Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/2593190e-9a49-43a4-b4a8-9467257099fa</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
These are prime wildlife conservation areas in the country, considered to be important on a European as well as Irish level. Most Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are in the countryside, although a few sites reach into town or city landscapes, such as Dublin Bay and Cork Harbour. Detailed conservation objectives are available for some SACs and as additional ones are approved they will be posted on the NPWS website (www.npws.ie). The legal basis on which SACs are selected and designated is the EU Habitats Directive, transposed into Irish law in the as amended in 1998 and 2005. The Directive lists certain habitats and species that must be protected within SACs This is a national dataset and is split into two separate file download: SACs within the bounds of the ITM coordinate reference system and off-shore SACs which are provided in WGS 84.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/2593190e-9a49-43a4-b4a8-9467257099fa</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
These are prime wildlife conservation areas in the country, considered to be important on a European as well as Irish level. Most Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are in the countryside, although a few sites reach into town or city landscapes, such as Dublin Bay and Cork Harbour. Detailed conservation objectives are available for some SACs and as additional ones are approved they will be posted on the NPWS website (www.npws.ie). The legal basis on which SACs are selected and designated is the EU Habitats Directive, transposed into Irish law in the as amended in 1998 and 2005. The Directive lists certain habitats and species that must be protected within SACs This is a national dataset and is split into two separate file download: SACs within the bounds of the ITM coordinate reference system and off-shore SACs which are provided in WGS 84.
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/2593190e-9a49-43a4-b4a8-9467257099fa</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
These are prime wildlife conservation areas in the country, considered to be important on a European as well as Irish level. Most Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are in the countryside, although a few sites reach into town or city landscapes, such as Dublin Bay and Cork Harbour. Detailed conservation objectives are available for some SACs and as additional ones are approved they will be posted on the NPWS website (www.npws.ie). The legal basis on which SACs are selected and designated is the EU Habitats Directive, transposed into Irish law in the as amended in 1998 and 2005. The Directive lists certain habitats and species that must be protected within SACs This is a national dataset and is split into two separate file download: SACs within the bounds of the ITM coordinate reference system and off-shore SACs which are provided in WGS 84.
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/2593190e-9a49-43a4-b4a8-9467257099fa</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
These are prime wildlife conservation areas in the country, considered to be important on a European as well as Irish level. Most Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are in the countryside, although a few sites reach into town or city landscapes, such as Dublin Bay and Cork Harbour. Detailed conservation objectives are available for some SACs and as additional ones are approved they will be posted on the NPWS website (www.npws.ie). The legal basis on which SACs are selected and designated is the EU Habitats Directive, transposed into Irish law in the as amended in 1998 and 2005. The Directive lists certain habitats and species that must be protected within SACs This is a national dataset and is split into two separate file download: SACs within the bounds of the ITM coordinate reference system and off-shore SACs which are provided in WGS 84.
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/015e423d-8e7d-4483-8421-5cc79bd143ef</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
The basic designation for wildlife is the Natural Heritage Area (NHA). This is an area considered nationally important for the habitats present or that holds species of plants and animals whose habitat needs protection. They are protected under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act of 2000.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/549d2fd1-089d-4d17-98c2-4dfe621ef93a</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
Proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHA) were published on a non-statutory basis in 1995. They have not since been statutorily proposed or designated. These sites are of significance for wildlife and habitats. A process is underway to resurvey and formally designate some pNHAs as NHAs.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/4f748046-6513-4a78-b5ca-39e2e5a8629f</metadata>
<keywords> life science, biology</keywords>
The EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) requires designation of SPAs for: listed rare and vulnerable species; regularly occurring migratory species, such as ducks, geese and waders; wetlands, especially those of international importance, which attract large numbers of migratory birds each year. (Internationally important means that 1% of the population of a species uses the site, or more than 20,000 birds regularly use the site.)
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/4f748046-6513-4a78-b5ca-39e2e5a8629f</metadata>
<keywords> life science, biology</keywords>
The EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) requires designation of SPAs for: listed rare and vulnerable species; regularly occurring migratory species, such as ducks, geese and waders; wetlands, especially those of international importance, which attract large numbers of migratory birds each year. (Internationally important means that 1% of the population of a species uses the site, or more than 20,000 birds regularly use the site.) This is a national dataset.
Description: <metadata>http://www.ramsar.org</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
The Ramsar Convention (formally, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat) is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, recognising the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value. It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the Convention was signed in 1971.
Description: <metadata>http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4525</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 allows for the creation of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). MCZs protect a range of nationally important marine wildlife, habitats, geology and geomorphology, and can be designated anywhere in English and Welsh territorial and UK offshore waters. Lundy Island, a former Marine Nature Reserve in the Bristol Channel became the UKs first MCZ in January 2010. More information on Marine Conservation Zones is available on Defras website. To date 50 sites were designated within English waters. We have produced Site Information Centres for MCZs that are designated in offshore waters, or cross the territorial/offshore boundary.
Description: <metadata>http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineprotectedareas</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
UK seas are home to some of the most biologically diverse habitats and species in Europe. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are one of the tools that can help to protect the marine environment, whilst also enabling it's sustainable use, ensuring it remains healthy and contributes to our society for generations to come. JNCC is responsible for identifying and providing conservation advice on MPAs in UK offshore waters (beyond 12 nautical miles).
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/eee3372b-2ae7-4e3b-8185-c701c27bf5f4</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
Ireland amended and replaced its framework legislation for managing sea-fisheries in Natura 2000 sites in 2013. The new framework legislation is the European Union (Birds and Natural Habitats)(Sea-Fisheries) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 290 of 2013). These regulations have been drafted to implement the responsibilities of the Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine in relation to sea-fisheries in Natura 2000 sites, in accordance with the Habitats and Birds Directives as transposed by the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 477 of 2011).
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, Irish Naval Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
Coastal lagoons are areas of shallow, coastal salt water, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sandbanks, shingle or, less frequently, rocks. Lagoons show a wide range of geographical and ecological variation; five main sub-types have been identified in the UK, on the basis of their physiography, as meeting the definition of the Annex I habitat type.
1. Isolated lagoons. These are separated completely from the sea or estuary by a barrier of rock or sediment. Seawater enters by limited groundwater seepage or by over-topping of the sea barrier. Salinity is variable but often low. Isolated lagoons are often transient features with a limited life-span due to natural processes of infilling and coastal erosion.
2. Percolation lagoons. These are normally separated from the sea by shingle banks. Seawater enters by percolating through the shingle or occasionally by over-topping the bank (e.g. in storms). The water level shows some variation with tidal changes, and salinity may vary. Since percolation lagoons are normally formed by natural processes of sediment transport, they are relatively transient features, which may be eroded and swept away over a period of years or decades or may become infilled by movement of the shingle bank.
3. Silled lagoons. Water in silled lagoons is retained at all states of the tide by a barrier of rock (the sill). There is usually little tidal rise-and-fall. Seawater input is regular (i.e. on most tides) and although salinity may be seasonally variable, it is usually high, except where the level of the sill is near to high tide level. These lagoons are restricted to the north and west of Scotland and may occur as sedimentary basins or in bedrock (where they are called oban). Muddy areas are dominated by filamentous green algae, amongst which may be colonies of rare charophytes, such as foxtail stonewort Lamprothamnium papulosum. There may be beds of tasselweed Ruppia spp. and, in the deeper most stable lagoons, eelgrass Zostera marina.
4. Sluiced lagoons. Sluiced lagoons are formed where the natural movement of water between the lagoon and the sea is modified by artificial structures, such as a culvert under a road or valved sluices. Communities present in sluiced lagoons vary according to the type of substrate and salinity, but may resemble those of silled lagoons.
5. Lagoonal inlets. Seawater enters lagoonal inlets on each tide and salinity is usually high, particularly at the seaward part of the inlet. Larger examples of this sub-type may have a number of different basins, separated by sills, and demonstrate a complete gradient from full salinity through brackish to freshwater. This salinity gradient significantly increases the habitat and species diversity of the sites in which it occurs.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
Estuaries are habitat complexes which comprise an interdependent mosaic of subtidal and intertidal habitats, which are closely associated with surrounding terrestrial habitats. Many of these habitats, such as 1140 Mudflats and sandflats not covered by sea water at low tide, saltmarshes, 1110 Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time and 1170 Reefs, are identified as Annex I habitat types in their own right. Estuaries are defined as the downstream part of a river valley, subject to the tide and extending from the limit of brackish water. There is a gradient of salinity from freshwater in the river to increasingly marine conditions towards the open sea. The input of sediment from the river, the shelter of the estuary from wave action, and the often low current flows typically lead to the presence of extensive intertidal sediment flats and sediment-filled subtidal channels. There is usually only a limited extent of rocky habitat. In contrast, marine inlets where seawater is not significantly diluted by freshwater are considered as Annex I type 1160 Large shallow inlets and bays.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
Large shallow inlets and bays are large indentations of the coast, generally more sheltered from wave action than the open coast. They are relatively shallow (with water less than 30 m over most of the area), and in contrast to estuaries, generally have much lower freshwater influence.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
The distributiuon of Marine Community Types designated under the Special Area Conservation habitats Directive. The Marine Community Type descriptions provides details on the type of communities protected.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Value: Coarse sediment dominated by polychaetes community complex Label: Coarse sediment dominated by polychaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Coarse sediment to sandy mud with Pygospio elegans community complex Label: Coarse sediment to sandy mud with Pygospio elegans community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Coarse sediment to sandy mud with oligochaetes and polychaetes community complex Label: Coarse sediment to sandy mud with oligochaetes and polychaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Coarse sediment with Pomatoceros spp. and Pisidia longicornis community complex Label: Coarse sediment with Pomatoceros spp. and Pisidia longicornis community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Coarse sediment with platyhelminthes, nematodes and polychaetes community Label: Coarse sediment with platyhelminthes, nematodes and polychaetes community Description: Symbol:
Value: Cobbles and coarse sediment with polychaetes and epifauna community complex Label: Cobbles and coarse sediment with polychaetes and epifauna community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Current-swept subtidal reef community complex (cobbles and boulders) Label: Current-swept subtidal reef community complex (cobbles and boulders) Description: Symbol:
Value: Deep water sand dominated by bivalves and polychaetes community complex Label: Deep water sand dominated by bivalves and polychaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Estuarine fine sands dominated by polychaetes and oligochaetes community complex Label: Estuarine fine sands dominated by polychaetes and oligochaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Estuarine mixed sediment to sandy mud with Hediste diversicolor and oligochaetes community complex. Label: Estuarine mixed sediment to sandy mud with Hediste diversicolor and oligochaetes community complex. Description: Symbol:
Value: Estuarine muddy sand dominated by Hediste diversicolor and Heterochaeta costata community complex Label: Estuarine muddy sand dominated by Hediste diversicolor and Heterochaeta costata community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Estuarine muds dominated by polychaetes and crustaceans community complex Label: Estuarine muds dominated by polychaetes and crustaceans community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Estuarine muds with polychaetes and crustaceans community complex Label: Estuarine muds with polychaetes and crustaceans community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Estuarine sandy mud to mixed sediment with Tubificoides benedii, Hediste diversicolor and Peringia ulvae community complex Label: Estuarine sandy mud to mixed sediment with Tubificoides benedii, Hediste diversicolor and Peringia ulvae community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Estuarine sandy mud with Chironomidae and Hediste diversicolor community complex Label: Estuarine sandy mud with Chironomidae and Hediste diversicolor community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Estuarine sandy mud with Pygospio elegans and Tubificoides benedii community complex Label: Estuarine sandy mud with Pygospio elegans and Tubificoides benedii community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Estuarine subtidal muddy sand to mixed sediment with gammarids community complex Label: Estuarine subtidal muddy sand to mixed sediment with gammarids community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Exposed subtidal reef dominated by a faunal community complex Label: Exposed subtidal reef dominated by a faunal community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Exposed subtidal reef with Echinoderms and encrusting algae community Label: Exposed subtidal reef with Echinoderms and encrusting algae community Description: Symbol:
Value: Exposed to moderately exposed intertidal reef community complex Label: Exposed to moderately exposed intertidal reef community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Exposed to moderately exposed subtidal reef community complex Label: Exposed to moderately exposed subtidal reef community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Fine sand to sandy mud with Pygospio elegans and Crangon crangon community complex Label: Fine sand to sandy mud with Pygospio elegans and Crangon crangon community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Fine sand with Angulus spp. and Nephtys spp. community complex. Label: Fine sand with Angulus spp. and Nephtys spp. community complex. Description: Symbol:
Value: Fine sand with crustaceans and Scolelepis (Scolelepis) squamata community complex. Label: Fine sand with crustaceans and Scolelepis (Scolelepis) squamata community complex. Description: Symbol:
Value: Fine sand with oligochaetes, amphipods, bivalves and polychaetes community complex Label: Fine sand with oligochaetes, amphipods, bivalves and polychaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Fine sands with Pygospio elegans and Corophium volutator community complex Label: Fine sands with Pygospio elegans and Corophium volutator community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Fine to medium sand with Eurydice pulchra community complex Label: Fine to medium sand with Eurydice pulchra community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Fine to medium sand with crustaceans and polychaetes community complex Label: Fine to medium sand with crustaceans and polychaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Fine to muddy fine sand with polychaetes community complex Label: Fine to muddy fine sand with polychaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Gravelly sand with bivalves, polychaetes and nemerteans community complex Label: Gravelly sand with bivalves, polychaetes and nemerteans community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Intertidal coarse sediment with Enchytraeid oligochaetes and Scolelepsis squamata community complex Label: Intertidal coarse sediment with Enchytraeid oligochaetes and Scolelepsis squamata community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Intertidal estuarine mud and fine sand with Hediste diversicolor and Corophium volutator community Label: Intertidal estuarine mud and fine sand with Hediste diversicolor and Corophium volutator community Description: Symbol:
Value: Intertidal fine sand with Bathyporeia pilosa and Nephtys cirrosa community Label: Intertidal fine sand with Bathyporeia pilosa and Nephtys cirrosa community Description: Symbol:
Value: Intertidal fine sand with Peringia ulvae and Pygospio elegans community complex. Label: Intertidal fine sand with Peringia ulvae and Pygospio elegans community complex. Description: Symbol:
Value: Intertidal muddy sand to sand dominated by polychaetes, bivalves and crustaceans community complex Label: Intertidal muddy sand to sand dominated by polychaetes, bivalves and crustaceans community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Intertidal muddy sand with Pygospio elegans and Tubificoides benedii community complex Label: Intertidal muddy sand with Pygospio elegans and Tubificoides benedii community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Intertidal sand dominated by polychaetes community complex Label: Intertidal sand dominated by polychaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Intertidal sand to mixed sediment with polychaetes, molluscs and crustaceans community complex Label: Intertidal sand to mixed sediment with polychaetes, molluscs and crustaceans community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Intertidal sand to muddy sand dominated by polychaetes community complex Label: Intertidal sand to muddy sand dominated by polychaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Intertidal sand with Scolelepis squamata and Pontocrates spp. community Label: Intertidal sand with Scolelepis squamata and Pontocrates spp. community Description: Symbol:
Value: Intertidal sand with nematodes and polychaetes community complex Label: Intertidal sand with nematodes and polychaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Intertidal sandy mud with Tubificoides benedii and Pygospio elegans community complex Label: Intertidal sandy mud with Tubificoides benedii and Pygospio elegans community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Intertidal sandy mud with Tubificoides benedii and Pygospio elegans complex community Label: Intertidal sandy mud with Tubificoides benedii and Pygospio elegans complex community Description: Symbol:
Value: Maërl-dominated community / Zostera-dominated community complex Label: Maërl-dominated community / Zostera-dominated community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Maërl-dominated community complex / Zostera-dominated community complex Label: Maërl-dominated community complex / Zostera-dominated community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Medium to fine sand with Nephtys cirrosa and Spiophanes bombyx community complex Label: Medium to fine sand with Nephtys cirrosa and Spiophanes bombyx community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Mixed sediment to sand with nematodes and Tubificoides benedii community complex Label: Mixed sediment to sand with nematodes and Tubificoides benedii community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Mixed sediment to sandy mud with polychaetes and oligochaetes community complex Label: Mixed sediment to sandy mud with polychaetes and oligochaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Mixed sediment with crustaceans, bivalves and polychaetes community complex Label: Mixed sediment with crustaceans, bivalves and polychaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Mixed sediment with epibenthic crustacean community complex Label: Mixed sediment with epibenthic crustacean community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Mobile sand with Haustorius arenarius and polychaetes community complex Label: Mobile sand with Haustorius arenarius and polychaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Muddy fine sands dominated by polychaetes and Amphiura filiformis community complex Label: Muddy fine sands dominated by polychaetes and Amphiura filiformis community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Muddy sand to coarse sediment with Pygospio elegans community complex Label: Muddy sand to coarse sediment with Pygospio elegans community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Muddy sand to fine sand dominated by Hydrobia ulvae, Pygospio elegans and Tubificoides benedii community complex Label: Muddy sand to fine sand dominated by Hydrobia ulvae, Pygospio elegans and Tubificoides benedii community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Muddy sand to gravel with polychaetes and bivalves community complex Label: Muddy sand to gravel with polychaetes and bivalves community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Muddy sand to sand with Hediste diversicolor, Corophium volutator and Peringia ulvae community complex Label: Muddy sand to sand with Hediste diversicolor, Corophium volutator and Peringia ulvae community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Muddy sand with bivalves and polychaetes community complex Label: Muddy sand with bivalves and polychaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Muds to mixed sediment with polychaetes, bivalves and oligochaetes community complex Label: Muds to mixed sediment with polychaetes, bivalves and oligochaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand and mixed sediment with polychaetes and crustaceans community complex Label: Sand and mixed sediment with polychaetes and crustaceans community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand dominated by Nephtys cirrosa and Bathyporeia sp. community complex Label: Sand dominated by Nephtys cirrosa and Bathyporeia sp. community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand to coarse sediment with Nephtys cirrosa and Scolelepis squamata community complex Label: Sand to coarse sediment with Nephtys cirrosa and Scolelepis squamata community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand to coarse sediment with Pygospio elegans community complex Label: Sand to coarse sediment with Pygospio elegans community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand to coarse sediment with crustaceans and Polyophthalmus pictus community complex Label: Sand to coarse sediment with crustaceans and Polyophthalmus pictus community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand to mixed sediment with oligochaetes communitunity complex Label: Sand to mixed sediment with oligochaetes communitunity complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand to mixed sediment with polychaetes and Edwardsia spp. community complex Label: Sand to mixed sediment with polychaetes and Edwardsia spp. community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand to muddy sand dominated by Peringia ulvae, Tubificoides benedii and Cerastoderma edule community complex Label: Sand to muddy sand dominated by Peringia ulvae, Tubificoides benedii and Cerastoderma edule community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand to sandy mud with Tubificoides benedii and Peringia ulvae community complex Label: Sand to sandy mud with Tubificoides benedii and Peringia ulvae community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand to sandy mud with polychaetes and bivalves community complex Label: Sand to sandy mud with polychaetes and bivalves community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand with Angulus tenuis and Pygospio elegans community complex Label: Sand with Angulus tenuis and Pygospio elegans community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand with Angulus tenuis and Scoloplos (Scoloplos) armiger community complex Label: Sand with Angulus tenuis and Scoloplos (Scoloplos) armiger community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand with Nephtys cirrosa and Bathyporeia elegans community complex Label: Sand with Nephtys cirrosa and Bathyporeia elegans community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand with Pygospio elegans and Cerastoderma edule community complex Label: Sand with Pygospio elegans and Cerastoderma edule community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand with Tellina sp. and Perioculodes longimanus community complex Label: Sand with Tellina sp. and Perioculodes longimanus community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand with amphipods, polychaetes and Tellina tenuis community complex Label: Sand with amphipods, polychaetes and Tellina tenuis community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand with bivalves, nematodes and crustaceans community complex Label: Sand with bivalves, nematodes and crustaceans community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sand with crustaceans and Nephtys hombergii community complex Label: Sand with crustaceans and Nephtys hombergii community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sandy mud to mixed sediment with Melinna palmata community complex Label: Sandy mud to mixed sediment with Melinna palmata community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sandy mud to mixed sediments with Tubificoides benedii and Hediste diversicolor community complex Label: Sandy mud to mixed sediments with Tubificoides benedii and Hediste diversicolor community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Sandy mud with Hediste diversicolor and Tubificoides benedii community Label: Sandy mud with Hediste diversicolor and Tubificoides benedii community Description: Symbol:
Value: Sheltered to moderately exposed intertidal reef community complex Label: Sheltered to moderately exposed intertidal reef community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Subtidal estuarine fine sand with Bathyporeia spp. community complex Label: Subtidal estuarine fine sand with Bathyporeia spp. community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Subtidal fine sands with polychaetes and bivalves community complex Label: Subtidal fine sands with polychaetes and bivalves community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Subtidal reef dominated by echinoderms and sponges community complex Label: Subtidal reef dominated by echinoderms and sponges community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Subtidal reef with echinoderms and faunal turf community complex Label: Subtidal reef with echinoderms and faunal turf community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Subtidal reef with echinoderms and sponges community complex Label: Subtidal reef with echinoderms and sponges community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Subtidal reef with sponges and echinoderms community complex Label: Subtidal reef with sponges and echinoderms community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Subtidal sand to mixed sediment with Nephtys spp. community complex Label: Subtidal sand to mixed sediment with Nephtys spp. community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Subtidal sand to mixed sediment with Nucula nucleus community complex Label: Subtidal sand to mixed sediment with Nucula nucleus community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Subtidal sand with Bathyporeia elegans and polychaetes community complex Label: Subtidal sand with Bathyporeia elegans and polychaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Subtidal sand with amphipods and polychaetes community complex Label: Subtidal sand with amphipods and polychaetes community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Subtidal sand with polychaetes and bivalves community complex Label: Subtidal sand with polychaetes and bivalves community complex Description: Symbol:
Value: Zostera-dominated community complex / Maërl-dominated community complex Label: Zostera-dominated community complex / Maërl-dominated community complex Description: Symbol:
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
A reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water (80 meters or less beneath low water). Many reefs result from abiotic processes deposition of sand, wave erosion planing down rock outcrops, and other natural processes but the best-known reefs are the coral reefs of tropical waters developed through biotic processes dominated by corals and calcareous algae. Artificial reefs such as shipwrecks are sometimes created to enhance physical complexity on generally featureless sand bottoms in order to attract a diverse assemblage of organisms, especially fish.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
Atlantic salt meadows develop when halophytic vegetation colonises soft intertidal sediments of mud and sand in areas protected from strong wave action. This vegetation forms the middle and upper reaches of saltmarshes, where tidal inundation still occurs but with decreasing frequency and duration. A wide range of community types is represented and the saltmarshes can cover large areas, especially where there has been little or no enclosure on the landward side. The vegetation varies with climate and the frequency and duration of tidal inundation. Grazing by domestic livestock is particularly significant in determining the structure and species composition of the habitat type and in determining its relative value for plants, for invertebrates and for wintering or breeding waterfowl.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time consist of sandy sediments that are permanently covered by shallow sea water, typically at depths of less than 20 m below chart datum (but sometimes including channels or other areas greater than 20 m deep). The habitat comprises distinct banks (i.e. elongated, rounded or irregular mound shapes) which may arise from horizontal or sloping plains of sandy sediment. Where the areas of horizontal or sloping sandy habitat are closely associated with the banks, they are included within the Annex I type.
The diversity and types of community associated with this habitat are determined particularly by sediment type together with a variety of other physical, chemical and hydrographic factors. These include geographical location (influencing water temperature), the relative exposure of the coast (from wave-exposed open coasts to tide-swept coasts or sheltered inlets and estuaries), the topographical structure of the habitat, and differences in the depth, turbidity and salinity of the surrounding water. Within the UKs inshore waters Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time can be categorised into four main sub-types.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
A sand dune is a mount, hill or ridge of sand that lies behind the part of the beach affected by tides. They are formed over many years when windblown sand is trapped by beach grass or other stationary objects.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
This Annex I type includes submerged sea caves and also partially submerged caves which are only exposed to the sea at high tide. Caves vary in size, from only a few metres to more extensive systems, which may extend hundreds of metres into the rock. There may be tunnels or caverns with one or more entrances, in which vertical and overhanging rock faces provide the principal marine habitat. They are typically associated with 1170 Reefs.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
Vegetated sea cliffs are steep slopes fringing hard or soft coasts, created by past or present marine erosion, and supporting a wide diversity of vegetation types with variable maritime influence. Exposure to the sea (wave splash and sea spray) is a key determinant of the type of sea cliff vegetation, although the amount of rainfall is also a contributing factor. The most exposed areas support maritime vegetation dominated by a range of salt-tolerant plants. More sheltered cliffs support communities closely related to those found on similar substrates inland, such as grassland and heath, with only a minor maritime element in the flora.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, ecology</keywords>
Intertidal mudflats and sandflats are submerged at high tide and exposed at low tide. They form a major component of 1130 Estuaries and 1160 Large shallow inlets and bays in the UK but also occur extensively along the open coast and in lagoonal inlets. The physical structure of the intertidal flats ranges from mobile, coarse-sand beaches on wave-exposed coasts to stable, fine-sediment mudflats in estuaries and other marine inlets. This habitat type can be divided into three broad categories (clean sands, muddy sands and muds), although in practice there is a continuous gradation between them. Within this range the plant and animal communities present vary according to the type of sediment, its stability and the salinity of the water.
1. Clean sands. These occur particularly on open coast beaches and in bays around the UK where wave action or strong tidal currents prevent the deposition of finer silt. Owing to the mobility of the sediment and consequent abrasion, species that inhabit clean sands tend to be robust and include amphipod crustaceans, such as sandhoppers Bathyporeia spp., some polychaete worms and certain bivalve molluscs.
2. Muddy sands. These occur particularly on more sheltered shores of the open coast and at the mouths of estuaries or behind barrier islands, where sediment conditions are relatively stable. A wide range of species, such as lugworm Arenicola marina, and other polychaete worms and bivalve molluscs, can colonise these sediments. Substantial beds of mussels Mytilus edulis may develop on the lower shore. Intertidal beds of eelgrass Zostera spp. may also occur. In estuaries, reduced salinity conditions may give rise to a variety of other communities.
3. Mudflats. These form in the most sheltered areas of the coast, usually where large quantities of silt derived from rivers are deposited in estuaries. The sediment is stable and communities are typically dominated by polychaete worms and bivalve molluscs and may support very high densities of the mud-snail Hydrobia ulvae. The high biomass of invertebrates in such sediments often provides an important food source for waders and wildfowl, such as common shelduck Tadorna tadorna, knot Calidris canuta and dunlin Calidris alpina.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, biology</keywords>
Conservation objectives for Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) have to be set for the habitats and species for which the sites are selected. These objectives are used when carrying out appropriate assessments for plans and projects that might impact on these sites. Site-specific conservation objectives outline attributes with targets, which define favourable condition for a habitat or species at a particular site. They are used for appropriate assessment of plans or projects. In addition, they can provide useful information for conservation management planning. The maintenance of habitats and species within Natura 2000 sites at favourable conservation condition will contribute to the overall maintenance of favourable conservation status of those habitats and species at a national level.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, biology</keywords>
Conservation objectives for Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) have to be set for the habitats and species for which the sites are selected. These objectives are used when carrying out appropriate assessments for plans and projects that might impact on these sites. Site-specific conservation objectives outline attributes with targets, which define favourable condition for a habitat or species at a particular site. They are used for appropriate assessment of plans or projects. In addition, they can provide useful information for conservation management planning. The maintenance of habitats and species within Natura 2000 sites at favourable conservation condition will contribute to the overall maintenance of favourable conservation status of those habitats and species at a national level.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, biology</keywords>
Conservation objectives for Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) have to be set for the habitats and species for which the sites are selected. These objectives are used when carrying out appropriate assessments for plans and projects that might impact on these sites. Site-specific conservation objectives outline attributes with targets, which define favourable condition for a habitat or species at a particular site. They are used for appropriate assessment of plans or projects. In addition, they can provide useful information for conservation management planning. The maintenance of habitats and species within Natura 2000 sites at favourable conservation condition will contribute to the overall maintenance of favourable conservation status of those habitats and species at a national level.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, biology</keywords>
Conservation objectives for Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) have to be set for the habitats and species for which the sites are selected. These objectives are used when carrying out appropriate assessments for plans and projects that might impact on these sites. Site-specific conservation objectives outline attributes with targets, which define favourable condition for a habitat or species at a particular site. They are used for appropriate assessment of plans or projects. In addition, they can provide useful information for conservation management planning. The maintenance of habitats and species within Natura 2000 sites at favourable conservation condition will contribute to the overall maintenance of favourable conservation status of those habitats and species at a national level.
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, biology</keywords>
Conservation objectives for Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) have to be set for the habitats and species for which the sites are selected. These objectives are used when carrying out appropriate assessments for plans and projects that might impact on these sites. Site-specific conservation objectives outline attributes with targets, which define favourable condition for a habitat or species at a particular site. They are used for appropriate assessment of plans or projects. In addition, they can provide useful information for conservation management planning. The maintenance of habitats and species within Natura 2000 sites at favourable conservation condition will contribute to the overall maintenance of favourable conservation status of those habitats and species at a national level.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, biology</keywords>
Conservation objectives for Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) have to be set for the habitats and species for which the sites are selected. These objectives are used when carrying out appropriate assessments for plans and projects that might impact on these sites. Site-specific conservation objectives outline attributes with targets, which define favourable condition for a habitat or species at a particular site. They are used for appropriate assessment of plans or projects. In addition, they can provide useful information for conservation management planning. The maintenance of habitats and species within Natura 2000 sites at favourable conservation condition will contribute to the overall maintenance of favourable conservation status of those habitats and species at a national level.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, biology</keywords>
Conservation objectives for Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) have to be set for the habitats and species for which the sites are selected. These objectives are used when carrying out appropriate assessments for plans and projects that might impact on these sites. Site-specific conservation objectives outline attributes with targets, which define favourable condition for a habitat or species at a particular site. They are used for appropriate assessment of plans or projects. In addition, they can provide useful information for conservation management planning. The maintenance of habitats and species within Natura 2000 sites at favourable conservation condition will contribute to the overall maintenance of favourable conservation status of those habitats and species at a national level.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, biology</keywords>
Conservation objectives for Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) have to be set for the habitats and species for which the sites are selected. These objectives are used when carrying out appropriate assessments for plans and projects that might impact on these sites. Site-specific conservation objectives outline attributes with targets, which define favourable condition for a habitat or species at a particular site. They are used for appropriate assessment of plans or projects. In addition, they can provide useful information for conservation management planning. The maintenance of habitats and species within Natura 2000 sites at favourable conservation condition will contribute to the overall maintenance of favourable conservation status of those habitats and species at a national level. This is a national dataset.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, biology</keywords>
Conservation objectives for Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) have to be set for the habitats and species for which the sites are selected. These objectives are used when carrying out appropriate assessments for plans and projects that might impact on these sites. Site-specific conservation objectives outline attributes with targets, which define favourable condition for a habitat or species at a particular site. They are used for appropriate assessment of plans or projects. In addition, they can provide useful information for conservation management planning. The maintenance of habitats and species within Natura 2000 sites at favourable conservation condition will contribute to the overall maintenance of favourable conservation status of those habitats and species at a national level.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, biology</keywords>
Conservation objectives for Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) have to be set for the habitats and species for which the sites are selected. These objectives are used when carrying out appropriate assessments for plans and projects that might impact on these sites. Site-specific conservation objectives outline attributes with targets, which define favourable condition for a habitat or species at a particular site. They are used for appropriate assessment of plans or projects. In addition, they can provide useful information for conservation management planning. The maintenance of habitats and species within Natura 2000 sites at favourable conservation condition will contribute to the overall maintenance of favourable conservation status of those habitats and species at a national level.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/6eb57c37-6356-41ed-be93-d275c87833e1</metadata>
<keywords> life science, biology</keywords>
Conservation objectives for Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) have to be set for the habitats and species for which the sites are selected. These objectives are used when carrying out appropriate assessments for plans and projects that might impact on these sites. Site-specific conservation objectives outline attributes with targets, which define favourable condition for a habitat or species at a particular site. They are used for appropriate assessment of plans or projects. In addition, they can provide useful information for conservation management planning. The maintenance of habitats and species within Natura 2000 sites at favourable conservation condition will contribute to the overall maintenance of favourable conservation status of those habitats and species at a national level.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/8d43a523-ac83-4e48-b951-d27b268911b2</metadata>
<keywords> science, geography, fisheries science, biology, life science</keywords>
In 2003 the EU Commission established a Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA) off the south west of Ireland and the area is shown on the map associated with the dataset. (Council Regulation (EC) No 1954/2003). In 2003, the EU also established a specific fishing effort regime inside the BSA and outside the BSA for demersal fishing vessels as well as scallop and crab fisheries (ie. different fishing effort regulations apply inside and outside of the box). The Regulation sets the maximum annual fishing effort for each Member State and for each area and fishery defined.
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/7548872c-625b-4207-94b1-b6bd3d94040b</metadata>
<keywords> science, geography, fisheries science, biology, life science</keywords>
Greencastle Codling Protected Area located north-east of the Inishowen peninsula. The zone represents a periodically closed Fishery Exclusion Area under an SI as part of the Greencastle Codling Project run by Marine Institute and BIM with local industry.
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/c13d337a-87d5-417c-99e0-76c2f61174e5</metadata>
<keywords> , geography, shipping, transport, marine transport</keywords>
A Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) is an area that needs special protection through action by IMO because of its significance for recognised ecological or socio-economic or scientific reasons and which may be vulnerable to damage by international maritime activities. The criteria for the identification of particularly sensitive sea areas and the criteria for the designation of special areas are not mutually exclusive. In many cases a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area may be identified within a Special Area and vice versa.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: International Maritime Organization
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/c9ed8b5e-7c80-4962-966f-7a87080d71ef</metadata>
<keywords> science, geography, transport, atmospheric science</keywords>
Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs) or Emission Control Areas (ECAs) are sea areas in which stricter controls were established to minimize airborne emissions (SOx, NOx, ODS, VOC) from ships as defined by Annex VI of the 1997 MARPOL Protocol which came into effect in May 2005.Annex VI contains provisions for two sets of emission and fuel quality requirements regarding SOx and PM, or NOx, a global requirement and more stringent controls in special Emission Control Areas (ECA). These regulations stemmed from concerns about the contribution of the shipping industry to local and global air pollution and environmental problems. By July 2010 a revised more stringent Annex VI was enforced with significantly tightened emissions limits.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: International Maritime Organization MARPOL Convention
Description: <metadata>http://www.isde.ie/#/b9a22ad2-85ad-48aa-adcb-2f2084f0ca4b</metadata>
<keywords> human science, archaeology</keywords>
The INtegrated Mapping FOr the Sustainable Development of Irelands MArine Resource (INFOMAR) programme is a joint venture between the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) and the Marine Institute (MI). The programme is the successor to the Irish National Seabed Survey (INSS) and concentrates on creating integrated mapping products related to the seabed. Shipwreck refers both to the remains of a ship that has wrecked, which are found either beached (on land) or sunken (at the bottom of a body of water), and to the action that causes a shipwreck, which may be purposeful or accidental. INFOMAR surveyed shipwrecks are the locations of where the remains of a ship have been surveyed by vessel instrumentation.