2008 CCW / ASML Carmarthen Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Cockle Bed Survey
The Habitats Directive requires that the management of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) should aim to achieve the favourable conservation status of habitat and species features listed within its Annex I and Annex II. For SACs in Wales, the former Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) was therefore required to report on a regular basis on whether features are in favourable conservation status. To do this the former CCW developed a programme of feature condition monitoring. Aquatic Survey and Monitoring Ltd. (ASML) have been contracted by CCW to develop and manage the monitoring programme for the intertidal features in marine SACs for the period 2006 to 2011; working as a team with CCW HQ and CCW Regional staff. In Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC the relevant Annex I intertidal habitat features are Large shallow inlets and bays, estuaries and Mudflats and sandflats not covered by sea water at low tide. Specific areas of interest include the extensive sediment flats of the 3 rivers (Taf, Tywi and Gwendraeth), Loughor estuary (Burry inlet), open coast sands and notable rocky habitats, particularly in west Carmarthen Bay. This report and dataset contains the results of the surveys carried out in those areas in June 2007. The forms part of the monitoring that CCW also developed on intertidal monitoring across Wales during 2004 and 2005. These surveys were managed and implemented for CCW by the Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies (IECS, University of Hull). These projects focused on a wide range of sensitive habitats such as Zostera, muddy gravels, caves, rockpools, algal-dominated rocky shores, Sabellaria reefs, under-boulders, and various rare habitats and species. In Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC, IECS surveyed Ruppia maritima (Boyes 2008a), Zostera noltii beds (Mazik & Boyes 2009), the biotope SLR.FserX.T (Boyes 2008b), the polychaete Ophelia bicornis (Mazik 2008), hydroid dominated rockpools (Boyes et al. 2004), saltmarsh boundary (Boyes & Brazier 2008) and the sediment flats across the SAC (Allen et al. 2008).
- Identification
- Extent
- Distribution
- Quality
- Keywords
- Spatial Reference System
- Content
- Constraints
- Maintenance
- Metadata
Identification
- Identifier
- NRW_DS113460
- Alternative Title
-
- 2008 CCW / ASML Carmarthen Bay SAC Cockle bed monitoring MRCCW16300000012
- Arolwg o Wely Cocos ACA Bae Caerfyrddin CCGC / ASML 2008
- Intertidal SAC monitoring Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC (September 2008)
- Metadata Language
- English
- Lineage
-
Repeat transects were undertaken across the shores of Carmarthen Bay, 3 Rivers and Burry Inlet. The survey consisted of in-situ recording and the collection of core samples for infauna and particle size analyses. The work involved working along 3 transects, to repeat work completed in 2005 and 2007. Sediment cores were collected and analysed from 31 stations, at locations previously sampled in 2005 and 2007. Additional sediment surveys were completed on Pembrey Sands to account for a known bird feeding area outside of the sheltered inlets. Descriptive surveys of the biotopes present along 3 transects in the 3 Rivers estuaries (Laugharne, Llansteffan, Gwendraeth), were carried out with a modification of standard MNCR Phase 2 methodology (Hiscock 1996). The twenty transects were originally pre-selected by CCW to represent the variety of sediment biotopes present around the Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC, whilst those concentrated on in 2008 were specifically to respond to concerns of the condition of the habitats in the estuaries. Core samples for standard laboratory analysis of macrofauna and granulometry were taken from five or more sediment stations at each location (transect). Core sampling - Three core samples were taken from each of the selected sampling stations, using a 0.01 m2 corer. The cores were taken within a radius of approximately 5 m from the central mark; and randomly placed without reference to the surface features (with eyes closed!). Each core was then sieved over a 0.5 mm mesh and the sieve contents transferred to a suitable labelled pot. These samples were then taken back to the field survey base and preserved in 10% formalin. The work involved working along 3 transects, to repeat work completed in the area in both 2005 and 2007. All survey completed by professional and experienced marine field surveyors. Data quality and confidence is considered high.
- Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
- 2011-05-31
Extent
Extent
- Geographic Extent
- Wales (WLS)
))
Vertical Extent
- Medin Extent Keyword
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benthic boundary layer; soil and sediment
Distribution
- Format Type and Description
-
-
Documents
()
- Specification
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[A] Digital versions of the contract report: Microsoft Word document(s); and an equivalent Adobe Portable Document Format version. [B] MapInfo GIS layers in MapInfo Native format (Tables): - Position of the transects and sample stations - Translations from the above MapInfo Tables are retained in ESRI Shapefile and MapInfo Interchange formats. [C] Excel spreadsheets with transect physical and species data [D] Photographs of the sites, transect points and quadrats. [E] Marine Recorder file (MRCCW16300000012)
-
Documents
()
Quality
Data quality
- Quality Scope
- Dataset
- Lineage
-
Repeat transects were undertaken across the shores of Carmarthen Bay, 3 Rivers and Burry Inlet. The survey consisted of in-situ recording and the collection of core samples for infauna and particle size analyses. The work involved working along 3 transects, to repeat work completed in 2005 and 2007. Sediment cores were collected and analysed from 31 stations, at locations previously sampled in 2005 and 2007. Additional sediment surveys were completed on Pembrey Sands to account for a known bird feeding area outside of the sheltered inlets. Descriptive surveys of the biotopes present along 3 transects in the 3 Rivers estuaries (Laugharne, Llansteffan, Gwendraeth), were carried out with a modification of standard MNCR Phase 2 methodology (Hiscock 1996). The twenty transects were originally pre-selected by CCW to represent the variety of sediment biotopes present around the Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC, whilst those concentrated on in 2008 were specifically to respond to concerns of the condition of the habitats in the estuaries. Core samples for standard laboratory analysis of macrofauna and granulometry were taken from five or more sediment stations at each location (transect). Core sampling - Three core samples were taken from each of the selected sampling stations, using a 0.01 m2 corer. The cores were taken within a radius of approximately 5 m from the central mark; and randomly placed without reference to the surface features (with eyes closed!). Each core was then sieved over a 0.5 mm mesh and the sieve contents transferred to a suitable labelled pot. These samples were then taken back to the field survey base and preserved in 10% formalin. The work involved working along 3 transects, to repeat work completed in the area in both 2005 and 2007. All survey completed by professional and experienced marine field surveyors. Data quality and confidence is considered high.
Keywords
Keywords
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2008-06-01
Keywords
- NRW Thesaurus
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- intertidal
- Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC
- Infauna
- monitoring (see specific types of monitoring eg. woodland monitoring)
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2023-12-31
Keywords
- SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary
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- Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance
- Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts
- Sediment grain size parameters
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Revision)
- 2021-01-06
Spatial Reference System
Content
Content Information
NRW Profile
Custom Elements
- NRW Related Title
-
Intertidal SAC monitoring Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC September 2008
- NRW Related Title
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Intertidal SAC monitoring Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC June 2007
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
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© CNC/NRW 2011 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
- 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313133343630 XML
- Metadata Language
- English
- Parent Identifier
-
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Marine Benthic Species and Habitat Collation Held in Marine Recorder
NRW_DS114501
- Resource type
- Dataset
- Metadata Date
- 2024-05-31T09:37:37.782Z
- Metadata Standard Name
- NRW
- Metadata Standard Version
-
1.0