Bay of Biscay

The Bay of Biscay is a large and relatively deep gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean, located south of the Celtic Sea. It is regarded as a highly productive area, influenced by upwelling processes and the inflow of nutrient-rich waters from major rivers. The region supports high biodiversity, hosting numerous habitats and marine species, including endangered and protected taxa like cetaceans and seabirds. Like many ecosystems worldwide, it is under significant human pressure, particularly from industrialised commercial fisheries by France and Spain, as well as heavy marine transportation. The three combined areas of the northeast Atlantic (Celtic Sea, Bay of Biscay, Iberian Coast) are all high biodiversity areas with many habitats and marine species. The number of stocks that have been assessed covers the majority of commercial fisheries.