Distribution of intertidal Zostera beds around Northern Ireland 2012
Surveys undertaken in Lough Foyle (Aug 2009), Carlingford Lough (Aug-Sep 2012), Strangford Lough (Aug-Sep 2012) and Dundrum Bay (Jul 2012). These surveys are done primarily as part of a rolling 6 year programme for the EU Water Framework Directive.
These polygons were mapped and merged to collate inter-tidal seagrass surveys originally assessed as part of the Water Framework Directives suite of Biological Quality Element tools. The data collected can also be used to inform the habitat map as it corresponds to the Eunis code 'A2.611-Mainland Atlantic Zostera noltii or Zostera angustifolia meadows'.
Surveys undertaken by Quercus at Queen's University, Belfast on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland (DOE).
Subsequently translated into EUNIS habitat classification scheme.
The polygons represent the distribution and extent of inter-tidal seagrass (eelgrass) beds around Northern Ireland. The outer limits of all beds were mapped to an accuracy of less than 1m using differential Global Positioning System (DGPS; Trimble Pro XR) by Quercus, Queen's University, Belfast. The precise delineation of Zostera beds can be problematic in that the edge of a bed may or may not be distinct. It should be noted that the bed may not be continuous, but may be comprised of a fragmented series of patches or as a mosaic of habitats for which detailed, individual mapping would be unrealistic.
mdLegalAndSecurityConstraintsSection
Resource constraints
Legal constraints
Access constraints
Other restrictions:
Limitation not listed
Other constraints
Other constraints
No restrictions - Available under the Open Government License.