Predicted Recreational Boating Density in the Pelagos Sanctuary (Northwestern Mediterranean Sea)

This dataset provides a spatial prediction of recreational boating density (boats/km²) focusing on the Pelagos Sanctuary. It is based on heterogeneous in situ counting of boats collected by several partners between 2018 and 2024 and harmonized into a standardized density metric. A Bayesian spatial modelling framework (SPDE-INLA) was applied to generate a continuous prediction surface representative of peak summer activity (June–September), over 1x1 km cells of a regular grid. Covariates were used (distance to harbours, bathymetry and seabed substrate near the coast). The dataset addresses the lack of systematic tracking of small recreational vessels and can supports marine spatial planning and ecological assessments, taking into account the limitations of modelisation. 

The .zip include all necessary QGIS files (.shp, .prj, .shx, .dbf and .cpg), and also the metadata (.qmd) and the symbology to visualise properly the data on a logarithmic scale (.qml).

Creator : EcoOcéan Institut ([e-mail]); Contributors of data : EcoOcéan Institut, ISPRA , CIMA, Accademia del Leviatano, Aquario di Genova, Observatoire PELAGIS – UAR 3462 (La Rochelle Université – CNRS), ACCOBAMS, Swiss Cetacean Society, Cybelle Planète, Tethys Research Institute, Medobs.

Funding : EcoOcéan Institut received financial support from the Pelagos Initiative (https://www.fpa2.org/fr/initiatives/initiative-pelagos-010) for this study. The content of this document is the sole responsibility of EcoOcean Institut and cannot under any circumstances be considered as reflecting the position of the Pelagos Initiative.

Will be linked to an upcoming scientific article : DAVID et al. (in prep for 2026). Map of a “missing layer” : recreational boating over the northwestern Mediterranean Sea and Pelagos Sanctuary.