Atlas of the Marine Mammals of Wales
Atlas Mamaliaid Morol Cymru

  • English
  • wel
  • All

Welsh water support nationally and internationally important populations of marine mammals (whales, dolphins and seals) which use the area at various stages of their life histories such as feeding and breeding. Since the early 1990s the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) has been a major supporter of studies that have recorded the distribution and abundance of marine mammals in Wales.


These studies, often undertaken using dedicated networks of volunteers, have helped to inform conservation objectives for Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), monitoring targets and the assessment of proposed developments and impacts. This dataset brings together the best available effort-related survey data on marine mammals in Welsh waters and adjacent parts of the Irish Sea, to provide the highest resolution analysis carried out to date of the spatial and temporal variation in their distribution. The Atlas contains distribution maps, including variations both seasonally and over the long terms of the five most common species (harbour porpoise, bottlenose dolphin, short-beaked common dolphin, Risso's dolphin and minke whale). The purpose of this data capture is to describe the temporal distribution, spatial distribution and relative abundance of all marine mammal species sighted, detected or stranded in Welsh waters.


This dataset is concentrated on species regularly sighted and is designed to help meet obligations under the EU Habitats Directive. In addition is help former Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) now Natural Resources Wales (NRW) advise on marine activities including renewable energy exploitation, fisheries, waterborne recreation and oil and gas exploitation. The study area consists primarily of Welsh territorial seas out to the median line with Ireland and the Isle of Man, and English territorial seas. It was assumed that data contributed were reliable with respect to species identification and had been checked for errors in date, time and position fields; however factors affecting sight ability, survey characteristics and ecological factors may have affected sighting rates. Survey effort remains inadequate in all but a few small areas.

Identification

Dynodydd
Identifier
NRW_DS111813
Teitl Amgen
Alternative Title
  • Marine mammal atlas
Laith Metadata
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

As with almost any data covered in the marine environment, there are variations in, coverage and confidence levels. Great care has been taken in the analysis to minimise errors by. The maps have been carefully interpreted, counting for variations in effort and other factors. Sixteen groups or survey projects have contributed to the project database that forms the basis of this Atlas. The minimum requirement for data contributed to the project were that they should include associated effort data, including data for effort periods when no sightings were made and that the effort data should include records of sea state. Approximately 216,031 hours of effort are from vessel and aerial surveys and 133,999 hours of land based effort are analysed spanning a 20 year period.


The project database contains 12 species. In addition the Welsh Strandings Database managed by Marine Environmental Monitoring was reviewed. As well as this grey seal data were sourced from CCW comprising of approximately 3500 individuals. A grid with resolution of 10' latitude and 10' longitude was used, and effort partitioned into segments that could be assigned to a particular grid cell. Effort and sightings formed three separate tables (vessel, aerial and land) and these were then linked to a third table holding data on position and sea area of each cell. Count rates of animals at the surface were calculated for the 5 regular species. Edition 1 of the Atlas was produced in 2009. The report and data was subject to a detailed peer review by international scientific experts with the supervision of CCW and JNCC staff. A second edition of the Atlas was subsequently produced in 2012. Information Warning: The data is for sightings per hour (relative abundance) absolute densities cannot be derived from the data but relative abundance and distribution may be visualised
Dyddiad cyfeirnod y set ddata (Cyhoeddiad)
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2012-06-30
Perchennog
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Cychwynnwr
Originator
  Sea Watch Foundation -
Head Office, Ewyn y Don, Bull Bay, Amlwch, Ynys Mon, LL68 9SD, Wales
http://seawatchfoundation.org.uk/
Cychwynnwr
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

Extent

Hyd
Geographic Extent
Wales (WLS)
N
W
E
S
Map representing the geographic extent of the dataset


 

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword

water column boundary layer
 
 

Distribution

Dosbarthiad
Distribution

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

    Specification

    [A] Report in Microsoft Word, Adobe Portable Document and paper hardcopy formats

  • Geographic Information System ( )

    Specification

    ESRI Feature Class

  • Database ( )

    Specification

    [E] A database named Marine_mammal_mapping_Wales_v2.mdb in Microsoft Access 2000 file format. The database metadata are described in a Microsoft Word document (Database outline v2.doc).

 

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

As with almost any data covered in the marine environment, there are variations in, coverage and confidence levels. Great care has been taken in the analysis to minimise errors by. The maps have been carefully interpreted, counting for variations in effort and other factors. Sixteen groups or survey projects have contributed to the project database that forms the basis of this Atlas. The minimum requirement for data contributed to the project were that they should include associated effort data, including data for effort periods when no sightings were made and that the effort data should include records of sea state. Approximately 216,031 hours of effort are from vessel and aerial surveys and 133,999 hours of land based effort are analysed spanning a 20 year period.


The project database contains 12 species. In addition the Welsh Strandings Database managed by Marine Environmental Monitoring was reviewed. As well as this grey seal data were sourced from CCW comprising of approximately 3500 individuals. A grid with resolution of 10' latitude and 10' longitude was used, and effort partitioned into segments that could be assigned to a particular grid cell. Effort and sightings formed three separate tables (vessel, aerial and land) and these were then linked to a third table holding data on position and sea area of each cell. Count rates of animals at the surface were calculated for the 5 regular species. Edition 1 of the Atlas was produced in 2009. The report and data was subject to a detailed peer review by international scientific experts with the supervision of CCW and JNCC staff. A second edition of the Atlas was subsequently produced in 2012. Information Warning: The data is for sightings per hour (relative abundance) absolute densities cannot be derived from the data but relative abundance and distribution may be visualised
 

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
  • harbour porpoises
  • minke whales
  • marine wildlife (marine fauna)(marine flora)(intertidal fauna)(see also marine species,marine algae,marine mammals
  • marine (maritime)
  • delphinus delphis
  • phocoena phocoena
  • grey seals
  • bottlenose dolphin
  • cetaceans (see also specific species)
  • pinnipedia (pinnipeds)
  • halichoerus grypus
  • seals (see also specific species)
  • mysticeti
  • tursiops truncatus
  • atlases
  • grampus griseus
  • delphinidae
  • marine mammals
  • distribution patterns
  • Risso's dolphin
  • short-beaked common dolphin
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2025-01-08
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

Allweddair
Keywords

IPSV Subjects List
  • Whales
  • Dolphins
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2020-11-18
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.subjects

Allweddair
Keywords

NRW SMNR Keywords
  • Management Areas (SMNR)
  • Sea and Coast (SMNR)
  • Animals, Plants and Other Organisms (SMNR)
  • Marine (SMNR)
  • Natural Resources (Incl. Features and Processes) (SMNR)
  • Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR)
  • Ecosystem (SMNR)
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2024-06-26
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-smnr-keywords
 

Spatial Reference System

Code
British National Grid (EPSG::27700)
 

Content

Gwybodaeth Cynnwys
Content Information

Proffil CNC
NRW Profile

Elfennau CNC
Custom Elements

NRW Related Title

Atlas of the marine mammals of Wales
NRW Related Title

Atlas of the marine mammals of Wales
 

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 2012 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
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313131383133 XML
Laith Metadata
Metadata Language
English
Math o adnodd
Resource type
Dataset
Dataset
Dyddiad Metadata
Metadata Date
2026-03-03T15:54:51.977Z
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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