140ed6bc885b522d1eed34fe329899d5 English dataset Data Officer Northwestern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority science@nw-ifca.gov.uk pointOfContact 2016-11-15 MEDIN Discovery metadata standard 2.3.8 urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326 2015 - Ongoing North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NWIFCA) Crab Tile Surveys 2015-06-02 publication NWIFCA_CRA http://www.nw-ifca.gov.uk 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. Northwestern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority North Western IFCA dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk originator Data Officer Northwestern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority science@nw-ifca.gov.uk custodian asNeeded Text or Plaintext Documents Geographic Information System Image Marine Environmental Data and Information Network NDGO0005 Buildings Land use GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-01-06 revision Man-made structures Marine environment leisure usage Fishing effort SeaDataNet P021 parameter discovery vocabulary 2009-11-16 revision Transportation BODC Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2013-01-31 creation 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. otherRestrictions No restrictions to public access English structure planningCadastre Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2009-06-18 creation Irish Sea ICES Rectangles 2009-05-01 creation 28E7 International Hydrographic Bureau, Limits of Oceans and Seas 1954-01-01 creation Irish Sea and St. George's Channel SeaDataNet vertical extent keywords 2010-01-01 revision benthic boundary layer SeaDataNet vertical extent keywords 2010-01-01 revision troposphere ICES Statistical Areas 2014-05-16 creation VIIa -3.6982 -2.5776 53.1788 54.9642 2015-04-04 2015-06-03 Northwestern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority North Western IFCA dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk distributor dataset 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.