Identification

Title

2012 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Luce Bay benthic camera and grab survey of marine features within the SAC

Abstract

The purpose of this benthic survey in the Luce Bay was to conduct a targeted survey on the extent, distribution and quality of benthic habitats in the Luce Bay and Sands SAC. A drop-down video survey at 138 locations was undertaken in stages between 10th July and 10th September 2012, to investigate benthic habitats, together with a foot based intertidal survey on 4th August 2012 to map the extent of Sabellaria alveolata reefs. Areas where existing evidence suggested the presence of Modiolus and maerl communities were also investigated. Sampling was also undertaken across the site where no previous seabed data has previously been acquired to enhance the existing knowledge base. A benthic grab survey was undertaken on 9th – 10th June 2013 at 16 stations to determine the biotopes of some of the soft sediment areas identified during the drop down camera survey. This survey work in 2012 and 2013 was undertaken by Seastar Survey Ltd, contracted by SNH, from Seastar Survey's own vessel SV Otarie (drop-video) and from a local fishing vessel (grab).

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000182-MRSNH0160000000B-LB

codeSpace

http://www.nature.scot

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326

Additional information source

Allen, C., Axelsson, M., Doran, J., & Dewey, S. (2014). Survey of marine features within the Luce Bay and Sands Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 738.

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

biota

biota

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Keyword set

keyword value

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2008-01-06

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2009-11-16

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2011-02-16

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2011-07-06

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2012-02-14

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2012-03-16

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2005-04-27

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2006-08-31

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2017-05-12

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-4.9690

East bounding longitude

-4.4300

North bounding latitude

54.8950

South bounding latitude

54.3500

Extent

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-06-18

code identifying the extent

Irish Sea

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-05-01

code identifying the extent

38E5

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

1954-01-01

code identifying the extent

Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-01-01

code identifying the extent

circalittoral

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-01-01

code identifying the extent

infralittoral

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-01-01

code identifying the extent

littoral

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2012-07-10

End position

2013-06-10

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2014-12-31

Frequency of update

notPlanned

Quality and validity

Lineage

This survey was undertaken in two main phases. The purpose of the initial phase was to investigate Sabellaria reefs by foot and a rigid inflatable between 10th and 13th July 2012, with some additional mapping work undertaken by foot on 4th August 2012. The subtidal camera investigation of Sabellaria reefs was undertaken between 8th August and 10th September 2012 (with some interruptions due to bad weather). A total of 138 camera drops were undertaken using a Kongsberg OE 14-208 digital video and stills camera system, mounted on a drop-down camera frame. The camera sent a continuous video feed to the surface. Still images were taken to capture representative images of the dominant seabed habitats and sediment types along each video transect and also to capture interesting features with a particular focus on identifying key fauna, seabed features or sediment types. Where Sabellaria reef was found, the reef extent was mapped by foot. The on-foot mapping of the Sabellaria reefs was undertaken by a pair of field scientists. The scientists walked as a pair around the extent of each reef. The scientist carrying the GPS walked along the edge of the reef, while the second scientist walked parallel but several metres away from the reef in order to check that the true extent of the reef was being mapped. Once the locations of the main areas of Sabellaria had been established, the seaward extent of Sabellaria along the east coast was mapped from a 3.5 m inflatable tender and surveyed using a lightweight pole mounted camera (polecam). A total of 24 polecam video lines were recorded. The polecam set-up consisted of a Bowtech LC3 underwater video camera mounted on a lightweight pole and connected to the surface by an umbilical, and was deployed over the side of the inflatable boat. The purpose of the second survey phase was to sample the subtidal habitat using benthic grabs. This survey was undertaken between the 9th and 10th June 2013, following initial analysis of the drop-down camera footage to inform the grab sampling locations. Three stations were regarded as priority targets. The first was a station where three replicate samples were to be collected from a maerl bed identified from the drop-down camera station. The second was a station which was a repeat of a site sampled by ERT in 2007, and a potential maerl location. The third priority station was where large quantities of dead Modiolus shells were identified from the drop-down camera survey. The remaining stations were selected to provide infaunal data to aid with biotope classification of soft sediment habitats, and to cover a geographic spread over the bay. In total, 16 grab stations were sampled using a 0.1m2 van Veen grab. At each station a fauna and a PSA sample were collected. Each infaunal sample was passed through a 1mm mesh sieve and the infaunal sieve residue retained and fixed with buffered formalin for subsequent analysis. A small sub-sample of the grab was removed for PSA analysis and stored in plastic bags before being frozen.

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2011-02-02

degree

true

explanation

See the referenced specification

Conformity report

specification

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2018-01-23

degree

true

explanation

See the referenced specification

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

Not for navigational use; This survey recorded no species or biotope occurrences that SNH consider as sensitive; all records may therefore be released in response to requests covered by Environmental Information Regulations or Freedom of Information Regulations; additionally its re-use and dissemination is permissible under Open Government Licence terms. Any re-use of this data will acknowledge the copyright owner.

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

No restrictions on public access

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

organisation name

SeaStar Survey

email address

info@seastarsurvey.co.uk

responsible party role

originator

Responsible party

contact position

Data Manager

organisation name

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters

full postal address

Great Glen House, Leachkin Road

Inverness

IV3 8NW

telephone number

01463 725000

email address

data_supply@nature.scot

responsible party role

custodian

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

contact position

Data Manager

organisation name

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters

full postal address

Great Glen House, Leachkin Road

Inverness

IV3 8NW

telephone number

01463 725000

email address

data_supply@nature.scot

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2020-02-12

Metadata language