4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313135383836 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 2026-10-20T07:55:42.947Z NRW 1.0 wel utf8 Latitude and Longitude (EPSG::4326) Intertidal monitoring of muddy gravel in Menai Strait and Conwy Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC), 2013 Intertidal monitoring of muddy gravel in Menai Strait and Conwy Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC), 2013 2013 NRW / ASML Menai Strait & Conwy Bay SAC muddy gravel survey (MRCCW16300000031) 2013-06-28 NRW_DS115886 http://naturalresources.wales/ Several rich marine mud and muddy gravel habitats were identified within the Menai Strait by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) Marine Intertidal Phase 1 survey team and a sampling programme initiated in order to better characterise the intertidal communities of these habitats. Marine mud and muddy gravel habitats are an important feature of several Special Area of Conservation (SACs), including the Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SACs. The purpose of this data capture was to carry out a repeat survey of sites previously surveyed to further test and develop monitoring methodology and collect monitoring data. In fully marine conditions on the lower shore, sheltered muddy gravel habitats can be particularly species rich due to the complex nature of the substratum supporting a high diversity of infauna and epifauna. Several rich marine mud and muddy gravel habitats were identified within the Menai Strait by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) Marine Intertidal Phase 1 survey team and a sampling programme initiated in order to better characterise the intertidal communities of these habitats. Marine mud and muddy gravel habitats are an important feature of several Special Area of Conservation (SACs), including the Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SACs. The purpose of this data capture was to carry out a repeat survey of sites previously surveyed to further test and develop monitoring methodology and collect monitoring data. In fully marine conditions on the lower shore, sheltered muddy gravel habitats can be particularly species rich due to the complex nature of the substratum supporting a high diversity of infauna and epifauna. 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 Aquatic Survey and Monitoring Ltd (ASML) Whitfield Brow, Bollihope, Frosterley, Weardale, Co. Durham, DL13 2SZ, England tom@aquatic-environments.co.uk http://www.marineseen.com/aquatic_survey_and_monitoring.htm Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme Habitat characterisation SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2024-06-19 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SAC muddy gravel Marine Recorder NRW Thesaurus 2026-10-19 geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely. no limitations © CNC/NRW Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose. Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Open Government Licence English biota SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 soil and sediment Wales (WLS) -4.0957942 -4.05817812 53.2579561 53.29193276 2013-06-24 2013-06-28 Database Marine Recorder Online - Version 2.09.02 Marine Recorder 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 In Menai Strait & Conwy Bay SAC, the Annex I intertidal habitat features include 'Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide'. A series of nine monitoring stations were established within muddy gravel habitats and re-sampled at intervals of two to three years. In-situ surveys were undertaken to record conspicuous epibiota and their abundance visible on the sediment surface within a 5 m radius of GPS-located station coordinates, together with in-situ characterisation of the sediment habitat. Photographs of the habitat and representative core samples were taken at each station. Five 0.01 m² core samples were collected from each of the nine stations, sieved and preserved in formalin for infaunal analysis. A sediment sample was also collected for granulometry analysis. Samples were analysed in laboratories and the resulting data were collated and used to assign biotopes to each station. In Menai Strait & Conwy Bay SAC, the Annex I intertidal habitat features include 'Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide'. A series of nine monitoring stations were established within muddy gravel habitats and re-sampled at intervals of two to three years. In-situ surveys were undertaken to record conspicuous epibiota and their abundance visible on the sediment surface within a 5 m radius of GPS-located station coordinates, together with in-situ characterisation of the sediment habitat. Photographs of the habitat and representative core samples were taken at each station. Five 0.01 m² core samples were collected from each of the nine stations, sieved and preserved in formalin for infaunal analysis. A sediment sample was also collected for granulometry analysis. Samples were analysed in laboratories and the resulting data were collated and used to assign biotopes to each station.