{{Short description|Area in the North Sea}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Location mark | type=thumb | image = North Sea map-en.png | width = 220 | label = | caption = Fladen Ground | x% = 32 | y% = 17 | mark = 175-free-google-maps-pointer.svg | mark_width = 14 }}

'''Fladen Ground''' is an area in the Scottish sector of the North Sea, between Scotland and Norway, about {{convert|100|mi}} northeast of Aberdeen.<ref name="Witbaard">{{cite journal|last=Witbaard|first=Rob|title=Growth Variations in Arctica Islanda L. (Mollusca): a reflection of hydrography-related food supply|journal=ICES Journal of Marine Science|year=1996|doi=10.1006/jmsc.1996.0122|doi-access=free}}</ref> The Fair Isle current and adjacent East Shetland Atlantic tides contribute to a weak, anti-clockwise rotating vast vortex or eddy easily shown in the surface of the seabed.<ref name="Witbaard"/><ref name="Ithaca1">Athena Field Development, p 61</ref> Due to stratification of the water column in the summer months, seasonal change of deep water temperature is low. This measures ({{convert|5.7|-|8|C|disp=semicolon|sigfig=2}}).<ref name="Witbaard"/> Water depths are predominantly between {{convert|100|-|150|m|ft fathom|abbr=on}}, and the mostly muddy sea floor has accumulated sediments from some storm-driven scouring action to surrounds.<ref name="Witbaard"/><ref name="Ithaca2">Athena Field Development, p 60</ref> The dominant benthic animals are polychaetes and shellfish and other seafoods are common.<ref name="Witbaard"/> The name is not used by the British shipping (weather) forecast sectors, which extend the Long Forties depth zone eastward as Forties (see Long Forties) for simplicity.

Fladen Ground is rich in oil and natural gas and offers good fishing.<ref name="Ithaca5">Athena Field Development, p 7</ref><ref name="Ithaca3">Athena Field Development, p 68</ref> Scottish vessels catch low-fat fish species, and Norway lobster. Danish and English vessels catch Northern prawn.<ref name="Ithaca4">Athena Field Development, p 84</ref>

==Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area== {{Infobox protected area | name = Central Fladen MPA(NC) | image = | image_caption = | location = North Sea, Scotland | nearest_city = | image_map = Central Fladden MPA.png | map_caption = The Central Fladden MPA (circled in red), shown within Scottish waters. | coordinates = | area_km2 = 925 | area_ref = <ref name=snh/> | established = 2014 | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | designation = Scottish Government | operator = Marine Scotland }} Since 2014, {{convert|92500|ha|mi2}} of the Fladen Ground has been a Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area under the title '''Central Fladen MPA(NC)'''.<ref name=snh>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10444|title=Central Fladen MPA(NC)|accessdate=7 October 2020|publisher=NatureScot}}</ref>

==See also== * Dogger Bank for links to similar places

==Notes== {{reflist}}

==References== * {{cite web|url=http://www.ithacaenergy.com/uploads/AthenaFieldDevelopmentES.pdf|title=Environmental Statement: Athena Field Development - Block 14/18b|format=pdf|date=August 2008|publisher=Ithaca Energy (UK) Ltd|access-date=2014-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925012912/http://www.ithacaenergy.com/uploads/AthenaFieldDevelopmentES.pdf|archive-date=2011-09-25|url-status=dead}}

{{coord|58.5000|N|0.5000|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}

{{Marine Protected Areas in Scotland}}

Category:North Sea Category:Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas of Scotland

{{Scotland-geo-stub}} {{marine-geo-stub}}