Identification

Title

2010 to Present EIFCA (Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority) The Wash Intertidal Cockle Surveys

Abstract

Intertidal cockle surveys are conducted annually in spring between the end of March and throughout April. Data is collected for stock assessments to inform fisheries management of the Wash Fishery Order 1992 regulated cockle fishery (Total Allowable Catch, which beds to open, spatial closures to protect juvenile stocks and to identify potential issues that might cause natural mortality to occur as a result of over-crowding). Data also forms part of the Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) process required to open a fishery under Regulation 61 of The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (SI No. 2010/490), regarding The Wash and North Norfolk Coast Special Area of Conservation (Habitats Directive), The Wash Special Protected Area (Birds directive), the Wash Ramsar and SSSIs. Surveys are conducted on the intertidal sandbanks and mudflats of The Wash, which are broken down into 22 beds/survey areas. The survey incorporates approximately 1,250 sample stations that are arranged in a regular grid pattern with the same stations being used each year. Sampling is conducted either using a 0.1m2 Day grab over high water periods or by sampling on foot at low water using a 0.1m2 quadrat.

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

http://www.eastern-ifca.gov.uk/research-environment-plans-strategies-reports/

name: EIFCA publications

description: EIFCA reports and publications

http://www.eastern-ifca.gov.uk/

name: EIFCA Home

description: EIFCA website

Unique resource identifier

code

EIFCA_WFO1992_cockle_surveys

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

biota

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Keyword set

keyword value

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2008-01-06

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2009-11-16

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2015-04-07

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

0.0138

East bounding longitude

0.4547

North bounding latitude

53.0882

South bounding latitude

52.8093

Extent

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-06-18

code identifying the extent

Southern North Sea

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

1954-01-01

code identifying the extent

North Sea

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2014-05-16

code identifying the extent

IVc

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-01-01

code identifying the extent

benthic boundary layer

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2003-03-01

End position

2018-10-26

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2010-10-01

date type

revision

effective date

2017-05-31

Frequency of update

annually

Quality and validity

Lineage

Each annual survey survey incorporates approximately 1,250 sample stations that are arranged in a regular grid pattern with the same stations being used each year. Sampling is conducted either using a 0.1m2 Day grab over high water periods or by sampling on foot at low water using a 0.1m2 quadrat. For each station the length and width of each cockle is measured to the nearest 1mm. The cockles are divided into two size groups (Gtr or equal 14mm width and less 14mm width), which are further sub-divided by age (Year-class). The number of cockles in each size-age group and the total weight of cockles in each group are recorded. Data is recorded directly into an Access database. These data are exported to MapInfo GIS for analysis, in which charts are hand-drawn to show the modelled distribution of the cockle stocks using Nearest Neighbour interpolation. These charts show cockle density distributions of 10-99/m2, 100-499/m2, 500-999/m2 and 1,000+/m2. Separate charts are drawn to show the distributions of Gtr and equal 14mm stocks, less 14mm stocks and Year-0 cohort stocks. For each bed/survey area the total biomass of these three groups is calculated, plus the mean density and mean biomass. Cockle size frequency charts are also produced for each survey area/bed.

Conformity

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

No restriction to public access

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

No restriction to public access

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

Senior Research Officer

organisation name

Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

email address

ronjessop@eastern-ifca.gov.uk

responsible party role

originator

Responsible party

contact position

Marine Science Officer

organisation name

Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

email address

mail@eastern-ifca.gov.uk

responsible party role

custodian

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

contact position

Marine Science Officer

organisation name

Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

email address

mail@eastern-ifca.gov.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2018-10-26

Metadata language