BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Nephrops norvegicus
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Lizzie Tyler	Data supplied by	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Common around most British coasts but not apparently recorded for the English Channel, the Bristol Channel or the Western Approaches. Populations also exist to the north east of Scotland on the Fladen Ground.
Global distribution	Nephrops norvegicus is widely distributed on muddy substrata throughout the north-east Atlantic from Iceland in the north to Morocco in the south. The species is found in the Mediterranean and is abundant in the Adriatic.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range	200 - 800 m
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	Migration Tagging experiments have shown that Nephrops norvegicus do not migrate large distances (Marine Institute, 2001). In laboratory mesocosms individuals displayed very territorial behaviour, aggressively defending their burrows (Marine Institute, 2001).

Substratum preferences	Mud Muddy sand Sandy mud	Physiographic preferences	Offshore seabed
Biological zone	Lower Infralittoral Upper Circalittoral Lower Circalittoral	Wave exposure	Sheltered Very Sheltered Extremely Sheltered Ultra Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Weak (<1 kn) Very Weak (negligible)	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Preferences Additional Information
Distribution References	Fish & Fish, 1996, Ingle, 1997, Sardà, 1995, Foster-Smith, 2000, Bruce et al., 1963, Connor et al., 1997(a), BODC, 1998, CEFAS, 2001, JNCC, 1999, Picton & Costello, 1998, Marine Institute, 2001, NBN, 2002, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data,