This data collates all the benthic invertebrate samples collected within Wales from 1988 onwards by Natural Resources Wales and former Environment Agency Wales under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Clean Seas Environment Monitoring Program (CSEMP) sampling programs. The dataset contains the presence, and abundance, of benthic invertebrate species at specific marine monitoring points held within the KiECO database.
The data was collected using either a Day Grab (0.1 m2) or Hammon Grab (0.1m2) for subtidal samples and either 3 x 0.01m2 cores (Core Diameter 11.28cm) or a Box Corer (0.1m2) for intertidal surveys. Data are laboratory assessed and quality assured following the National Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control (NMBAQC) scheme.
For many of our marine survey techniques we record an NGR at the site because this acts as a central/representative location around which we collect lots of samples. An NGR is then also recorded against each of the samples to give a more accurate sampling location