Identification

Title

2015 - Ongoing North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NWIFCA) Crab Tile Surveys

Abstract

In 2015 the North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation began to carry out surveys of crab tiling activities in its district. Crab tiles are small structures that are placed on the foreshore by bait gatherers. These structures provide shelter from crabs and the crabs can be collected from under the tiles at low tide. Crab tiles are usually made out of lengths of guttering or pipe stuck almost vertically into the mud or sand. This survey technique has been developed by Officers to provide an overview of crab tiles in an area and consists primarily of mapping but also interviews with gatherers encountered. The data collected will be used to inform fisheries management decisions and also Habitats Regulations Assessments carried out under the review of fishing activity in European Marine Sites.

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

NWIFCA_CRA

codeSpace

http://www.nw-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

structure

planningCadastre

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

2013-01-31

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-3.6982

East bounding longitude

-2.5776

North bounding latitude

54.9642

South bounding latitude

53.1788

Extent

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-06-18

code identifying the extent

Irish Sea

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-05-01

code identifying the extent

28E7

Extent group

authority code

title

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

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-01-01

code identifying the extent

benthic boundary layer

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-01-01

code identifying the extent

troposphere

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2014-05-16

code identifying the extent

VIIa

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2015-04-04

End position

2015-06-03

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2015-06-02

Frequency of update

asNeeded

Quality and validity

Lineage

Survey should be carried out at low water, preferably on spring tides but this is dependent on the site. The survey method will depend on the extent of the crab tile area. For all surveys the area that tiles are within should be mapped around with a GPS. If the tiles are within a small area ends of rows should be marked with waypoints and noted on the survey sheet. Tiles should also be counted and the number noted per row. If possible individual crab tiles could be marked with waypoints or each row walked in order to give an idea of angle and shape of rows but this depends on the number present. For a larger area this may not be possible, so mapping around the whole area would be necessary, but the number of rows and estimated number of tiles recorded. Access to the site and position on the shore should be recorded also. For each row (or area) the crab tile material, size and orientation of opening should be noted. Tiles should be searched by hand (using protective gloves) to ascertain if any crabs are present. If they are, then species, sex, moult state and size should be recorded. Crabs should be returned back to under the tile. It is not possible to search under every tile; instead every “n”th tile should be checked, with n determined by the number of tiles present. It is important to keep an eye out for crab collectors during the survey. If any are present then their activity should be discussed with them. Information such as where they collect, how often they collect, how long they have collected for, what the crabs are used for etc should be recorded to provide an overview of tiling in the area. Questions can be found on the crib sheet. Photos should be taken throughout the survey to help give a picture of the site. Any additional information such as birds, other beach users and sea water temperature should be recorded also.

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

organisation name

Northwestern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

email address

science@nw-ifca.gov.uk

responsible party role

custodian

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

organisation name

Northwestern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

email address

science@nw-ifca.gov.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2016-11-15

Metadata language