Monitoring of Carbonate Reef Extent and Fish Population at Holden's Reef (2003 - 2010) dataset https://portal.medin.org.uk/portal/start.php?tpc=007_NRW_DS110926 Holden's Reef is a small (approximately 40 m diameter), roughly circular reef situated in the northern sector of Cardigan Bay. It is unusual in being formed as a result of a chemical reaction between seawater and the escape of natural gas from the seabed, a phenomenon generally found in much deeper waters. Holden's Reef is one of an assemblage of methanogen-precipitated calcium carbonate reefs and was the first of the group to be discovered. This dataset contains the results of a programme of monitoring established to study fish populations and reef extent. It also includes data from an in-house survey carried out at Holden's Reef in 2003, initiated following the reef's discovery, and Marine Nature Conservation Review (MNCR) phase 2 surveys carried out in 2005 of \Little\" and \"Big\" Reef. Holden's Reef is monitored for fish abundance and diversity extent and rugosity (the link between rugosity and fish abundance has been seen in several studies). This will contribute to condition assessment of the reef feature in the Pen Llyn a'r Sarnau Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Holden's Reef is situated more than 10 km off shore north west of Barmouth and is approximately 40 m in diameter. " 20101231