Skomer Marine Conservation Zone ( MCZ ) - Marine Monitoring Programme Overview

In 2015 Skomer Marine Nature Reserve (MNR) changed designation to Skomer Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ). Skomer Marine Nature Reserve (MNR) was designated in 1990. The Skomer Marine Monitoring Team has focused on developing a range of projects to monitor the health of the reserve and investigate the relevant aspects of the species life histories for baseline information. Large scale surveys developed in the 1970's and 1980's provided the foundation for the monitoring. This metadata details general monitoring on Skomer, each datasets has its own metadata entry. Monitoring is undertaken to provide an assessment of the condition of features against set targets and will contribute to reporting on the MNR as well as Pembrokeshire Marine Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) within which the reserve lies. Data is collected around Skomer Island and on the mainland between Musselwick Sands and Gateholm Island within the Marine Nature Reserve. Data has been collected from 1975 onwards. An extensive review of images has been completed to determine the quantity and quality of information that could be extracted from these images. Species data has been collated from a number of surveys entered into Marine Recorder which have been packaged for dissemination onto the NBN Gateway.

Identification

Identifier
NRW_DS110059
Alternative Title
  • 2011 CCW Skomer Marine Nature Reserve Sponge Survey MRCCW30900000005
  • 2004 CCW Skomer Marine Nature Reserve sediment surface and burrowing macro and mega-fauna Survey MRCCW30900000004
  • 2007 CCW Skomer Marine Nature Reserve Sublittoral Macrobenthos survey MRCCW30900000003
  • 2003 CCW Skomer Nature Marine Reserve Sublittoral Macrobenthos survey MRCCW30900000002
  • 1992 - 2011 CCW Skomer Maine Nature Reserve Rock Monitoring Sites MRCCW30000000066
  • 2009 CCW Skomer Marine Nature Reserve Sublittoral Macrobenthos Survey MRCCW3000000005F
  • 2010 CCW Skomer Marine Nature Reserve Nudibranch Survey MRCCW3000000005C
  • 2007 CCW Skomer Marine Nature Reserve Echinus esculentus and selected starfish species survey MRCCW30000000057
  • 2006 CCW Skomer Marine Nature Reserve Nudibranch Survey MRCCW30000000055
  • 2002 CCW Skomer Marine Nature Reserve Nudibranch survey MRCCW30000000052
  • 2001 CCW Skomer Marine Nature Reserve Sediment surface epifauna community survey MRCCW16800000009
  • 1994 - 2005 CCW Skomer Marine Nature Reserve Condition monitoring of Eunicella verrucosa MRCCW16800000004
  • 2005 CCW Skomer Marine Nature Reserve subtidal algal assemblages MRCCW16800000008
  • 2003 CCW Skomer Marine Nature Reserve Echinus esculentus and other echinoderm species survey MRCCW16800000005
  • 2005 CCW Skomer Marine Nature Reserve Territorial fish species monitoring MRCCW16800000002
  • 2007 CCW / Marineseen Skomer Marine Nature Reserve sponge monitoring survey MRCCW16600000002
  • 1999 MSC Dives, Skomer Marine Nature Reserve and St Brides Bay August MRCCW1680000000A
  • 2005 CCW Skomer Marine Nature Reserve Bryozoan Records MRCCW30000000056
  • Skomer Marine Conservation Zone ( MCZ ) formally Marine Nature Reserve ( MNR ) - Marine Monitoring Programme Overview
  • Marine species records from Skomer Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) Marine Monitoring Programme
  • Gwarchodfa Natru Forol (GNF) Ynys Sgomer - Rhaglen Monitro'r Mor
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

The first step of the programme was to map survey sites to enable accurate relocation each year. New sites continue to be mapped to allow for the expansion of the projects. The sites cover a wide variety of habitats and species from inter-tidal lichens, benthic rock and sediment, mobile species (e.g. seals and territorial fish) and plankton, and therefore a variety of monitoring techniques are used. Following on from the site mapping, time series data is collected. The majority of the monitoring involves human observation and the development of a series of reliable photographic images. Sediment communities are sampled by Day grab and suction sampler. The data collected provides information and details of the life histories of particular species over time, the stability of communities, the variations in species abundance and the effect of known events (e.g. the Sea Empress Oil Spill) on species or communities. In addition to biotic data, environmental data is also collected to allow the reasons for fluctuation in biota to be investigated with the aim of separating \natural\" change from anthropogenic change. Finally commercial and recreational activities are recorded to monitor changes in user activity."
Additional Information

Please refer to individual metadata entries for more information. An annual project status report is also published. For an example see Lock, K, Burton, M, Jones, J, Massey, A. (2023) Skomer Marine Conservation Zone, Annual Report 2022. NRW Evidence Report 657.
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2016-08-17
Owner
  Natural Resources Wales (NRW)
Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales
http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en
Originator
  Countryside Council for Wales (CCW). Skomer MNR Team
Natural Resources Wales, Fishermans Cottage, Marloes, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA62 3BJ, Wales
enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
Originator
  Assisstant Marine Conservation Officer Skomer
Natural Resources Wales, Fisherman's Cottage, Marloes, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA62 3BJ, Wales
http://www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
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
St. Brides Bay
Geographic Extent
SIR BENFRO - PEMBROKESHIRE
N
W
E
S
Map representing the geographic extent of the dataset


 

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword
benthic boundary layer

Vertical Extent

Minimum value (metres)
10
Maximum value (metres)
30
Vertical CRS
 
 

Distribution

Distribution

Format Type and Description
  • Database ()

    Specification

    [A] Data held in a variety of formats: - Spreadsheets - Word documents - Paper documents - ArcGIS format - Slide and digital images - Marine Recorder - PRIMER files. [B] Species is also available to download on the NBN Gateway - See Resource Locator

Resource Locator
View and Download Data

World Wide Web page

 

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
Degree
false
Lineage

The first step of the programme was to map survey sites to enable accurate relocation each year. New sites continue to be mapped to allow for the expansion of the projects. The sites cover a wide variety of habitats and species from inter-tidal lichens, benthic rock and sediment, mobile species (e.g. seals and territorial fish) and plankton, and therefore a variety of monitoring techniques are used. Following on from the site mapping, time series data is collected. The majority of the monitoring involves human observation and the development of a series of reliable photographic images. Sediment communities are sampled by Day grab and suction sampler. The data collected provides information and details of the life histories of particular species over time, the stability of communities, the variations in species abundance and the effect of known events (e.g. the Sea Empress Oil Spill) on species or communities. In addition to biotic data, environmental data is also collected to allow the reasons for fluctuation in biota to be investigated with the aim of separating \natural\" change from anthropogenic change. Finally commercial and recreational activities are recorded to monitor changes in user activity."
 

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
  • Skomer MNR
  • marine monitoring (see also marine surveys)
  • NBN Atlas
  • National Biodiversity Network [NBN]
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2023-12-31
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Keywords

SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary
  • Habitat characterisation
  • Habitat extent
  • Zoobenthos generic abundance
  • Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance
  • Temperature variation in the water column
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Revision)
2021-01-06
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml

Keywords

NRW SMNR Vocabulary
  • Animals, Plants and Other Organisms (SMNR)
  • Natural Resources (incl. Features and Processes) (SMNR)
  • Ecosystem (SMNR)
  • Coastal Margins (SMNR)
  • Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR)
  • Sea and Coast (SMNR)
  • Marine (SMNR)
  • Management Areas (SMNR)
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Revision)
2023-12-27
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-smnr-keywords
 

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. See individual metadata entries for specific datasets that have a restricted release. Sensitive data must be kept confidential; general release is not permitted due to risk of harm to the environment or third parties. Sensitive data may only be released under an appropriate NRW Licence. Requests should be referred to NRW's Access to Information Officer. Data may be released freely if the sensitive records are removed in advance, or shown only at a coarser scale.
 

Use Constraints

Use constraints type
Other restrictions
Other constraints

© CNC/NRW 2013. Recipients may only re-use sensitive data in strict confidence under the terms of an appropriate NRW Licence. No publication or dissemination is permitted, except if sensitive records are removed in advance, or shown only at a coarser scale.
 
 
 

Metadata

Metadata

File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313130303539 XML
Metadata Language
English
Parent Identifier
Skomer Marine Conservation Zone ( MCZ ) - Marine Monitoring Programme Overview

NRW_DS110059
Resource type
Dataset
Metadata Date
2024-12-09T12:31:08.034Z
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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