promote cost-efficient monitoring: an example using seabed assemblages. J Appl Ecol. 56:1085-1098. doi:10.1111/1365-2664.13381
Macrofaunal assemblages (Greater North Sea and beyond)
From Cooper, K. M., Downie, A.-L. and Curtis, M. (2022). North Sea Net Gain (NSNG). Cefas Project Report for The Crown Estate, 57 pp.
3D Assemblage model
Fully interactive 3D model based on work in Cooper, K. M., Downie, A.-L. and Curtis, M. (2022). North Sea Net Gain (NSNG). Cefas Project Report for The Crown Estate, 57 pp.
DEM data source: GEBCO Compilation Group (2022) GEBCO 2022 Grid (doi:10.5285/e0f0bb80-ab44-2739-e053-6c86abc0289c).
In addition to the data extraction tools (see Apps tab), OneBenthic data are also available via API (Application Programming Interface).
APIs allow you either to download data (e.g. in JSON format, raster .tif files), or to access them directly within an R session.
The OneBenthic APIs provide access both to:
- raw data (e.g. API-1),
- data formatted for OneBenthic apps (e.g. API-6), and
- spatial raster outputs (e.g. API-9).
To download data, simply open the relevant API interface and follow the instructions. JSON data can be converted to .csv format using the instructions
here.
Use this
script
to access data directly in an
R
session. Further APIs will be released in due course.
OneBenthicAPI-1 Community data (grab/core)
Returns publicly available macrofaunal abundance and biomass (where available) data from the OneBenthic grab/core database. Filter data by parameters: year and sieve size. Use the OneBenthic dashboard (grab/core) (see Apps) to identify available values for filtering parameters.
OneBenthicAPI-2 Taxon data (grab/core)
Returns publicly available occurance records for selected taxa from the OneBenthic (grab/core) database. Select using a valid AphiaID code (see https://www.marinespecies.org/).
OneBenthicAPI-3 Sediment data (grab/core)
Returns publicly available sediment particle size data (PSA) from samples in the OneBenthic (grab/core) database. Filter data by parameters: year. Use the OneBenthic dashboard (grab/core) (see Apps) to identify available values for filtering parameter.
OneBenthicAPI-4 MCZ Macrofaunal data (grab/core)
Returns macrofaunal abundance and biomass (where available) data from Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ). Filter data by parameters: year. Use the OneBenthic dashboard (grab/core) (see Apps) to identify available values for filtering parameter.
OneBenthicAPI-5 Data for use with the OneBenthic Faunal Cluster ID Tool
Returns family level macrofaunal abundance data for use with the OneBenthic Faunal Cluster ID Tool (see Apps). Filter data by parameter: Survey Name. Use the OneBenthic Data Extraction Tool (grab/core) (see Apps) to identify available values for filtering parameter.
OneBenthicAPI-6 Data for use with the OneBenthic M-test Tool
Returns sediment data (% Wentworth class), from aggregate industry RSMP surveys, for use with the OneBenthic M-test Tool (see Apps). Filter data by parameter: Survey Name. Use the OneBenthic Data Extraction Tool (grab/core) (see Apps) to identify available values for filtering parameter.
OneBenthicAPI-7 UK Priority Non-Native taxa
Returns UK priority non-native taxa. Filter by parameter: year.
OneBenthicAPI-9 OneBenthic Layers
Identify and download modelled benthic biodiversity layers in .tif format. File names are prefaced with the relevant publication (see Publications tab). Watch a demo video from the Demo Videos tab.
OneBenthicAPI-10 Marine Aggregate PIZ/SIZ
Identify and download Primary and Secondary Impact Zone (PIZ/SIZ) polygons for UK marine aggregate extraction licenses IN GeoJSON format. Watch a demo video from the Demo Videos tab.
Regional Seabed Monitoring Programme (RSMP)
POSEIDON Benthos
Development of Regional Seabed Monitoring Plans for the Marine Aggregates Industry
Marine Aggregate Regional Seabed Monitoring Programme: further development, support and delivery, Part 2
Additional Tasks (further development, support and delivery) for Project Marine Aggregate Regional Seabed Monitoring Programme - Part 3
Big Data: An opportunity to do things differently
North Sea Net Gain
Scour under offshore floating renewable energy devices
Planning Offshore Wind Strategic Environmental Impact DecisiONs (POSEIDON)
Marine Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment (mNCEA)
Developers
Identifying opportunities/risks
Contribute to knowledge
Maximise the value of your data
Automate analysis of data
Easy access to data and products
Potential for new ways of working (see 'Initiatives' tab)
Government
Making full use of the evidence base
Reduce reliance on the precautionary principle
More collaborative (government and industry data contribute to understanding)
Source of data to inform wider ecosystem assessments
Outputs can support delivery of marine planning and net gain
Better data = better decisions
Researchers
Access to the world's largest standardised benthic sample dataset
Opportunities for student projects
Source of data to assist in other fields (e.g. fisheries, ecosystem modelling)
Share your data
Your data will be visible in the apps
You'll be contributing to research and decision making
Use Apps & Outputs
Turn your data into useful information
Improved understanding leads to better decisions
Join the OneBenthic Forum
Stay up-to-date with developments
Help shape future direction
Work with stakeholders and other sectors on issues of common interest
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