This map shows benthic marine habitats and marine community types in Kilkieran Bay. MBES bathymetry and LiDAR and their derivatives slope, rugosity and variability, were used in a Random Forest model trained using sample data to predict high level EUNIS (version 2022) habitats. The MBES bathymetric and LiDAR data were collected as part of the Irish national seabed mapping programme - INFOMAR.

The Solway Firth is a large macrotidal estuary situated on the west coast of Britain and represents one of the largest tidal embayments in the north eastern Irish Sea. It has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive and as such Natural England (and Scottish Natural Heritage), have a duty to assess the condition of the SAC’s features once every six years. Natural England has commissioned this study in order to monitor and assess the extent and condition of the intertidal rocky scars sub-feature on the English side of the Solway Firth SAC.