4945cf20c014b1941ee939fd88478cfc English dataset S. Dewey SeaStar Survey info@seastarsurvey.co.uk pointOfContact 2023-04-26 MEDIN Discovery metadata standard 2.3.8 urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326 2022 Natural England (NE) Yarmouth to Cowes MCZ Phase I and II Baseline Survey of Intertidal Rock, Underboulder Communities and Peat and Clay Exposures 2023-03-29 publication 2023-03-29 creation 2023-03-29 revision NE_2165 http://https://www.natural-england.org.uk Yarmouth to Cowes Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) is an inshore site along the northwest coast of the Isle of Wight, from Yarmouth Pier in the west to the village of Gurnard in the east. The site was designated in May 2019, however as of summer 2022 no survey of the intertidal features of the site had yet been conducted. In order to inform a Conservation Advice Package for the site, Natural England commissioned Seastar Survey Ltd. (‘Seastar’) to undertake a Phase I and Phase II baseline survey of three of the features of the MCZ: intertidal rock habitats; intertidal underboulder communities; and peat and clay exposures. The objectives for the survey were: • To map the extent and distribution of the three features of interest (i.e. intertidal rock, intertidal underboulder communities and peat and clay exposures) and their associated communities within the Yarmouth to Cowes MCZ; • To identify and map the extent and distribution of biotopes and biotope complexes associated with the three features of interest; • To characterise the habitats observed by providing semi-quantitative data on species composition of representative and notable biotopes; • To provide semi-quantitative data on the physical structure of the intertidal rocky substrate, including surface and structural complexity and stability; • To record the presence and abundance of any non-indigenous species (NIS); • To acquire high-quality biological data of suitable resolution to enable key attributes of condition for each of the three intertidal features of interest to be assessed according to Common Standards Monitoring (CSM) guidance; • To identify anthropogenic influences impacting on the ability of the features of interest to achieve favourable condition; • Ensure that the collected data are suitable for future use as baseline data to allow assessments of the direction of potential ecological change. S. Dewey SeaStar Survey info@seastarsurvey.co.uk originator Natural England Marine Evidence Team +44 (0)300 060 3900 +44 (0)300 060 2356 Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green York YO1 7PX enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk custodian asNeeded Geographic Information System Marine Environmental Data and Information Network Habitats and biotopes GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-01-06 revision Habitats and biotopes INSPIRE THEMES 2011-02-16 creation Habitat extent Habitat characterisation SeaDataNet P021 parameter discovery vocabulary 2009-11-16 revision Protected Areas MEDIN 2012-02-14 creation Marine Gardline 2012-03-16 creation MCZ 100 2012-04-28 creation UK project BODC project categories 1992-07-01 creation environment International Standards Organisation ISO19115 Topic Categories 2005-04-27 revision Marine Environment Monitoring Global Change Master Directory Science Keywords V5 2006-08-31 creation Species Distribution INSPIRE 2017-05-12 creation Not suitable for use in navigation otherRestrictions No restrictions to public access 750 English biota Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2009-06-18 creation Eastern Channel ICES Rectangles 2009-05-01 creation 30E8 SeaDataNet vertical extent keywords 2010-01-01 revision littoral -1.5144 -1.3050 50.6981 50.7537 2022-09-26 2022-10-01 Natural England +44 (0)300 060 3900 +44 (0)300 060 2356 Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green York YO1 7PX enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk distributor dataset This dataset was collected and analysed by Seastar Survey Ltd. and then provided to Natural England. The survey approach focused on developing a cost-effective sampling strategy using Phase I and Phase II intertidal sampling techniques. In order to ensure analytical consistency within and between datasets, and to allow any spatial and temporal change in habitat condition to be detected, the collection and analysis of the data was completed in accordance with Common Standards Monitoring guidance (JNCC, 2004) and procedural guidelines outlined in the Marine Monitoring Handbook (Davies et al., 2001) and the CCW Handbook for Marine Intertidal Phase I Survey and Mapping (Wyn, et al., 2006). The aim of the Phase I survey was to determine the range, distribution and extent of the three relevant features of interest (i.e. intertidal rock, underboulder communities and peat and clay exposures) by assigning biotopes in situ on vertical (i.e. running from high to low shore) transects, in accordance with best practice guidance.  The aim of the Phase II survey was to provide data on the species composition (i.e. community structure) of component communities within the features of interest.  Due to time constraints, only habitats where features of interest were present were sampled. The survey was conducted from Monday 26th September 2022 to Saturday 1st October 2022.  A total of 15 Phase I transects were successfully completed. Data obtained during the Phase I and Phase II surveys were imported into ArcGIS.  These included all GPS trackplots and relevant point data from both Phase I (e.g. positions of boundary changes) and Phase II (quadrat data). The data were overlaid on available aerial photography obtained from CCO.  Utilising these data together with the wireframe map field sketches created during the Phase I surveys, polygons were created within the GIS in order to map the location of the different biotopes identified at each transect.