Intertidal Monitoring of Sediment Flats in Menai Strait and Conwy Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in 2007
The purpose of this data capture was to establish a reference condition against which conservation objectives could be assessed, and to ensure that natural changes could be taken into account when managing the features of the Special Area of Conservation (SAC). In addition, the data were collected to establish sites for long-term monitoring and to provide baseline/reference data using appropriate methods, in accordance with the conservation objectives.
The Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SAC is designated for five Annex I habitats: sandbanks that are slightly covered by seawater at all times; mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide; reefs; large shallow inlets and bays; and submerged or partially submerged sea caves.
This dataset includes the results of an intertidal monitoring survey carried out on the sediment flats at Traeth Lafan in September 2007. The intertidal sediment communities across Traeth Lafan are considered to be of particular nature conservation importance, and their favourable condition is listed as a conservation objective of the Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SAC.
At the time of the survey, performance indicators for this feature were still being developed. Consequently, the survey focused on the richness, distribution, and abundance of sediment biotopes.
- Identification
- Extent
- Distribution
- Quality
- Keywords
- Spatial Reference System
- Content
- Constraints
- Maintenance
- Metadata
Identification
- Identifier
- NRW_DS111174
- Alternative Title
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- 2007 CCW/ASML Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SAC Sediment monitoring, Traeth Lafan MRCCW16300000003
- Metadata Language
- English
- Lineage
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Phase 1 surveys of intertidal habitats within the SAC were carried out between 1999 and 2003 (Brazier et al., 2007), providing detailed mapping of the intertidal biotopes together with information on their characterising species. A Phase 1-style methodology, adapted from Wyn and Cooke (2001), was used and supported by standard core sampling and laboratory analysis.
Existing CCW Phase 1 survey maps were used to define the survey area. The Grid Maker tool in MapInfo was then used to create a grid of points across the survey area, resulting in a total of 106 survey stations spaced at 500 m intervals.
There were three components to the survey: in situ recording of sediment characteristics, including epibiota, infauna, and granulometry, at each of the 106 survey stations; collection of samples from seven stations for laboratory analysis of infauna and sediment granulometry; and mapping the extent of a seagrass (Zostera noltii) bed using the track function of handheld GPS units.
Confidence in the data is considered high. The work was carried out by a team of six experienced marine biologists. The quality and completeness of the species records and counts were occasionally affected where large amounts of coarse sediment, mainly shell material with coarse sand at some stations, were retained in the sieve. However, specimens that could not be identified in the field were subsequently examined under microscopes at the survey base.
- Additional Information
-
Moore, J., Aquatic Survey and Monitoring Ltd. 2009. Across Wale intertidal Sac monitoring Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SAC September 2007. Countryside Council for Wales Marine Monitoring Report 56. Bangor.
- Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
- 2009-01-31
Temporal Extent
- Begin date
- 2007-09-09
- End date
- 2007-09-14
- Topic category
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- Oceans
- Biota
Extent
Extent
- Geographic Extent
- GWYNEDD - GWYNEDD
))
Vertical Extent
- Medin Extent Keyword
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benthic boundary layer
Distribution
Distribution
- Format Type and Description
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Database
(
Unknown
)
- Specification
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Marine Recorder file
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Image
(
Unknown
)
- Specification
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Photos
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Geographic Information System
(
Unknown
)
- Specification
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MapInfo Tables, ESRI Shapefiles, MapInfo Interchange files
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Binary
(
Unknown
)
- Specification
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Excel spreadsheets (.xls)
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Documents
(
Unknown
)
- Specification
-
Microsoft Word documents (.doc/.docx) and PDF reports (.pdf)
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Database
(
Unknown
)
Quality
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
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This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation.
- Degree
- false
- Lineage
-
Phase 1 surveys of intertidal habitats within the SAC were carried out between 1999 and 2003 (Brazier et al., 2007), providing detailed mapping of the intertidal biotopes together with information on their characterising species. A Phase 1-style methodology, adapted from Wyn and Cooke (2001), was used and supported by standard core sampling and laboratory analysis.
Existing CCW Phase 1 survey maps were used to define the survey area. The Grid Maker tool in MapInfo was then used to create a grid of points across the survey area, resulting in a total of 106 survey stations spaced at 500 m intervals.
There were three components to the survey: in situ recording of sediment characteristics, including epibiota, infauna, and granulometry, at each of the 106 survey stations; collection of samples from seven stations for laboratory analysis of infauna and sediment granulometry; and mapping the extent of a seagrass (Zostera noltii) bed using the track function of handheld GPS units.
Confidence in the data is considered high. The work was carried out by a team of six experienced marine biologists. The quality and completeness of the species records and counts were occasionally affected where large amounts of coarse sediment, mainly shell material with coarse sand at some stations, were retained in the sieve. However, specimens that could not be identified in the field were subsequently examined under microscopes at the survey base.
Keywords
Keywords
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2008-06-01
Keywords
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NRW Thesaurus
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- sediment flats
- Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) - SAC monitoring
- Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) (see also Candidate Special Areas of Conservation cSAC)
- Lafan sands (Lavan sands)(Traeth Lafan)
- Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SAC
- intertidal
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2026-08-27
Keywords
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2024-06-19
Spatial Reference System
Content
Content Information
NRW Profile
Custom Elements
- NRW Related Title
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Across Wales intertidal SAC monitoring Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SAC september 2007
Constraints
Constraints
Limitations on Public Access and Use
- Restriction type
- Other restrictions
Access Constraints Directive
- Limitations
- no limitations
Access Constraints Text
- Other constraints
-
The following data is considered OS derived data and is therefore jointly owned by NRW and the Ordnance Survey. NRW may release, publish or disseminate this data freely; providing recipients are made aware of use restrictions (See general use restrictions).
Use Constraints
- Use constraints type
- Other restrictions
- Other constraints
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© CNC/NRW and © Crown copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Natural Resources Wales, AC0000849444. Third parties seeking to re-use this data require a Licence issued by NRW. It allows re-use, reproduction and dissemination in any format or medium but only for non-commercial purposes, according to the terms and conditions of the Licence. Those seeking commercial re-use require a commercial licence available from the OS.
Metadata
Metadata
- File Identifier
- 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313131313734 XML
- Metadata Language
- English
- Parent Identifier
-
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Marine Benthic Species and Habitat Collation Held in Marine Recorder
NRW_DS114501
- Resource type
- Dataset
- Metadata Date
- 2026-10-01T13:46:35.794Z
- Metadata Standard Name
- NRW
- Metadata Standard Version
-
1.0