Downshore transects have been established at nine locations along the northern shore of the harbour. Two sampling methods have been used. The first focuses on the infauna in general, including many small and numerous species that are consumed by fish and birds. The second targets the large, more sparsely distributed macrofauna used for bait. The box core samples a larger area than conventional coring (0.05 m^2 for box core). A range of levels were sampled on most shores. For reasons indicated below, bathymetric levels on a particular shore are difficult to precisely determine. The approach adopted has been to take samples at 50 metre intervals down each transect. The widest beaches, requiring the largest number of sampling points, were Whitley and Parkstone Bays. At some sites an additional sample was taken 10 metres from the top of the shore. This was done where a difference in substratum was obvious in comparison with the 50 m mark. Two randomly located samples were taken at each sampling point. An 0.05 m^2 steel box core was pushed into the sediment to a depth of 0.15 m. Sampling took place in December 1993.
