Identifying core areas for mobile species in space and time: A case study of the demersal fish community in the North Sea

Identifying well suited sites for spatial conservation measures to protect mobile species is a challenging task. Intra- and interannual movements of individuals due foraging, reproduction environmental change make it difficult identify the best placed locations. This study presents generic approach determining species' consistent core areas in space time by using point abundance data from annual surveys. For this no statistical modelling required thereby obtain distribution maps all surveyed without knowledge on predictors, ignoring any issues related availability, quality model confidence. Generating suite demersal fish scientific fisheries survey allowed 53 winter summer over period 21 years (1998–2018). By overlaying single maps, hotspots diversity could be compared designated marine protected (MPA) within European Natura 2000 network. A majority identified as threatened endangered are currently not overlapping with MPAs. These MPAs might therefore contribute sufficiently protection an important component ecosystems. Alternative management options tools implemented through other policies needed amend MPA network effective North Sea. • Core were calculated species. each occurrence identified. Many changed between summer. Limited overlap New