2f61213f5e2b47a2c6723a3c094dedbd English dataset Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority Marine Science Officer mail@eastern-ifca.gov.uk pointOfContact 2018-10-26 MEDIN Discovery metadata standard 2.3.8 urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326 2010 to Present EIFCA (Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority) The Wash Intertidal Cockle Surveys 2010-10-01 publication 2017-05-31 revision EIFCA_WFO1992_cockle_surveys Intertidal cockle surveys are conducted annually in spring between the end of March and throughout April. Data is collected for stock assessments to inform fisheries management of the Wash Fishery Order 1992 regulated cockle fishery (Total Allowable Catch, which beds to open, spatial closures to protect juvenile stocks and to identify potential issues that might cause natural mortality to occur as a result of over-crowding). Data also forms part of the Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) process required to open a fishery under Regulation 61 of The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (SI No. 2010/490), regarding The Wash and North Norfolk Coast Special Area of Conservation (Habitats Directive), The Wash Special Protected Area (Birds directive), the Wash Ramsar and SSSIs. Surveys are conducted on the intertidal sandbanks and mudflats of The Wash, which are broken down into 22 beds/survey areas. The survey incorporates approximately 1,250 sample stations that are arranged in a regular grid pattern with the same stations being used each year. Sampling is conducted either using a 0.1m2 Day grab over high water periods or by sampling on foot at low water using a 0.1m2 quadrat. Ron Jessop Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority Senior Research Officer ronjessop@eastern-ifca.gov.uk originator Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority Marine Science Officer mail@eastern-ifca.gov.uk custodian annually Documents Marine Environmental Data and Information Network NDGO0005 Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-01-06 revision Shellfish abundance and biomass in water bodies SeaDataNet P021 parameter discovery vocabulary 2009-11-16 revision Bivalve molluscs Bivalves 2015-04-07 creation No restriction to public access otherRestrictions No restriction to public access English biota Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2009-06-18 creation Southern North Sea International Hydrographic Bureau, Limits of Oceans and Seas 1954-01-01 creation North Sea ICES Statistical Areas 2014-05-16 creation IVc SeaDataNet vertical extent keywords 2010-01-01 revision benthic boundary layer 0.0138 0.4547 52.8093 53.0882 2003-03-01 2018-10-26 Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority Marine Science Officer mail@eastern-ifca.gov.uk distributor http://www.eastern-ifca.gov.uk/research-environment-plans-strategies-reports/ EIFCA publications EIFCA reports and publications http://www.eastern-ifca.gov.uk/ EIFCA Home EIFCA website dataset Each annual survey survey incorporates approximately 1,250 sample stations that are arranged in a regular grid pattern with the same stations being used each year. Sampling is conducted either using a 0.1m2 Day grab over high water periods or by sampling on foot at low water using a 0.1m2 quadrat. For each station the length and width of each cockle is measured to the nearest 1mm. The cockles are divided into two size groups (Gtr or equal 14mm width and less 14mm width), which are further sub-divided by age (Year-class). The number of cockles in each size-age group and the total weight of cockles in each group are recorded. Data is recorded directly into an Access database. These data are exported to MapInfo GIS for analysis, in which charts are hand-drawn to show the modelled distribution of the cockle stocks using Nearest Neighbour interpolation. These charts show cockle density distributions of 10-99/m2, 100-499/m2, 500-999/m2 and 1,000+/m2. Separate charts are drawn to show the distributions of Gtr and equal 14mm stocks, less 14mm stocks and Year-0 cohort stocks. For each bed/survey area the total biomass of these three groups is calculated, plus the mean density and mean biomass. Cockle size frequency charts are also produced for each survey area/bed.