NRW_DS109884 eng NRW_DS108800 dataset Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en pointOfContact 2026-03-03T12:00:59 MEDIN 3.1.2 wel eng utf8 British National Grid (EPSG::27700) Saltmarsh Features at Milford Haven 1996 - Sea Empress Survey Saltmarsh Features at Milford Haven 1996 - Sea Empress Survey Nodweddion morfa heli Aberdaugleddau 1996 arolwg y Sea Empress Damage assessment survey of saltmarsh affected by the Sea Empress oil spill NVC Phase 2 survey at Milford Haven 1996 1999-12-31 publication 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313039383834 The Sea Empress released approximately 72,000 tonnes of crude oil and about 480 tonnes of heavy fuel oil in the period 15 to 21 Feb 1996 when grounded off Milford Haven and later while at the jetty. The coastline within Milford Haven was heavily oiled and a major clean-up operation was mounted. However, to avoid further damage, oil was not cleaned from the saltmarsh. Many of the affected saltmarshes in Milford Haven lie within Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and also form components of candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) under the Habitats Directive. As part of the response to the oil spill, the former Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) now Natural Resources Wales (NRW) commissioned a damage assessment survey of impacted saltmarshes in Milford Haven. Carry out an assessment of the possible damage to saltmarsh habitat and the associated scarce species Salicornia pusilla and Limonium humile affected by the Sea Empress oil spillage and to establish a base-line against which future changes may be kept under surveillance - this included mapping the saltmarshes using National Vegetation Classification (NVC) methodology. The survey also aimed to assess the levels of hydrocarbon pollution within the sediments of the affected saltmarshes. The Sea Empress released approximately 72,000 tonnes of crude oil and about 480 tonnes of heavy fuel oil in the period 15 to 21 Feb 1996 when grounded off Milford Haven and later while at the jetty. The coastline within Milford Haven was heavily oiled and a major clean-up operation was mounted. However, to avoid further damage, oil was not cleaned from the saltmarsh. Many of the affected saltmarshes in Milford Haven lie within Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and also form components of candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) under the Habitats Directive. As part of the response to the oil spill, the former Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) now Natural Resources Wales (NRW) commissioned a damage assessment survey of impacted saltmarshes in Milford Haven. Carry out an assessment of the possible damage to saltmarsh habitat and the associated scarce species Salicornia pusilla and Limonium humile affected by the Sea Empress oil spillage and to establish a base-line against which future changes may be kept under surveillance - this included mapping the saltmarshes using National Vegetation Classification (NVC) methodology. The survey also aimed to assess the levels of hydrocarbon pollution within the sediments of the affected saltmarshes. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en owner Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en custodian Centre For Ecology And Hydrology (NERC) Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (NERC), Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, Bangor enquiries@ceh.ac.uk http://www.ceh.ac.uk originator Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en distributor notPlanned Habitats and biotopes theme GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 publication geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme vegetation (see also specific types eg.coastal or heathland vegetation and vegetation surveys) Pembrokeshire (county pre 1974)( county since 4/96) Pembroke Dock vegetation surveys (vegetation monitoring)(see also biologicalsurveys) Sea Empress vegetation classification National Vegetation Classification (NVC) saltmarsh (salt-marsh) (salt marsh) Milford Haven theme NRW Thesaurus 2025-01-08 publication geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords Habitat characterisation Habitat extent theme SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2024-06-19 publication geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml otherRestrictions The following data is considered OS derived data and is therefore jointly owned by NRW and the Ordnance Survey. NRW may release, publish or disseminate this data freely; providing recipients are made aware of use restrictions (See general use restrictions). no limitations otherRestrictions © CNC/NRW and © Crown copyright [1999]. All rights reserved. Natural Resources Wales, AC0000849444 Third parties seeking to re-use this data require a Licence issued by NRW. It allows re-use, reproduction and dissemination in any format or medium but only for non-commercial purposes, according to the terms and conditions of the Licence. Those seeking commercial re-use require a commercial licence available from the OS. Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right. NRW Conditional vector eng utf8 environment biota NRW Geographic Identifiers Collection 2024-01-01 publication Wales (WLS) -5.166367366 -4.925810762 51.66570131 51.74573619 SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2013-02-05 creation benthic boundary layer 1996-10-31 1998-10-31 Geographic Information System [A] GIS products- Vegetation polygons (MapInfo Table) Site Boundaries (MapInfo Table) Survey Boundary (MapInfo Table) Quadrat points (MapInfo Table) Vegetation NVC summaries (MapInfo Table) Documents Paper report dataset Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08 publication This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation. false Examination of NRW colour aerial photographs taken shortly before the spill (1992 to 1995) to assess extent of saltmarsh vegetation at that time to compare with the extent of vegetation mapped after the spill. Consideration of possible impacts of oil known to have been deposited along particular stretches of the shore. Observation on the distribution of oil during fieldwork for the current survey. However, the fieldwork started eight months after the spill and so some redistribution of oil would have occurred. A phase II NVC style survey of saltmarsh vegetation and the scarce species to provide a baseline for monitoring future change. NRW commissioned survey which contributes to an NVC Saltmarsh survey collation (see 'part of' field). Data collected by trained personnel, digitised by contractors, validated by NRW, corrections made by contractors, validated again by NRW, corrections made in-house in conjunction with relevant salt marsh specialist. Examination of NRW colour aerial photographs taken shortly before the spill (1992 to 1995) to assess extent of saltmarsh vegetation at that time to compare with the extent of vegetation mapped after the spill. Consideration of possible impacts of oil known to have been deposited along particular stretches of the shore. Observation on the distribution of oil during fieldwork for the current survey. However, the fieldwork started eight months after the spill and so some redistribution of oil would have occurred. A phase II NVC style survey of saltmarsh vegetation and the scarce species to provide a baseline for monitoring future change. NRW commissioned survey which contributes to an NVC Saltmarsh survey collation (see 'part of' field). Data collected by trained personnel, digitised by contractors, validated by NRW, corrections made by contractors, validated again by NRW, corrections made in-house in conjunction with relevant salt marsh specialist.