The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and Marine Scotland Science (MSS) undertook an offshore seabed survey of Solan Bank Reef Site of Community Importance (SCI) on the MRV Scotia from 28 October 2014 to 9 November 2014 (Cruise Code: 1714S).
The survey was planned with the aim of evaluating whether sponge morphological abundance can be sufficiently measured from drop down camera images and videos, to inform development of a national indicator of 'Good Environmental Status' as part of the UK's obligations under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Initial baseline data on epifaunal communities and associated environmental variables in the Solan Bank SCI was collected, to assist in determining whether the indicator is viable for UK offshore waters.
Data collected on this survey was assessed to determine whether there are sufficient abundances of different sponge morphologies at the site to detect significant change in these communities. 166 combined Drop Frame Drop Down Video (DDV) and Seabird 19 (CTD) transects were completed and Acoustic Doppler Current Profile (ADCP) data from 3 stations were collected.
