Collection Activity in the Menai Strait and Pilot Methods to Assess Frequency of Boulder Turning Activity (2011)

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are strictly protected sites designated under the EC Habitats Directive. Reporting on the condition of the intertidal features of the Menai Strait and Conwy Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) depends upon an understanding of the features and the threats of damage by regulated and unregulated activities.The former Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), now part of Natural Resources Wales (NRW), run an intertidal SAC monitoring program, which is undertaken to evaluate the quality of the biological communities associated with under-boulder and muddy gravel habitats. The biological data must be placed in context with the levels of collecting activity on the shore, specifically bait and winkle collecting.


CCW contracted Marine EcoSol to better assess the intensity of collecting activity in the Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SAC, in order to establish the levels that might be considered acceptable, in terms of their impact on the intertidal (Reef) features. Both muddy gravel and underboulder communities are Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) habitats, and the 2011 field surveys are within or adjacent to intertidal Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and marine SAC. The project was to investigate the feasibility of developing rapid visual assessment methods for use by non-specialists and to provide contextual information for status reporting of reef features within the Menai Strait and Colwyn Bay SAC.

Identification

Identifier
NRW_DS114836
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

This builds on work undertaken in 2009 to develop a trial method for the evaluation of levels of unregulated activity of collecting peeler crabs and winkles. Collection effort was rapidly assessed by driving along the length of the Menai Strait from west to east over approximately 3 hours, stopping at 17 sites to record the number of collectors at each site on the same tide. This survey was repeated 6 times between April and September. Methods to assess the impact of any boulder turning were also trialled. Surveyors assigned 'turning categories' to each boulder within 1 m either side of three 20 m transect lines at Y Foryd (a high impacted site) and Y Felinheli (a site of low collector impact).
Additional Information

A number of improvements to the methodology are suggested in the associated report (CCW Marine Monitoring Report 94).
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2012-03-31
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Originator
  Marine Ecological Solutions Ltd -
Marine Ecological Solutions Ltd, 41 High Street, Menai Bridge, Ynys Mon, LL59 5EF, Wales
http://www.marine-ecosol.co.uk
Publisher
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
 

Extent

Extent

Geographic Extent
GWYNEDD - GWYNEDD
Geographic Extent
SIR YNYS MON - ISLE OF ANGLESEY
N
W
E
S
Map representing the geographic extent of the dataset


 

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword
benthic boundary layer
 
 

Distribution

Distribution

Format Type and Description
  • Documents ( )

    Specification

    The final report in Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF formats.

  • Image ( )

    Specification

    [B] A full set of Report images (maps) produced in JPEG format. A full set of images produced in jpg format and index excel spreadsheet

  • Geographic Information System ( )

    Specification

    A series of GIS layers on which the maps in the report are based

 

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

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

This builds on work undertaken in 2009 to develop a trial method for the evaluation of levels of unregulated activity of collecting peeler crabs and winkles. Collection effort was rapidly assessed by driving along the length of the Menai Strait from west to east over approximately 3 hours, stopping at 17 sites to record the number of collectors at each site on the same tide. This survey was repeated 6 times between April and September. Methods to assess the impact of any boulder turning were also trialled. Surveyors assigned 'turning categories' to each boulder within 1 m either side of three 20 m transect lines at Y Foryd (a high impacted site) and Y Felinheli (a site of low collector impact).
 

Keywords

Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
Type
Theme

Citation

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

Keywords

NRW Thesaurus
  • underboulder
  • activities
  • Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SAC
  • under boulder
  • crabs
  • turning
  • peelers
  • littorina littorea
  • winkles
  • disturbance
  • bait digging (bait collecting)
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2025-01-08
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Keywords

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary
Type
Theme

Citation

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

Spatial Reference System

Code
British National Grid (EPSG::27700)
 

Content

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

NRW Related Title

Collection activity in the Menai Strait and pilot methods to assess frequency of boulder turning activity
 

Constraints

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 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.
 
 
 

Metadata

Metadata

File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313134383336 XML
Metadata Language
English
Resource type
Dataset
Metadata Date
2026-03-03T12:01:12.843Z
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

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