The Abundance and Distribution of Waterfowl Within Milford Haven After the Sea Empress Oil Spill

This study was put in place to assess whether the oil spill was to impact the nationally important waterfowl populations found in the area of Milford Haven. Two polluted (Angle Bay and Pembroke River) and two relatively unpolluted 'control' sites (the Carew/Cresswell and Cleddau Rivers) were monitored intensively over the three winters after the oil spill. The four sites have been monitored following standard Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) methodology to assess the numbers of waterfowl present, and following standard British Trust for Ornithology all-day (across the tidal cycle) count methodology to assess the feeding areas most used. The data was captured to assess the impact of the Sea Empress oil spill on waterfowl populations in the Milford Haven area. Counts during winter took place between November and March as the estuary is most important for birds during the winter period. The migration and early autumn periods have been excluded because numbers of birds can fluctuate widely from year to year, for reasons not associated with the estuary. Each site was counted twice a month with one count on a spring tide and one on a neap tide where possible. In the first year, only one count was carried out at each site in November. Historical data was used from 1982-1999.

Identifier: NRW_DS110120

Alternative Title

Toreithrwydd a dosbarthiad adar dr yn Aberdaugleddau ar ol gollyngiad olew'r Sea Empress

Metadata Language: English

Lineage: This study monitored the use made by waterbirds of intertidal areas in the Cleddau Estuary over three winter seasons, in relation to oiling levels. Four sites were studied: - a heavily oiled site, Angle Bay; - a moderately oiled site, Pembroke River, and - two effectively non-oiled sites, the Carew/Cresswell rivers and the 'Upper Cleddau', where the Eastern and Western Cleddau meet. The species recorded include divers, grebes, cormorants, herons, wildfowl, waders and auks. In order to monitor all species comprehensively, an area of open water was also counted at each site. In order to gain a full picture of the use of the four intertidal areas by waterfowl and other birds, counts were carried out across the tidal cycle. This choice of methodology allows the most important feeding areas to be identified. Each site was counted once every hour from six hours before to five hours after low tide. Increased monitoring efforts and impact assessment following the Sea Empress oil spill.

Dataset Reference Date (Publication): 2000-10-31

Temporal Extent

Begin date: 1984-10-31

End date: 1999-11-30

Topic category

Biota

Owner

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en

Originator

Countryside Council for Wales (CCW)

Countryside Council for Wales, Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW

http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/

Extent

Geographic Extent: Wales (WLS)

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword: benthic boundary layer

Format Type and Description

Documents Documents ()

Specification

[A] Report (MS word, pdf-format, WordPerfect)

Data quality

Quality Scope: Dataset

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
Degree: false

Lineage: This study monitored the use made by waterbirds of intertidal areas in the Cleddau Estuary over three winter seasons, in relation to oiling levels. Four sites were studied: - a heavily oiled site, Angle Bay; - a moderately oiled site, Pembroke River, and - two effectively non-oiled sites, the Carew/Cresswell rivers and the 'Upper Cleddau', where the Eastern and Western Cleddau meet. The species recorded include divers, grebes, cormorants, herons, wildfowl, waders and auks. In order to monitor all species comprehensively, an area of open water was also counted at each site. In order to gain a full picture of the use of the four intertidal areas by waterfowl and other birds, counts were carried out across the tidal cycle. This choice of methodology allows the most important feeding areas to be identified. Each site was counted once every hour from six hours before to five hours after low tide. Increased monitoring efforts and impact assessment following the Sea Empress oil spill.

Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

Species distribution

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2008-06-01

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme

Keywords

NRW Thesaurus

distributions
waterfowl
Milford Haven
Sea Empress
oil pollution
pollution (see also specific types of pollution eg. oil pollution)
Angle Bay
Carew and Cresswell Rivers
river Cleddau
Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS)
British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
marine and freshwater inventory
river Pembroke
abundance

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2023-12-31

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Keywords

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary

Bird taxonomy-related abundance per unit area of surface

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Revision): 2021-01-06

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml

Keywords

Integrated Public Sector Vocabulary

oil spillage

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Revision): 2013-04-03

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.subjects

Code: British National Grid (EPSG::27700)

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

NRW Related Title: The abundance and distribution of waterfowl within Milford Haven after the Sea Empress oil spill, year 1 report

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Restriction type: 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

Use constraints type: Other restrictions

Other constraints: © CNC/NRW 1997. 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.

Metadata

File Identifier: 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313130313230 XML

Metadata Language: English

Resource type: Dataset

Metadata Date: 2024-05-31T09:37:45.542Z

Metadata Standard Name: NRW

Metadata Standard Version: 1.0

pointOfContact

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en

Publishing Body

Access the portal

Full access to the portal and metadata.

The Abundance and Distribution of Waterfowl Within Milford Haven After the Sea Empress Oil Spill

Identification

Temporal Extent

Extent

Extent

Vertical Extent

Distribution

Quality

Data quality

Keywords

Keywords

Citation

Keywords

Citation

Keywords

Citation

Keywords

Citation

Spatial Reference System

Content

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Access Constraints Directive

Access Constraints Text

Use Constraints

Metadata

Metadata

Publishing Body