Identification

Title

1996 - 2013, North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NWIFCA) Mussel Surveys

Abstract

The NWIFCA conducts mussel surveys across its district in order to inform the management of this fishery. Data is collected on the percentage cover of a bed in mussel and other habitat types. The relative proportion of different size classes of mussel is also recorded. Samples are often taken for production of length frequency tables. Mussel beds are usually surveyed irregularly, with an adaptive survey strategy focusing on those beds that are very important commercially or have specific issues around their management.

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

NWIFCA_MUS_ALL_QUAD

codeSpace

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

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

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2008-01-06

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

SeaDataNet P021 parameter discovery vocabulary

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2009-11-16

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-3.7147

East bounding longitude

-2.7698

North bounding latitude

54.9831

South bounding latitude

53.2512

Extent

Extent group

authority code

title

Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-06-18

code identifying the extent

Irish Sea

Extent group

authority code

title

ICES Rectangles

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-05-01

code identifying the extent

28E9

Extent group

authority code

title

International Hydrographic Bureau, Limits of Oceans and Seas

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

1954-01-01

code identifying the extent

Irish Sea and St. George's Channel

Extent group

authority code

title

SeaDataNet vertical extent keywords

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-01-01

code identifying the extent

benthic boundary layer

Extent group

authority code

title

SeaDataNet vertical extent keywords

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-01-01

code identifying the extent

troposphere

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

1996-11-15

End position

2013-10-08

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2013-12-04

date type

revision

effective date

2013-10-08

Frequency of update

irregular

Quality and validity

Lineage

Beds are surveyed using a series of survey points in a grid pattern of 50 m, loaded onto GPS. Beds must be mapped previously to a survey in order to create this grid. However, additional points can be added in the field. At each survey point a 0.5 m2 quadrat is placed randomly within 2 m of the point. Within this quadrat the percentage cover of the two must abundant mussel categories (below) is recorded. Other types of cover (e.g. mud, rock, algae etc.) are not recorded. Spat (SP) = 1 to 10mm, Seed (S) = 10 to 25mm, Small mature clean (SMC) = 25 to 45mm, Mature clean (MC) = 45mm + No barnacles, or only one or two, Mature, some barnacles (MSB) = 45mm + Majority of shell can be seen, Mature barnacled (MB) = 45mm + Most of shell covered in barnacles, and Old barnacled (OB) = 45mm + Almost none of shell can be seen. Samples of mussels found in quadrats are taken for analysis in the lab. These are measured using a digital calliper to the nearest .5 mm and a wet weight taken. Available outputs from these surveys vary. These include raw data, amalgamated data, GIS data, thematic maps and reports. For some surveys this methodology was not followed, instead sample were taken for analysis and a general inspection completed with comments recorded.

Conformity

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

Data is freely available for research or commercial use providing that the originators are acknowledged in any publications produced. A charge may be applied to cover costs of compiling and sending data.

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

No restrictions to public access

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

North Western IFCA

organisation name

Northwestern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

email address

dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk

responsible party role

originator

Responsible party

contact position

North Western IFCA

organisation name

Northwestern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

email address

dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk

responsible party role

custodian

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

contact position

North Western IFCA

organisation name

Northwestern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

email address

dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2017-09-21

Metadata language

eng