SAC Monitoring: Twaite (Alosa fallax) and Allis (Alosa alosa) Shad egg survey of the River Usk (2010-2011)

The River Usk rises in the Black Mountain range in the west of the Brecon Beacons National Park and flows east and then south, to enter the Severn Estuary at Newport. The river is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for several features, including salmon, lampreys and shads. Twaite (Alosa fallax) and allis (Alosa alosa) shad are anadromous members of the Family Clupeidae (Herring). In Britain, twaite shad is known to spawn in the Rivers Severn, Wye, Usk and Tywi. However, it is not certain whether a breeding population of allis shad still exists. The fomer Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), and now Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is responsible for monitoring the condition of shad populations within SACs and to ensure the maintenance of favourable conservation status within these designated sites. The JNCC 'Common Standards Methodology Guidance for Freshwater Fauna' (2005) gives a target for the spawning distribution of shad. It states there should be 'no decline in spawning distribution' assessed by kick sampling during May and June. There are two main data sources of shad spawning in the River Usk. The Environment Agency Wales (EAW), now Natural Resources Wales recorded the presence or absence of shad eggs at a number of sites, from 1990 to 2005, although surveys have only been conducted annually since 2003.

Identification

Identifier
NRW_DS112727
Alternative Title
  • Shad Egg Survey River Usk 2011 - CCW - Report no.11/8/3 CCW0008000000009
  • Shad Egg Survey River Usk 2010 - CCW - Report no.10/8/1 CCW000280000000E
  • Monitro ACA: Arolygu Wyau Gwangod (Alosa fallax) a Herlynod (Alosa alosa) yn Afon Wysg (2010-2011)
Metadata Language
English
Lineage

The data and report outlines the monitoring undertaken by former CCW and EAW staff on the spawning distribution of shad during the spawning seasons of 2010 and 2011. - 2010 Surveys and evidence of spawning was recorded from the 26th of May to 22nd of June. - 2011 Surveys and evidence of spawning was recorded from the 19th of May to 6th of July. Natural Resources Wales also hold records of visible shad spawning at one location (Usk Town, NGR SO374007) for 5 consecutive years from 1997 to 2001. The standard Hillman et al. (2003) methodology was amended to record the presence or absence of shad eggs only. A minimum of 10 kick samples were undertaken at each site with the number of eggs found in each kick recorded. If in total 10 shad eggs were recorded the survey was terminated. However, if less than 10 shad eggs were recorded the kick sampling continued either until over 10 eggs were found or a maximum of 25 kick samples had been undertaken. Confidence in data: High - work carried out by qualified CCW monitoring staff.
Additional Information

Rivers Ecologist, NRW.
Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
2012-01-31
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)
Countryside Council for Wales, Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW
http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/
Originator
  Environment Agency Wales (EA Wales)
Cambria House, 29 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0TP, Wales
www.environment-agency.gov.uk
 

Extent

Extent

Geographic Extent
Wales (WLS)
N
W
E
S
Map representing the geographic extent of the dataset


 

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword
 
 

Distribution

Format Type and Description
  • Database ()

    Specification

    [A] The final reports in Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF formats. [B] Raw data workbooks in excel format [C] A series of images held in JPEG Format [D] Species data is held in Recorder as CCW000280000000E (2010) and CCW0008000000009 (2011)

 

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 data and report outlines the monitoring undertaken by former CCW and EAW staff on the spawning distribution of shad during the spawning seasons of 2010 and 2011. - 2010 Surveys and evidence of spawning was recorded from the 26th of May to 22nd of June. - 2011 Surveys and evidence of spawning was recorded from the 19th of May to 6th of July. Natural Resources Wales also hold records of visible shad spawning at one location (Usk Town, NGR SO374007) for 5 consecutive years from 1997 to 2001. The standard Hillman et al. (2003) methodology was amended to record the presence or absence of shad eggs only. A minimum of 10 kick samples were undertaken at each site with the number of eggs found in each kick recorded. If in total 10 shad eggs were recorded the survey was terminated. However, if less than 10 shad eggs were recorded the kick sampling continued either until over 10 eggs were found or a maximum of 25 kick samples had been undertaken. Confidence in data: High - work carried out by qualified CCW monitoring staff.
 

Keywords

Keywords

NRW Thesaurus
  • alosa alosa
  • alosa fallax
  • Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) (see also Candidate Special Areas of Conservation cSAC)
  • survey methods (survey techniques) (survey) (surveying)
  • Eggs
  • clupea harengus
  • Countryside Council for Wales (CCW)
  • Shad
  • River Usk
  • Clupeidae
  • herring
Type
Theme

Citation

Date (Publication)
2024-04-09
Code
geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords
 

Spatial Reference System

Code
British National Grid (EPSG::27700)
 

Content

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

NRW Related Title

River Usk shad egg survey 2011
NRW Related Title

River Usk shad egg survey 2010
 

Constraints

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

Use Constraints

Use constraints type
Other restrictions
Other constraints

© CNC/NRW 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 NRW's copyright, 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

File Identifier
4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313132373237 XML
Metadata Language
English
Parent Identifier
Condition monitoring of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Wales

NRW_DS110194
Resource type
Dataset
Metadata Date
2024-05-31T09:43:11.379Z
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