2005 - Ongoing, EIFCA (Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority), The Wash, Sabellaria spinulosa reef (habitat mapping) surveys
Sabellaria spinulosa (ross worm) reef surveys are carried out continuously throughout the year. Data is collected using a combination of Acoustic Ground Discrimination System surveys, grab sampling and Remote Operated Vehicle surveys. Mapping the reefs forms part of the condition assessments (for the Wash and North Norfolk Coast SAC for which Sabellaria reef is an interest feature) and informs fisheries management measures for its protection. Several areas within the Wash are surveyed; please see lineage for more details on the methodolgy.
dataset
http://www.eastern-ifca.gov.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=30
name: Research Report 2011
EIFCA000003
http://www.eastern-ifca.gov.uk
eng
urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326
biota
revision
2008-01-06
creation
2011-02-16
revision
2009-11-16
creation
2012-02-14
-0.0220
0.6866
53.2225
52.8194
2005-01-01
2005-01-01
publication
2012-04-18
creation
2005-01-01
revision
2012-09-01
continual
Acoustic Ground Discrimination system (AGDS) surveys were carried out (primarily to identify mussel beds) since 1993 however data was not kept until 2005. Initially the AGDS surveys were used to identify Sabellaria reef, followed by ground truthing with a 0.1m2 day grab. The Roxanne AGDS proved not to be completely reliable and since 2009, the AGDS was only used as a tool to guide grabbing and ROV survey effort. For the 2009 and subsequent surveys, the resolution was improvded by concentrating on discreet areas that previous surveys had already identified as supporting Sabellaria reef. Because the survey areas were significantly smaller than those previously surveyed, it was possible to change the survey methodology, giving greater emphasis to the ground truth record during the mapping phase than had previously been attempted. In 2009 these concentrated on five sites in the Wash (Jessop, Harwood and Woo, 2009). In 2010 the same five sites were resurveyed, plus an additional four sitesalong the Lincolnshire Coast (Jessop, Hinni, Skinner and Woo, 2010). In 2011 EIFCA diverted vessel time from the Sabellaria programme to conduct a joint Large Shallow Inlets and Bays mapping project with Natural England and CEFAS. As a consequence the 2011 Sabellaria surveys were limited to sites at the West and East Lynn Knock (figure 4.1). Both of these areas had been surveyed prior to 2009 during the broadscale mapping surveys and during the 2009 and 2010 programmes. For the 2009 and 2010 surveys, the sampling was planned to be conducted in three phases. Phase 1: Semi-stratified sampling using a Day grab as described above to identify areas of reef. Phase 2: Further Day grab sampling to ground-truth the interpolated models created from the Phase 1 sampling and to fine-tune the mapping of identified reefs. Phase 3: Verification of grab sampling using ROV video camera The following details were recorded from the day grab surveys: Predominant sediment types Percentage volume of shell Percentage volume of Sabellaria fragments Height range of clumps Occupancy of Sabellaria tubes (zero, low, moderate or high) Percentage coverage of Sabellaria clumps Presence of faunal turfs Presence of other macro faunal species present
Data is freely available for research or commercial use providing that the originators are acknowledged in any publications produced, charts are not to be used for navigation.
no restrictions to public access
Senior Research Officer
Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority
originator
Senior Research Officer
Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority
custodian
Marine Environment Officer
Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority
lukegodwin@eastern-ifca.gov.uk
pointOfContact
2021-04-07