Environment (Wales) Act Section 7 and OSPAR: Marine Habitats

Under the Environment (Wales) Act (2016), Section 7 requires biodiversity lists to be produced. These lists include types of habitats which are of 'Principal Importance' for the purpose of maintain and enhancing biodiversity in relation to Wales. This list supersedes the duty in Section 42 of the NERC Act 2006. In addition to this marine habitats can be protected under the OSPAR Convention, which has established a list of 'threatened and/or declining species and habitats' in the North-East Atlantic.


This spatial dataset details the extent and location of those marine habitats classed of 'Principal Importance' under Section 7 and are regarded as 'threatened or declining' under OSPAR in Wales.


Habitats include: Carbonate Reefs, Estuarine Rock, Honeycomb Worm Sabellaria alveolata, Intertidal Underboulder, Mud habitats in deep water, Musculus Discors Green crenella Beds, Blue Mussel Beds (listed under OSPAR aswell), Fragile Sponge and Anthozoans (listed under OSPAR aswell), Horse Mussel Modiolus Bed (listed under OSPAR aswell), Intertidal Mudflats (listed under OSPAR aswell), Maerl Beds live and dead (listed under OSPAR aswell), Sabellaria spinulosa reef (listed under OSPAR aswell), Saline Lagoons (listed under OSPAR aswell), Saltmarsh, Seagrass Beds (listed under OSPAR aswell), Seapens And Burrowing Megafauna (listed under OSPAR aswell), Peat Clay Exposures (listed under OSPAR aswell), Sheltered Muddy Gravel (listed under OSPAR aswell), Subtidal Mix Mud Sediments (listed under OSPAR aswell), Tide Swept Channels (listed under OSPAR aswell), Oyster Beds (OSPAR only).

Identification

Identifier
NRW_DS122453
Alternative Title
  • Deddf yr Amgylchedd (Cymru) Adran 7 ac OSPAR: Cynefinoedd Morol
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

The data was collated from a wide range of sources, including but not limited to Marine Recorder, Phase 1 Intertidal, HabMap and Marine Monitoring Data. Habitats layers were produced as both polygon and point data for many of the habitats (where both types of data exist – some layers only have point data). Each layer is accompanied by processing notes detailing data sources and all decision made in creating the layers. A standard template was also produced and documented for attributing the GIS layers and general assumptions that could be made. Data layers within this dataset are updated at different times, usually as and when new data is available and collated.
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2025-11-28
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Originator
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
 

Extent

Extent

Geographic Extent
Irish Sea
Geographic Extent
Wales (WLS)
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
  • Geographic Information System ( )

    Specification

    ESRI Feature Class

Resource Locator
View and Download Data ( WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link )
Resource Locator
Web Mapping Service ( OGC:WMS )
 

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

The data was collated from a wide range of sources, including but not limited to Marine Recorder, Phase 1 Intertidal, HabMap and Marine Monitoring Data. Habitats layers were produced as both polygon and point data for many of the habitats (where both types of data exist – some layers only have point data). Each layer is accompanied by processing notes detailing data sources and all decision made in creating the layers. A standard template was also produced and documented for attributing the GIS layers and general assumptions that could be made. Data layers within this dataset are updated at different times, usually as and when new data is available and collated.
 

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
  • Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic, Oslo and Paris Conventions (OSPAR)
  • marine habitat
  • Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)
  • marine environment (marine habitats) (seas) (oceans) (maritime environment)
  • Section 7
  • OSPAR
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
Latitude and Longitude (EPSG::4326)
 

Content

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

 

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Restriction type
Other restrictions
 

Access Constraints Directive

Limitations
no limitations
 

Access Constraints Text

Other constraints

Part of this dataset is sensitive and restricted as it contains data exempt from general release under EIR. Sensitive data must be kept confidential; general release is not permitted due to risk of harm to the environment or third parties.
 

Use Constraints

Use constraints type
Other restrictions
Other constraints

© CNC/NRW All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right. Derived in part from data provided under licence by the British Geological Survey © NERC The non restricted (published) 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. Sensitive data may be re-used under provision and in line with the terms of a NRW licence and NRWs guidance on Ecological data exempt from general release and may be requested. Sensitive data can be requested and may be provided under licence.
 

Attribution Statement

Other constraints

Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right. Derived in part from data provided under licence by the British Geological Survey © NERC
 

Licence

Other constraints
Open Government Licence
 
 
 

Metadata

Metadata

File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313232343533 XML
Metadata Language
English
Resource type
Dataset
Metadata Date
2026-03-03T12:00:42.848Z
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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