4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313032303333 English NRW_DS109834 Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en 2026-03-03T12:00:24.027Z NRW 1.0 wel British National Grid (EPSG::27700) Carmarthen Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Intertidal Sediment Flats Monitoring 2005 Carmarthen Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Intertidal Sediment Flats Monitoring 2005 Monitro Gwastadeddau Gwaddodion Rhynglanwol ACA Bae Caerfyrddin 2005 2005 CCW / IECS Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC Biotope monitoring survey MRCCW3030000001E 2008-12-31 NRW_DS102033 The purpose of this data capture was to gain an understanding of the variety and species composition of intertidal communities and their macro-scale distribution within the interest features of the Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The present study aims to revisit the area to undertake representative sampling to be compared to the phase 1 mapping survey undertaken in 1999 and 2001 in order to assess shifts and changes in intertidal habitats within the SAC. As such, the specific objectives of the current survey were therefore to: - Undertake in-situ biotope recording along pre-defined transects to establish the extent and distribution of intertidal soft sediment biotopes - Verify field observations with quantitative sampling of the intertidal habitats using core sampling for benthic infauna (and particle size analysis for sedimentary characterisation) - Compare 2005 findings with baseline phase 1 mapping survey data with the view to detect changes or shifts in biotope distribution - Assign the 2004 biotope classification. Between 1999 and 2001, the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) undertook a phase 1 Marine Nature Conservation Review (MNCR) biotope mapping survey of the intertidal areas of the Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The study identified over 80 littoral biotopes covering an area of approximately 130,000 hectares and included several important sub-features such as seagrass Zostera noltii beds, saltmarsh, piddocks in clay, hydroid rockpools, tide-swept algal biotopes, the presence of the polychaete worm Ophelia bicornis and the presence of the tasselweed Ruppia maritima. These habitats were resurveyed in 2004 in order to assess their current distribution and status. In 2005 a further survey was commissioned to assess the macro-scale distribution and community composition of the littoral biotopes in the SAC and determine any significant changes from the phase 1 biotope mosaic. The purpose of this data capture was to gain an understanding of the variety and species composition of intertidal communities and their macro-scale distribution within the interest features of the Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The present study aims to revisit the area to undertake representative sampling to be compared to the phase 1 mapping survey undertaken in 1999 and 2001 in order to assess shifts and changes in intertidal habitats within the SAC. As such, the specific objectives of the current survey were therefore to: - Undertake in-situ biotope recording along pre-defined transects to establish the extent and distribution of intertidal soft sediment biotopes - Verify field observations with quantitative sampling of the intertidal habitats using core sampling for benthic infauna (and particle size analysis for sedimentary characterisation) - Compare 2005 findings with baseline phase 1 mapping survey data with the view to detect changes or shifts in biotope distribution - Assign the 2004 biotope classification. Between 1999 and 2001, the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) undertook a phase 1 Marine Nature Conservation Review (MNCR) biotope mapping survey of the intertidal areas of the Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The study identified over 80 littoral biotopes covering an area of approximately 130,000 hectares and included several important sub-features such as seagrass Zostera noltii beds, saltmarsh, piddocks in clay, hydroid rockpools, tide-swept algal biotopes, the presence of the polychaete worm Ophelia bicornis and the presence of the tasselweed Ruppia maritima. These habitats were resurveyed in 2004 in order to assess their current distribution and status. In 2005 a further survey was commissioned to assess the macro-scale distribution and community composition of the littoral biotopes in the SAC and determine any significant changes from the phase 1 biotope mosaic. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Hull University. Institute Of Estuarine And Coastal Studies The University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX iecs@hull.ac.uk http://www.hull.ac.uk/iecs/ Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Habitats and biotopes Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) - SAC monitoring transect (transects) (transect profile) (transect profiles) Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC biotopes sediment flats NRW Thesaurus 2025-01-08 geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords Habitat extent Habitat characterisation SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2024-06-19 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml There are no access restrictions to this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely. no limitations © CNC/NRW 2008. 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. Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Open Government Licence English biota Wales (WLS) -4.735325309 -4.04074671 51.55579486 51.83254706 SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2013-02-05 creation littoral 2005-08-21 2005-08-24 A phase 1 biotope mapping survey of the intertidal areas of the Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries Special Area of Conservation (SAC) has previously been carried out by CCW between 1999 and 2001. See also: Rowe, G.A, (2006). Carmarthen Bay SAC Sediment Flats Monitoring 2005: Intertidal Core Analysis. A report to the Countryside Council for Wales by Emu Ltd, Durley, Southampton. CCW Marine Monitoring Report No: 46. pp.89 Intertidal monitoring of biotope distribution in Carmarthen Bay and estuaries SAC in 2005 Database Marine Recorder file: MRCCW3030000001E Documents Digital versions of the contract report: Microsoft Word document(s); and an equivalent Adobe Portable Document Format version. The data held here is also relevant to CCW Monitoring Report No 46 - Carmarthen Bay cores. Geographic Information System MapInfo GIS layer in MapInfo Native format (Tables): - Positions of transects throughout Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC. - Positions and data for sediment core stations. - Products of analysis of the component biotopes for each transect. - Translations from the above MapInfo Tables are retained in ESRI Shapefile and MapInfo Interchange formats. [C] Excel spreadsheets of transect biotope information, results of biotope analysis, sediment particle size analysis and sediment infauna data. Delimited Excel spreadsheets of transect biotope information, results of biotope analysis, sediment particle size analysis and sediment infauna data. Image Photographs of the survey sites and transects. 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 2010-12-08 This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation. false Sampling was undertaken using transects in order to target a large number of sites, covering a wide range of biotopes. A transect was initially chosen for each of 18 sites which was thought to cover the most number of representative biotopes (Appendix 1) with an additional transect added (Transect 19) during the survey to increase coverage in the 'Three Rivers' area in which the cockle fishery had just reopened. Each transect was located using a Thales Mobile mapper GPS based on positions provided by CCW. Starting at the top of the shore the upper and lower extents of each distinct biotope along the transect was tracked with the GPS (either on foot or using quad bike for more extensive habitats). At each distinct habitat, the substratum and dominant/ characteristic species were identified (in each habitat a surface inspection was complemented by sub-surface infaunal sediment sampling with sediment sieved through a 0.5 mm mesh sieve and species identified). In addition supplementary information was also recorded e.g. surface features, indication of natural or anthropogenic impact impacts recorded (i.e. blown sand, moving drainage channels, vehicle tracks, diggings, etc). This information was then used to assign a biotope code to each habitat. Sampling was undertaken using transects in order to target a large number of sites, covering a wide range of biotopes. A transect was initially chosen for each of 18 sites which was thought to cover the most number of representative biotopes (Appendix 1) with an additional transect added (Transect 19) during the survey to increase coverage in the 'Three Rivers' area in which the cockle fishery had just reopened. Each transect was located using a Thales Mobile mapper GPS based on positions provided by CCW. Starting at the top of the shore the upper and lower extents of each distinct biotope along the transect was tracked with the GPS (either on foot or using quad bike for more extensive habitats). At each distinct habitat, the substratum and dominant/ characteristic species were identified (in each habitat a surface inspection was complemented by sub-surface infaunal sediment sampling with sediment sieved through a 0.5 mm mesh sieve and species identified). In addition supplementary information was also recorded e.g. surface features, indication of natural or anthropogenic impact impacts recorded (i.e. blown sand, moving drainage channels, vehicle tracks, diggings, etc). This information was then used to assign a biotope code to each habitat.