Former Marine Nature Reserves (MNRs)
Gwarchodfeydd Natur Forol

  • English
  • wel
  • All

In 2015, the Marine Nature Reserve (MNR) designation was replaced by the Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) designation.


This spatial dataset contains the digital boundaries of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), including the former Marine Nature Reserve boundary in Wales.


MNRs and MCZs are mechanisms for conserving marine habitats, wildlife, and other features of special importance along the coastline and seabed. Skomer, the first and only Marine Nature Reserve in Wales, was established in 1990 and is located around Skomer Island and the Marloes Peninsula in south-west Wales.


The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 empowered NRW's predecessor organisations to apply to Welsh Ministers for the designation of Marine Nature Reserves. MNRs could be managed through byelaws developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders and approved by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG).


Marine Nature Reserves made an important contribution to the protection of Welsh seas by increasing awareness of the value and vulnerability of the marine natural environment.


In Wales, the former Marine Nature Reserve designation has been superseded by Marine Conservation Zones. The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 provides for the designation of MCZs.


Marine Conservation Zones protect nationally important marine wildlife, habitats, geological features, and geomorphological features, and may be designated in both Welsh and English territorial waters, as well as UK offshore waters.

Identification

Dynodydd
Identifier
NRW_DS98750
Teitl Amgen
Alternative Title
  • DataMapWales Name: Protected sites: Marine Nature Reserves
  • Marine Nature Reserve.LYR
  • Sites (MNR)
Laith Metadata
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

The boundary was originally digitised from the designation map at a scale of 1:10,000. In 2010, it was re-digitised against Ordnance Survey MasterMap (CCW update 2008) using the boundary description contained within the Byelaws document.


As no digital dataset exists for Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT), which forms the landward boundary for much of the site, a 1.5 m buffer above Mean High Water Mark (MHWM) was adopted as a proxy.


Latitude and longitude coordinates were plotted using the WGS84 coordinate reference system and subsequently converted to the British National Grid.


Where the boundary description refers to Mean Low Water Ordinary Tides (MLWOT), the boundary has been digitised to Mean Low Water Mark (MLWM) as represented in Ordnance Survey MasterMap. Therefore, for the definitive boundary, reference should be made to the description contained within the Byelaws.


The digitisation and mobilisation of this information within Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has improved the protection of these sites and increased the efficiency of planning and decision-making processes within government organisations and the wider stakeholder community.
Additional Information

Please refer to Countryside Acts 1981 for reasons for capture of original designation of the MNRs. In Wales, the MNRs that existed have been superseded by MCZs. Please refer to The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 which allows for the creation of MCZs.
Dyddiad cyfeirnod y set ddata (Cyhoeddiad)
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2010-12-31

Temporal Extent

Begin date
1995-01-01
End date
2010-12-31
 
Categori pwnc
Topic category
  • Biota
    Biota
  • Environment
    Environment
  • Imagery base maps earth cover
    Imagery base maps earth cover
  • Oceans
    Oceans
Perchennog
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Cychwynnwr
Originator
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW) -
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
 

Extent

Extent

Hyd
Geographic Extent
SIR BENFRO - PEMBROKESHIRE
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; benthic boundary layer; atmospheric boundary layer
 
 

Distribution

Fformat - Math a Disgrifiad
Format Type and Description
  • Geographic Information System ( )

    Specification

    Digital data in ArcGIS format

 

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

The boundary was originally digitised from the designation map at a scale of 1:10,000. In 2010, it was re-digitised against Ordnance Survey MasterMap (CCW update 2008) using the boundary description contained within the Byelaws document.


As no digital dataset exists for Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT), which forms the landward boundary for much of the site, a 1.5 m buffer above Mean High Water Mark (MHWM) was adopted as a proxy.


Latitude and longitude coordinates were plotted using the WGS84 coordinate reference system and subsequently converted to the British National Grid.


Where the boundary description refers to Mean Low Water Ordinary Tides (MLWOT), the boundary has been digitised to Mean Low Water Mark (MLWM) as represented in Ordnance Survey MasterMap. Therefore, for the definitive boundary, reference should be made to the description contained within the Byelaws.


The digitisation and mobilisation of this information within Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has improved the protection of these sites and increased the efficiency of planning and decision-making processes within government organisations and the wider stakeholder community.
 

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
  • geographical information systems (GIS)
  • marine nature reserves
Math
Type
Theme
Theme

Dyfyniad
Citation

Dyddiad (Cyhoeddiad)
Date (Publication)
2026-08-27
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
 

Spatial Reference System

Code
British National Grid (EPSG::27700)
 

Content

Gwybodaeth Cynnwys
Content Information

Proffil CNC
NRW Profile

Elfennau CNC
Custom Elements

 

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 2010. All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right 2010. 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 copyright as specified, 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.
 
 
 

Metadata

Metadata

Dynodydd Ffeil
File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-3938373530 XML
Laith Metadata
Metadata Language
English
Math o adnodd
Resource type
Dataset
Dataset
Dyddiad Metadata
Metadata Date
2026-10-01T15:25:31.962Z
Enw Safonol Metadata
Metadata Standard Name
NRW
Fersiwn Metadata
Metadata Standard Version

1.0

Pwynt Cyswllt
pointOfContact
  GIS and Spatial Data Team -
Natural Resources Wales, Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW
http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/
 
 

Publishing Body

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