Identification

Title

1993 - 2013 North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NWIFCA) Cumbrian Coast Shore Survey

Abstract

The original aim of the survey was to give an overview of the shore life and physical features of the coastline within the former Cumbria Sea Fisheries Committee (CSFC) district. The 11 sites chosen were selected as being representative of the different rocky shore ecology types present on the Cumbrian coast. The sites are now surveyed annually in order to provide information on species and habitats present and to record any changes which may have occurred due to either natural changes or anthropogenic activity. These surveys began in 1993 and the data gathered has built up into an extremely valuable time series.

Resource type

series

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

NWIFCA_CC_ALL

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

Additional information source

Annual reports, presented to the committee, are available for all years except 1994-1997.

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

2011-02-16

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2011-07-06

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-3.6146

East bounding longitude

-3.4217

North bounding latitude

54.7938

South bounding latitude

54.2960

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

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

2012-07-01

End position

2012-09-28

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2012-10-12

date type

revision

effective date

2012-02-07

Frequency of update

annually

Quality and validity

Lineage

A walkover survey was conducted at each site on spring tides during summer months. Species are recorded along a transect from the extreme high water spring tide level (EHWS) to the extreme low water spring tide level (ELWS). The shore is divided up into the upper, mid and lower shore and within each of these sections shore organisms are identified and their relative abundance estimated. Sampling is intended to be non-destructive, i.e. without the removal of species from the beach, hence it was not always possible to identify to species level. In this case organisms were identified to family or genus level, e.g. amphipod sp. (species). A confidence rating for the identification of each species is also given. Relative abundance was assessed by using a simple classification system: A = abundant, F = frequent, C = common, O = occasional, R = rare. The data collected is stored as a species matrix in an excel spreadsheet. The results for each year are presented in an annual report. The report is designed to be accessible to a wide audience. A general summary of the overall survey findings is provided, with a detailed account of each site. A table is provided at the end of each shore survey site section with the complete species list for that site for the survey year. The sites surveyed are: Dubmill Point, Maryport Golf Course, Siddick, Moss Bay, Cunning Point, Byerstead Fault, St. Bees, Nethertown, Sellafield, Drigg and Tarn Point. This data was collected by and reports written by Dr Jane Lancaster.

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

Principal Offshore Ecologist

organisation name

Natural Power Consultants

email address

sayhello@naturalpower.com

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