French chondrichthyans distribution dataset in North-Eastern Atlantic and Western Mediterranean waters (2003-2021)

This dataset compiles and standardises chondrichthyan occurrence data collected between 2003 and 2021 for species known to occur regularly or occasionally in metropolitan French waters. Given the high mobility of these species, records from adjacent areas of the North-East Atlantic and the Western Mediterranean Sea are also included.The dataset integrates both presence-absence data derived from structured sampling events (e.g., fishing operations, survey transects) and presence-only occurrence records from opportunistic observations. Data originate from three complementary sources: fisheries-dependent data (i.e., the French professional fisheries observer program), scientific surveys (i.e., bottom trawl and acoustic trawl surveys, deep-sea canyon exploration cruises, aerial and vessel-based observation surveys), and citizen initiatives.All records were harmonised and subjected to reliability assessments based on taxonomic verification and consistency with known species distributions, depth ranges, and biological traits (i.e., individual lengths). Expert review by French taxonomic specialists was also applied for selected species. This dataset underpinned the production of the 'Atlas des chondrichthyens de France métropolitaine' (Bisch et al., 2024). The full methodological framework and quality control procedures are described in detail in an associated data paper (Bisch et al., 2026).