Bottlenose Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise Monitoring in Cardigan Bay and Pen Llyn ar Sarnau Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)
A population of bottlenose dolphins forms a primary interest of Cardigan Bay and it was for this that Cardigan Bay was first selected as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Cardigan Bay is known to host the largest population of semi-resident bottlenose dolphins in the UK. The data collected as part of this research is being used to monitor the population dynamics and behaviour of bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises in Cardigan Bay. Cardigan Bay is known to host the largest population of semi-resident bottlenose dolphins in the UK. This data covers monitoring carried out by the Sea Watch Foundation between 2011-2013 on behalf of the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and subsequently Natural Resources Wales (NRW), to monitor bottlenose dolphin and harbour porpoise populations in Cardigan Bay. The goal of this data collection was to monitor bottlenose dolphin and harbour porpoise populations in Cardigan Bay. The aims were to: - Provide information on the condition of bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises in Cardigan Bay including Cardigan Bay and Pen Llyn a'r Sarnau Special Areas of Conservation; - To use photo-identification techniques to evaluate dolphin movements distribution and abundance; - To assess supporting habitats.
- Identification
- Extent
- Distribution
- Quality
- Keywords
- Spatial Reference System
- Content
- Constraints
- Maintenance
- Metadata
Identification
- Identifier
- NRW_DS115169
- Alternative Title
-
- Monitro Dolffiniaid Trwyn Potel a Llamidyddion yn Ardal Cadwraeth Arbennig Bae Ceredigion ac Ardal Cadwraeth Arbennig Pen Llyn ar Sarnau
- Metadata Language
- English
- Lineage
-
Line-transect surveys in Cardigan Bay took place between July and October 2011 and between April and October in 2012 and 2013, with coverage being particularly good in 2013. A total of 83 line-transect surveys were conducted in Cardigan Bay throughout the study period, amounting to over 10,000 km of effort travelled in favourable conditions (sea states less than 3 Beaufort, low swell, and no rain). In Cardigan Bay SAC transect lines were divided into inner and outer shore transects. Transect lines were chosen at random. Where possible two primary observers were used to scan with the naked eye and binoculars to investigate potential sightings whilst independent observers were used to view the transect line. Observations of marine mammals were also recorded. Records included a count from scanned sightings along the transect line, general counts off the transect line, casual counts when official searching had ceased and photo identification. Ad libitum surveys were also conducted within Cardigan Bay SAC collecting effort and sightings data and photos for ID purposes. The entire coastal area from Aberaeron to Cardigan appears to be of particular significance to bottlenose dolphins, especially in the vicinity of New Quay headland, Ynys Lochtyn, Mwnt, Pen Peles and Aberporth. Other centres of activity were found in Tremadog Bay and around the reefs and sandbanks of Sarn Badrig, Sarn-y-Bwch, Sarn Cynfelyn and Patches buoy. The confidence in this dataset is medium and observations were made by experienced staff and trained volunteers.
- Additional Information
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The associated report is located in Ffynnon, NRW-14-029487 Bottlenose Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise monitoring in Cardigan Bay and Pen Llyn a'r Sarnau Special Areas of Conservation 2011-2013. Feingold., D. Evan., P. Sea Water Foundation Report No. 95
- Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
- 2014-03-31
Temporal Extent
- Begin date
- 2011-07-10
- End date
- 2013-12-31
- Topic category
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- Biota
Extent
Extent
- Geographic Extent
- Celtic Sea
- Geographic Extent
- Menai Strait
- Geographic Extent
- Tremadog Bay
- Geographic Extent
- Swansea Bay
- Geographic Extent
- Carmarthen Bay
- Geographic Extent
- St. George's Channel
- Geographic Extent
- Cardigan Bay
- Geographic Extent
- St. Brides Bay
- Geographic Extent
- Irish Sea
- Geographic Extent
- SIR CEREDIGION - CEREDIGION
))
Vertical Extent
- Medin Extent Keyword
- water column
Distribution
- Format Type and Description
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Geographic Information System
()
- Specification
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Data Archived under Project 382 Media 1393and Project 394 Media 1410 and 1481 [A] Photo ID images taken while conducting CCW funded surveys in current SWF folder structure in .jpg format [B] Photo Id database - CCW funded records only in access .mdb format [C] Sighting and Effort data in .xls spreadsheet format for CCW funded surveys [D] GPS tracks in .xls format for above [E] Master catalogue of Photo ID images in jpg format in current SWF folder structure [F] Left and Right images used within the Photo ID database in jpg format in SWF folder structure [G] Photo ID database, all SWF held records in access .mdb format [H] Protocol in .pdf or .doc format [I] Sightings and effort spreadsheet for 2005, 2006, 2007 [J] Original, cropped and unused id images for 2005, 2006, 2007 Further information available in DCT-13-049289 2013 Data Only [K] Interim Report (2012-13) in pdf format. [L] Full set of images from the report in jpg format [M] Photo ID images taken while conducting NRW funded surveys in current SWF folder structure in .jpg format [N] Photo Id database NRW funded records only in access .mdb format [O] Sighting and Effort data in .xls spreadsheet format for NRW funded surveys [P] GPS tracks in .xls format for above [Q] Master Catalogue Images (left, Right and marked) [R] Left and Right Images from the Photo_id database [S] Complete SWF database
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Geographic Information System
()
Quality
Data quality
- Quality Scope
- Dataset
- Lineage
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Line-transect surveys in Cardigan Bay took place between July and October 2011 and between April and October in 2012 and 2013, with coverage being particularly good in 2013. A total of 83 line-transect surveys were conducted in Cardigan Bay throughout the study period, amounting to over 10,000 km of effort travelled in favourable conditions (sea states less than 3 Beaufort, low swell, and no rain). In Cardigan Bay SAC transect lines were divided into inner and outer shore transects. Transect lines were chosen at random. Where possible two primary observers were used to scan with the naked eye and binoculars to investigate potential sightings whilst independent observers were used to view the transect line. Observations of marine mammals were also recorded. Records included a count from scanned sightings along the transect line, general counts off the transect line, casual counts when official searching had ceased and photo identification. Ad libitum surveys were also conducted within Cardigan Bay SAC collecting effort and sightings data and photos for ID purposes. The entire coastal area from Aberaeron to Cardigan appears to be of particular significance to bottlenose dolphins, especially in the vicinity of New Quay headland, Ynys Lochtyn, Mwnt, Pen Peles and Aberporth. Other centres of activity were found in Tremadog Bay and around the reefs and sandbanks of Sarn Badrig, Sarn-y-Bwch, Sarn Cynfelyn and Patches buoy. The confidence in this dataset is medium and observations were made by experienced staff and trained volunteers.
Keywords
Keywords
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2008-06-01
Keywords
- NRW Thesaurus
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- harbour porpoises
- phocoena phocoena
- bottlenose dolphin
- tursiops truncatus
- Cardigan Bay SAC
- photomonitoring (photographic monitoring)
- cetaceans (see also specific species)
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2023-12-31
Keywords
- SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary
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- Cetacean abundance
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Revision)
- 2021-01-06
Spatial Reference System
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
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Part of this dataset is confidential (See Media Number 1481 SWFOwnedData_Confidential). This part of the dataset is wholly owned by Sea Watch Foundation. Enquirers are advised to obtain a copy from the owner/originator directly, rather than NRW. NRW may NOT publish or disseminate it in its entirety.
Use Constraints
- Use constraints type
- Other restrictions
- Other constraints
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© CNC/NRW, 2014. Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose. © Sea Watch Foundation, 2014. Project Number 441, Media Number 1481 folder SWFOwnedData_Confidential, contains confidential data and information which must be kept confidential. Not for release by NRW. NRW does NOT grant permission to disseminate or re-use this data. Those seeking such permission must approach the originator directly.
Metadata
Metadata
- File Identifier
- 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313135313639 XML
- Metadata Language
- English
- Resource type
- Dataset
- Metadata Date
- 2024-12-09T14:38:16.794Z
- Metadata Standard Name
- NRW
- Metadata Standard Version
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1.0