ICES Statistical Rectangles and Areas

What is it: 

International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) standardise the division of sea areas for statistical analysis. Each ICES statistical rectangle is '30 min latitude by 1 degree longitude' in size which is approximately 30 nautical miles by 30 nautical miles*. A number of rectangles are amalgamated to create ICES areas.

*Because the Earth is a spheroid shape, the area of an ICES rectangle will vary by latitude.  In Scottish waters, the average area of a rectangle is 940 nautical miles square, but varies between 801 and 1056 nautical miles square.

Links to Scotland's Marine Atlas: 
This information page is part of the theme: 
Ices Statistical Rectangles Copyright Marine Scotland