4.3    The identification and selection of attributes for the Cardigan Bay bottlenose dolphins

It is essential that each attribute reflects the condition of the feature and is measurable (monitorable) to a sufficient level of precision. The methods employed for monitoring each attribute must not undermine the achievement of the conservation objective. For example, were levels of disturbance to the dolphins from monitoring likely to result in unfavourable condition, the use of that monitoring method and possibly that attribute (were this its only available monitoring method) would be unacceptable.

Possible attributes for the Cardigan Bay bottlenose dolphins are:

·   Total population size

·   Abundance within the SAC

·   Rate of change of abundance

·   Distribution

·   Reproductive success and mortality

·   Population structure

·   Health

Other possible attributes for the Cardigan Bay cSAC are:

·   Indicators of Habitat condition

Two of these, ‘bottlenose dolphin abundance’ and ‘distribution within the cSAC’, have been chosen for monitoring and are given in Table 6. with the conservation objective for the site. As knowledge of the dolphins improves and with the development of improved monitoring methods it may be pertinent to monitor further attributes.