Skomer Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) - Zostera marina (Eelgrass) Monitoring
GNF Ynys Sgomer - Monitro gwellt y gamlas Zostera marina

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In 2015, Skomer Marine Nature Reserve changed designation to Skomer Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ). Skomer Marine Nature Reserve (MNR) was designated in 1990.


Zostera marina is the only flowering plant within the British Isles that grows and produces seed entirely submerged by seawater. Zostera populations are highly productive habitats and they provide an important stabilising function for the mobile marine sediments. The maintenance of Zostera populations directly influences the associated algal and invertebrate communities that it supports, which are an important source of food for birds.


Zostera marina is one of three seagrass species which are listed as nationally scarce and are included as a key habitat for conservation in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan 1994. The bed at North Haven, Skomer is one of only four in Wales and is the deepest. It is completely sub tidal and has been well surveyed.


The purpose of this data capture was:

1. To map the boundaries of the Zostera marina bed.

2. To determine and identify changes in its distribution and abundance.

3. Record conspicuous organisms associated with the Zostera population.

Identification

Dynodydd
Identifier
NRW_DS100514
Teitl Amgen
Alternative Title
  • Skomer Marine Conservation Zone ( MCZ ) formally a Marine Nature Reserve ( MNR ) - Zostera marina (Eelgrass) monitoring
  • Eel grass bed
Laith Metadata
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

Permanent markers define the corners of a survey plot of 60 x 60 m2, in North Haven and lead lines marked every 5m are laid for the survey duration. Within the plot area transects are completed every 5 m. Every 5 metres along each transects Zostera shoot counts are taken in 6, 25 x 25 cm2 quadrats. The transects are continued outside the survey plot where Zostera is present. Quadrat counts are completed along these transects at 5 metres until no more Zostera is found.


A boat based GPS unit was used to electronically record the boundary of the Zostera bed as divers with a surface marker buoy (SMB) swam the edge of the Zostera bed.
Dyddiad cyfeirnod y set ddata (Cyhoeddiad)
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2006-12-31

Temporal Extent

Begin date
1982-01-01
End date
2006-12-31
 
Categori pwnc
Topic category
  • Biota
    Biota
Perchennog
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Cychwynnwr
Originator
  Countryside Council for Wales (CCW). Skomer MNR Team -
Natural Resources Wales, Fishermans Cottage, Marloes, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA62 3BJ, Wales
enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
Cychwynnwr
Originator
  Various including volunteer recorders -
c/o Natural Resources Wales, Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/
 

Extent

Extent

Hyd
Geographic Extent
St. Brides Bay
Hyd
Geographic Extent
Irish Sea
Hyd
Geographic Extent
SIR BENFRO - PEMBROKESHIRE
N
W
E
S
Map representing the geographic extent of the dataset


 

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword

benthic boundary layer

Maint Fertigol
Vertical Extent

Gwerth lleiaf
Minimum value (metres)
-8
Gwerth uchaf
Maximum value (metres)
-1
System Gyfeirio Cydlynu Fertigol
Vertical CRS
 
 

Distribution

Dosbarthiad
Distribution

Fformat - Math a Disgrifiad
Format Type and Description
  • Delimited ( Unknown )

    Specification

    Excel spreadsheet

  • Geographic Information System ( Unknown )

    Specification

    GIS MapInfo layers

 

Quality

Ansawdd Data
Data quality

Cwmpas Ansawdd
Quality Scope
Dataset
Dataset
Cydymffurfiad
Conformity
Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
Explanation

This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation.
Degree
false
Lineage

Permanent markers define the corners of a survey plot of 60 x 60 m2, in North Haven and lead lines marked every 5m are laid for the survey duration. Within the plot area transects are completed every 5 m. Every 5 metres along each transects Zostera shoot counts are taken in 6, 25 x 25 cm2 quadrats. The transects are continued outside the survey plot where Zostera is present. Quadrat counts are completed along these transects at 5 metres until no more Zostera is found.


A boat based GPS unit was used to electronically record the boundary of the Zostera bed as divers with a surface marker buoy (SMB) swam the edge of the Zostera bed.
 

Keywords

Allweddair
Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2008-06-01
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme

Allweddair
Keywords

NRW Thesaurus
  • seagrasses (see also potamogetonaceae and hydrocharitaceae)
  • North Haven, Skomer
  • eelgrass
  • zostera marina
  • zostera
  • Skomer MNR
  • marine monitoring (see also marine surveys)
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2026-08-27
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Allweddair
Keywords

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2024-06-19
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml
 

Spatial Reference System

Code
Latitude and Longitude (EPSG::4326)
 

Content

Gwybodaeth Cynnwys
Content Information

Proffil CNC
NRW Profile

Elfennau CNC
Custom Elements

 

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Math o Gyfyngiad
Restriction type
Other restrictions
Other restrictions
 

Access Constraints Directive

Limitations
no limitations
 

Access Constraints Text

Other constraints

There are no access restrictions to this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.
 

Use Constraints

Cyfyngiadau Defnyddio
Use constraints type
Other restrictions
Other restrictions
Other constraints

© CNC/NRW 2007. There are no use restrictions on this data. Recipients may re-use, reproduce, disseminate this data free of charge in any format or medium, provided they do so accurately, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright, and do not use it in a misleading context. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose, that dissemination or publishing does not result in duplication, and that it is fairly interpreted. Advice on interpretation should be sought where required. To avoid re-using old data, users should periodically obtain the latest version from the original source.
 

Attribution Statement

Other constraints

Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved.
 

Licence

Other constraints
Open Government Licence
 
 
 

Metadata

Metadata

Dynodydd Ffeil
File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313030353134 XML
Laith Metadata
Metadata Language
English
Parent Identifier
Skomer Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) - Marine Monitoring Programme Overview

NRW_DS110059
Math o adnodd
Resource type
Dataset
Dataset
Dyddiad Metadata
Metadata Date
2026-09-28T09:47:58.553Z
Enw Safonol Metadata
Metadata Standard Name
NRW
Fersiwn Metadata
Metadata Standard Version

1.0

Pwynt Cyswllt
pointOfContact
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
 
 

Publishing Body

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