Marine Protected Areas in Welsh waters

The Marine protected area (MPA) network is a subset of existing protected sites that have marine features. Sites include: SACs, SPAs, Ramsars, SSSIs and MCZs.

What features are considered marine is determined through expert groups of SNCBs led by JNCC. The list of MPA network features are hosted by JNCC https://hub.jncc.gov.uk/assets/8ee15786-510b-44e4-819e-e6681a1abd96 .

The need for a coherent and well managed MPA network is underpinned by the legislation Marine and Coastal access act and MFSD (UK Marine Strategy). This has been driven by our commitment to OSPAR (Oslo Paris convention) and CBD (Convention on biological diversity). NRW are the custodians of MPAs within 12nm (Welsh territorial waters), sites that are found in out offshore waters are hosted by JNCC and can be downloaded from their website https://jncc.gov.uk/mpa-mapper/ .

Identifier: NRW_DS124794

Alternative Title

Marine protected areas MCZ.lyr
Marine protected areas Ramsar.lyr
Marine protected areas SAC.lyr
Marine protected areas SPA.lyr
Marine protected areas SSSI.lyr

Metadata Language: English

Lineage: Information extracted from protected sites (SACs, SPAs, Ramsars, SSSIs and MCZs) to create this data.

Dataset Reference Date (Publication): 2023-10-30

Temporal Extent

Begin date: 1992-01-01

Topic category

Biota
Environment
Imagery base maps earth cover
Geoscientific information
Oceans
Inland waters
Boundaries

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

Geographic Extent: Wales (WLS)

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword: water column

Distribution

Format Type and Description

Geographic Information System ( unknown )

Specification

ESRI Feature Class

Resource Locator: View and Download ( WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link )

Resource Locator: Web Mapping Service ( OGC:WMS )

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: Information extracted from protected sites (SACs, SPAs, Ramsars, SSSIs and MCZs) to create this data.

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

WETLANDS
Natura 2000 (N2K)
Special Protection Areas (SPAs) (see also proposed Special Protection Area pSPA)
SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest)
Ramsar sites
marine conservation zones (mcz)

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2025-01-08

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Keywords

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary

Habitat characterisation
Habitat extent

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2024-06-19

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml

Keywords

IPSV Subjects List

Birds

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2020-11-18

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.subjects

Keywords

NRW SMNR Keywords

Ecosystem (SMNR)
Animals, Plants and Other Organisms (SMNR)
Sea and Coast (SMNR)

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2024-06-26

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-smnr-keywords

Code: British National Grid (EPSG::27700)

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

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 on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.

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. Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and copyright of the owners. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose.

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.

Licence

Other constraints: Open Government Licence

Metadata

File Identifier: 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313234373934 XML

Metadata Language: English

Resource type: Dataset

Metadata Date: 2025-05-08T15:55:09.916Z

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

Access the portal

Full access to the portal and metadata.

Marine Protected Areas in Welsh waters

Identification

Temporal Extent

Extent

Extent

Vertical Extent

Distribution

Distribution

Quality

Data quality

Keywords

Keywords

Citation

Keywords

Citation

Keywords

Citation

Keywords

Citation

Keywords

Citation

Spatial Reference System

Content

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Access Constraints Directive

Access Constraints Text

Use Constraints

Attribution Statement

Licence

Metadata

Metadata

Publishing Body