The shelf valley geomorphic feature layer represents the spatial extent of the shelf valleys of the worlds oceans based on interpretation of the SRTM30 plus v7 global bathymetry model. The layer is one of the 25 layers that make up the global seafloor geomorphic features map (Harris et.al. 2014). Valleys incised more than 10 m into the continental shelf were digitised by hand. To qualify for inclusion in this study, shelf valleys had to be greater than 10 km in length and >10 m in depth overall. Only features that had a definite elongate shape were included as valleys, nominally more than 4 times greater in length than width. Features that intersected the shelf break and extended both onto the shelf and down-slope (where they become submarine canyons) were also included.